Tipsheet: 2025 Springboard Mile Stakes

A full field of 12 juveniles will travel eight panels on the Remington Park main oval in Saturday’s $300,000 Springboard Mile S. The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five across the wire with qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis. 

Springboard Mile Stakes Picks

• #1 Arctic Beast
• #2 Time for Music
• #3 Essential Time
• #7 Spice Runner

Springboard Mile Stakes Wagers

• $20 win and place #1 Arctic Beast
• $5 exacta key box 1 with 2,3,7

Springboard Mile Stakes Contenders

#1 ARCTIC BEAST (4-1): Top pick from the Maker shedrow is perfect from a trio of runs to commence his career and gets the rail for his first route test. The $275,000 yearling purchase has plenty of speed from the gate, and I feel that he will handle the move to one mile with aplomb on this occasion. Two-time stakes victor retains the services of Ricardo Santana, Jr. 

#2 TIME FOR MUSIC (9-2): Gray son of Not This Time put in a nice late run to be second in the allowance ranks in his initial run at one mile and will now go two turns for the first time. The Asmussen trainee has shown nice improvement in his last few assignments and could be dangerous late with another step forward on this occasion. Erik Asmussen will be in the silks. 

#3 ESSENTIAL TIME (6-1): Stakes-winning son of Essential Quality prepped for Saturday with a third on the grass and gets back on the main oval where he is perfect from two prior tries. The Danny Pish pupil is experienced on the course; he owns a big turn of foot, and I also feel he will appreciate the added ground in the tilt. Iram Diego will stay in the silks. 

#4 ROYALAMERICAN (12-1): Oklahoma-bred comes off of two stakes wins in succession on the grounds but will face open company on this occasion. Dark bay son of Upstart has improved his Brisnet Speed number in every race and could be in the hunt late with a forward move under Cabrera. 

#5 MY DREAM ZAPPER (20-1): Arapahoe invader faces a stiff class rise on this day for Setson Rushton. Ghostzapper colt is moving in the right direction, but this is a difficult spot for his route debut. 

#6 SUPREME GOOD (8-1): McPeek pupil ran off to a big maiden win on the Saratoga main strip in his latest showing. Supremacy colt won in the mud in an off-the-turf tilt, and I’d like to see him do it on a dry oval before backing him. Christopher Elliot comes in for the mount. 

#7 SPICE RUNNER (3-1): Grade 3 winner from the Asmussen shedrow has been outrun in demanding spots in a pair of races in succession and is a good fit in this one with his top performance. The Gun Runner homebred has good tactical speed and will be well placed at the top of the lane beneath Stewart Elliot. 

#8 WAY BEYOND (12-1): The third for Asmussen was an even fourth in a black-type try at Delta Downs most recently and will need to take a big step forward to upset this group. The $150,000 yearling purchase would be a surprise with Ramon Vazquez on board. 

#9 WESTERN MAN (20-1): Joe Offolter pupil streaked home a runaway winner at first asking in a local dash with Oklahoma-bred runners, and he stretches out while facing open company in an ambitious move on this occasion. The Code West gelding might be up to the task, but I will let him beat me in this decent cast with Eramia retaining the ride. 

#10 BIG APPLE PATRICK (15-1): KatieRich homebred was a first-out sprint winner at Churchill, which preceded a third-place result in a two-turn allowance tilt in Louisville second time out. The Daniel Leitch trainee has a versatile running style, and if the Union Rags colt moves forward in his third appearance, then he could be a factor at a price. Walter Rodriguez will be in the stirrups. 

#11 JETS RIO (30-1): Ron Moquett pupil graduated here at the distance in his third career try in advance of this one, but the juvenile has to get a lot faster to be in the running late in this spot. Regular rider Rene Diaz will guide the Kentucky-bred.  

#12 EXPRESS KID (20-1): Bay son of Bodexpress drew widest of all in the tilt and was defeated by 12 lengths in his latest try with stakes company. The California-bred looks to be in a tough spot on the move from the grass to the dirt. Jose Alvarez will be up.