Otto the Conqueror wins hard fought battle in Springboard Mile

Dec 16, 2023 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

An Oct. 29 allowance at Churchill Downs yielded a third next-out stakes winner when Otto the Conqueror prevailed in the $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile on Friday night.

Second choice in a field of six two-year-olds over a track listed as muddy, Otto the Conqueror outstayed longtime leader Glengarry by three parts of a length under Tyler Gaffalione.

Otto the Conqueror won the seven-furlong Churchill allowance by four lengths, defeating Honor Marie and Just Steel. Those rivals respectively captured the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and Ed Brown S. at the Louisville track in late November.

Owned by Three Chimneys Farm and trained by Steve Asmussen, who was winning for the Springboard Mile for a seventh time, Otto the Conqueror completed one circuit of Remington in a time of 1:39.91 and returned $4.80.

Otto the Conqueror and @Tyler_Gaff work hard to score in the Remington Springboard Mile. Congratulations to trainer Steven Asmussen and owner @Three_Chimneys!

📽 @RemingtonPark. pic.twitter.com/7XCvp7qvRc

— Jockey Tyler Gaffalione (@TGjockey) December 16, 2023

The previously unbeaten Glengarry, who was making his first start beyond six furlongs, finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Magic Grant. The order of finish was completed by Third Street, My Buddy Mel, and 13-10 favorite Raging Torrent. Scratched from the field were the Brad Cox-trained duo of Fidget and Gettysburg Address, plus locally based Rhino Runner.

With the win, Otto the Conqueror earned 10 qualifying points toward the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1). Glengarry earned five points, Magic Grant three points, Third Street two points, and My Buddy Mel one point.

Otto the Conqueror has now won three of four starts. Second in his debut at Ellis Park on Aug. 13, the bay colt subsequently graduated at Churchill Downs by a neck prior to the allowance victory.

Bred in Kentucky by Hoolie Racing Stable and sold for $450,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, Otto the Conqueror is by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense and out of Grade 3 winner Dream It Is, a daughter of Shackleford.