Asmussen trainees Long Range Toddy and Bankit run one-two in Springboard Mile
Dec 17, 2018
Trainer Steve Asmussen provided the exacta in Sunday evening’s $400,000 Springboard Mile at Remington Park when Long Range Toddy held off Bankit by a head on the wire.
The eight-furlong contest is the final race on the domestic calendar of Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races. The year-ending points contest takes place in Japan on December 19.
The Springboard Mile offered up 10-4-2-1 points to the respective top four finishers, and Asmussen pupils ended up taking all but the third-place points thanks to Tone Broke finishing fourth.
Long Range Toddy tracked in third two wide on the backstretch as Dobbins G set the pace while pressed by Marquee Prince. The Take Charge Indy pupil rallied rounding the turn and then angled out four wide in upper stretch to take command.
Meanwhile, stablemate Bankit ran in last until hitting the lane. Still sixth in midstretch, Bankit hit overdrive to close the distance between himself and Long Range Toddy, but the wire came too quick and he was forced to settle for second.
Long Range Toddy ran a mile in 1:39.75 at 18-1 and returned $39.20 for the win. The Willis Horton Racing LLC homebred earned 10 points toward the 2019 Kentucky Derby and debuted on the Leaderboard in fourth. Bankit, who is co-owned by Willis Horton Racing with Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, took home four points for his close second and made his first appearance on the Derby Leaderboard in the 13th spot.
Dunph took third in the Springboard Mile for trainer Mike Maker and owner Three Diamonds Farm, good for two points and 20th on the Derby Leaderboard. L and N Racing LLC’s Tone Broke, who is also trained by Asmussen, filled out the superfecta and was awarded one point.
Completing the order of finish were Marquee Prince, 6-5 favorite Epic Dreamer, D Toz, Kaziranga, Dobbins G, Tobacco Road and Six Shooter.
Long Range Toddy has raced exclusively at Remington Park in four career starts, finishing fourth in his debut on August 31. The juvenile broke through next out on September 28 with a 5 3/4-length score, and last out captured the November 2 Clever Trevor Stakes by a length.
Foaled in Kentucky by the Unbridled’s Song mare Pleasant Song, Long Range Toddy now boasts a 4-3-0-0 record and $321,125 in lifetime earnings.
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