Otto the Conqueror Triumphant in Springboard Mile
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Photo: Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park
Otto the Conqueror wins the Springboard Mile at Remington Park
In a two-horse throwdown, Three Chimneys Farm's Otto the Conqueror outdueled the previously unbeaten Glengarry and inched away to post a three-quarters of a length victory over the frontrunner in the $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 15.
Routing for the first time Friday evening at Remington Park, both juveniles grew tired down the stretch, with a final furlong from the winner in :14.65 following taxing middle fractions. Third-place Magic Grant was charging hard at the finish.
After pressing splits of :23.48, :46.35 and 1:11.40, Otto the Conquerer reached the wire on a muddy track in 1:39.91 under Tyler Gaffalione. The colt paid $4.80 to win, improving to 3-for-4 and capturing his first stakes. He gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his seventh win in the Springboard Mile.
"My horse was there for me the whole way."@Tyler_Gaff and Steve Asmussen spoke with Kelly O'Hara after they teamed up to win the $300,000 Springboard Mile at @RemingtonPark. The win gives Otto The Conqueror 10 points for the @KentuckyDerby! pic.twitter.com/6AZfhJiCt4
— TVG (@TVG) December 16, 2023
Third Street , My Buddy Mel , and Raging Torrent completed the order of finish.
Derby Dreams
- All but Raging Torrent earned qualifying points toward next year's May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1), with points distributed on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers.
- "It's off to Hot Springs and Derby trail, here we come," Asmussen said, referring to the city in Arkansas where Oaklawn Park is located. "You just saw two nice horses hooked up from start to finish."
- Otto the Conqueror is by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense , who is among the top 20 sires of 2023 and stands next year for $60,000 at Darley.