Doug O’Neill, a two-time Kentucky Derby (G1) winning trainer, had several intriguing options for his talented colt Dr Ruben M.
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) last month near his home base in Southern California was under consideration after a snappy front-running maiden victory at Santa Anita on Oct. 14.
Aside from that ambitious goal, there are plenty of races for 2-year-olds with Triple Crown potential on the West Coast, including Saturday’s Los Alamitos Futurity (G2).
Dr Ruben M
Remington Park hosts Kentucky Derby prep on Friday night
O’Neill opted for a completely different course, sending Dr Ruben M to Oklahoma City for the $300,000 Springboard Mile on Friday night, final card of the season at Remington Park. Regular rider Edwin Maldonado will also make the journey for a race that could put Dr Ruben M on the road to bigger and better things.
The winner earns 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, and an automatic free entry into next year’s $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3).
This will be Dr Ruben M’s first stakes appearance and his fifth start. After debuting with a nose loss in a grass sprint, O’Neill switched the son of Vino Rosso to the main track where he has shown steady improvement culminating in the maiden win.
Speed is his game, and this looks like an ideal spot to deploy it.
O’Neill is no stranger to success in the 3-year-old classics. He has already captured a pair of Derbys with Nyquist (2016) and I’ll Have Another (2012). This could be another one on the same journey.
This looks to be an ideal spot, due to the presence of Speed King, an impressive front-running winner at Churchill Downs in his lone start. That race was only 6 furlongs, raising the stamina question in his first try around two turns.
Dr Ruben M is already a proven winner at this mile distance. If Maldonado can convince him to rate behind the presumptive pacesetter, the race should set up nicely. And the 6-1 morning line quote is more than generous.
Jolly Samurai, a perfect 3-for-3 at Remington, is the local hero for trainer Danny Pish.
The gelding has already posted a pair of stakes victories in the Kip Deville and the Clever Trevor. His longest race to date has been 7 furlongs, raising the same stamina concern that dogs Speed King.
In the Dust Bowl era, Okies left their homes in search of better fortunes in the golden West. Dr Ruben M is here to reverse that narrative.
Post time is 11:26 p.m. ET.
For those who bet horse racing …
The picks: 1 Dr Ruben M 2 Speed King 3 Jolly Samurai
The field for the $300,000 Springboard Mile, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:
1 Coal Battle (Juan Vargas, Lonnie Briley), 10-1
2 Blue Angel (David Cabrera, Steve Asmussen), 15-1
3 Speed King (Rafael Bejarano, Ron Moquett), 7-2
4 Dominant Spirit (Jose Alvarez, Bret Calhoun), 15-1
5 Brooklyn Alley Cat (Iram Vargas Diego, Danny Pish), 20-1
6 Essay (Richard Eramia, Bret Calhoun), 20-1
7 Jolly Samurai (Rene Diaz, Danny Pish), 4-1
8 Complex Music (Stewart Elliott, Steve Asmussen), 8-1
9 Dr Ruben M (Edwin Maldanado, Doug O’Neill), 6-1
10 Medicine Dog (Floyd Wethey, Sarah Davidson), 20-1
11 Mister Omaha (Luis Quinonez, Joe Offolter), 5-1
12 Keeno (Jermaine Bridgmohan, Steve Asmussen), 12-1