Springboard Mile Pits Bayerd, Shotgun Kowboy

After splitting two previous juvenile stakes earlier in the meet, Bayerd and Shotgun Kowboy square off in the rubber match, the $250,000 Remington Springboard Mile on closing night Dec. 14 at Remington Park.



Eleven 2-year-olds are entered in the 11th and final race of the 2014 Oklahoma City meet with a 6:30 p.m. CST scheduled post. But Bayerd, the 9-10 favorite in the Clever Trevor Stakes Nov. 7, and Shotgun Kowboy, who won the listed event at even money, will garner most of the wagering attention.



However, given the win prices returned by the past two winners of the Springboard Mile—Louies Flower at $48 last year and Texas Bling at $259.60 in 2012—anything is likely to happen.



Clark O. Brewster's Bayerd, a son of Speightstown   trained by Steve Asmussen, led by two lengths in the stretch of the seven-furlong Clever Trevor. But he could not hold off the late-running Shotgun Kowboy, who rallied from seventh to score by one length in a time of 1:23.48 over a fast track.



Bayerd won the first 2-year-old stake of the Remington meet, the listed Kip Deville at six furlongs, by one length as the 3-5 favorite Sept. 28. Shotgun Kowboy was third, 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner, the only loss in his four-race career.



In between those two starts, Oklahoma-bred Shotgun Kowboy dominated a state-bred field in the Oklahoma Classic Juvenile Stakes by 6 1/2 lengths Oct. 17. The gelding, by Kodiak Kowboy, is bred, owned, and trained by C. R. Trout.



Luis Quinonez, who was aboard Louies Flower for last year's Springboard Mile decision, has the return call on Shotgun Kowboy, who breaks from post 9.



Bayerd, who broke his maiden by 11 1/2 lengths at Saratoga Race Course in August, is to be ridden back by Ricardo Santana Jr., who replaced the retired Rosie Napravnik in the Clever Trevor. A two-time winner from four starts, the bay colt breaks from post 4.



Bret Calhoun, the trainer of Louies Flower in last year's upset, has two entered this time around, Conbradulations and Supermason.



Conbradulations is part of a coupled entry with the Donnie K. Von Hemel-trained Phenomenal Phoenix, both owned by Wayne Sanders and Larry Hirsch.

Illinois-bred Conbradulations, who drew post 9, graduated at first asking over a muddy Remington strip Sept. 6. The son of Congrats   returned Oct. 23 to finish second by a neck in a one-mile allowance/optional claiming race after opening a big lead in the stretch. Cliff Berry takes the call.

Von Hemel's entrant, Phenomenal Phoenix, won a one-mile maiden race by 5 1/2 lengths in his second start Nov. 5. Berry is also named on the Summer Bird gelding, who drew the rail.



Calhoun's other hope, Texas-bred Supermason, romped over an allowance/optional claiming group by 5 1/4 lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs Nov. 29 at Remington. Lindy Wade has the return mount on the Grasshopper   gelding.



Shipping in from Keeneland for trainer Ken McPeek is It'll Be Fine, a 2 3/4-length optional claiming victor Nov. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack as the favorite in an off-the-turf event at one mile.



Also arriving from Kentucky is six-race maiden Hillbilly Style, who has posted back-to-back seconds in special weight company at Churchill Downs for owner Willis Horton and trainer D. Wayne Lukas.



High Noon Rider, stuck with the outside post, arrives from Belmont Park off a one-mile maiden win Nov. 19 at Aqueduct for trainer George Weaver.



Clever Trevor also-rans Sky Full of Stars (fourth), Super Stroke (sixth), and Runaway Bling (eighth) complete the field. The latter is trained by Danele Durham, who saddled Texas Bling for his 128-1 shocker two years ago.