Otto the Conqueror Invades for Springboard Mile

The next stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) goes through Oklahoma Dec. 15 when Remington Park hosts the $300,000 Springboard Mile Stakes, a qualifying points race for next year’s Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs.

Otto the Conqueror , Raging Torrent , and Glengarry  are the three favorites in the nine-horse lineup, in which Kentucky Derby qualifying points will be distributed on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to its top five finishers. The main-track race begins in front of the stands with a short run to the first of two turns.

Except for Fidget , an 8-1 shot on the morning line, and Rhino Runner , a 20-1 outsider, none of the competitors have won at a mile or longer. Fidget and Rhino Runner scored mile victories against easier company.

Otto the Conqueror and Glengarry race two turns for the first time after competing in three sprints apiece earlier in the year. Raging Torrent does have route experience, having finished a distant fourth in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park in his last race Oct. 7.

Earlier, he had been fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), third in the Best Pal Stakes (G3), and a maiden winner when sprinting over the summer at Del Mar.

Blinkers, added for his last race, are removed. California-based jockey Antonio Fresu rides for Doug O’Neill, who trains Raging Torrent for owners Great Friends Stables and Mark Davis.

O’Neill is a two-time winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1), taking the race in 2012 with I’ll Have Another  and then with Nyquist   four years later. The Southern California trainer is looking for his first win in the Springboard Mile.

Otto the Conqueror, a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense   owned by Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, has raced exclusively at seven furlongs and comes off two consecutive victories at Churchill Downs after an initial runner-up finish.

In his most recent race Oct. 29 on a sloppy track, he rolled by four lengths in an allowance optional claiming race over Honor Marie , next-out winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill. Running third was Just Steel , who returned to take the Ed Brown Stakes also at Churchill.

#6 OTTO THE CONQUEROR ($7.68) took command shortly after the break and added to his winning margin down the lane to win the 9th at Churchill Downs.

The 2yo by @DarleyAmerica‘s Street Sense was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff for trainer Steve Asmussen and @Three_Chimneys. pic.twitter.com/b5Fb48XXFA

— TVG (@TVG) October 29, 2023

Otto the Conqueror is out of the Shackleford  mare Dream It Is , whose three victories came in sprints, topped by the six-furlong Schuylerville Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course in 2017.

Tyler Gaffalione, riding in Florida this winter, travels to Oklahoma for the mount.

Asmussen has won the Springboard Mile six times, most recently in 2019 with Shoplifted  .

Undefeated through three starts, Glengarry also started last out in Kentucky, winning the $200,000 Bowman Mill Stakes at Keeneland Oct. 28 after two initial blowout victories at Prairie Meadows. All three of his starts have been at six furlongs.

Luis Saez rides the Iowa-bred son of Maximus Mischief   for trainer Doug Anderson, who owns Glengarry with Aaron Kennedy and Toby Joseph.