Big field for Springboard Mile

A full house is expected for the $400,000 Springboard Mile on Sunday’s closing-day card at Remington Park. The stakes winners Greyvitos, A Different Style, Analyze This Jet, Direct Dial, and Redatory are part of a long list of potential starters for the 2-year-old stakes, which offers Kentucky Derby eligibility points for the first time.

The starting gate will be capped at 12.

“We’re looking at a full field for sure,” said Don Thompson, the Remington stakes coordinator who had a working list of 14 on Monday.

The Springboard Mile will anchor a card of six stakes, including the $100,000 Trapeze and the newly created $75,000 Jeffrey Hawk Memorial.

The draw was to take place Tuesday. First post Sunday is 3 p.m. Central. The forecast is for partly cloudy skies and a high of 58 degrees, according to The Weather Channel.

Greyvitos, winner of the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar, was to arrive Wednesday, Thompson said. Trained by Adam Kitchingman, Greyvitos was to fly into Oklahoma City aboard a flight from Los Angeles that could also include Shivermetimbers, a maiden special weight winner with a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 last out at Del Mar, and Flip the Coin Jan, another last-out maiden winner at Del Mar.

A Different Style, winner of the James F. Lewis III last out at Laurel, was possible for the race for trainer John Servis, Thompson said. Analyze This Jet and Direct Dial won recent stakes at Retama Park, while Redatory captured the local prep, the $100,000 Clever Trevor.

Other potential starters, Thompson said, include Bravazo, runner-up in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity in October at Keeneland; Believe in Royalty, the first foal from Kentucky Oaks winner Believe You Can; and Bode’s Maker and Flat Lucky, second and third in the Clever Trevor.

The first four finishers will earn Kentucky Derby points on a sliding scale of 10-4-2-1.

The Trapeze for 2-year-old fillies is a target for Sassy Sienna, trainer Brad Cox said Monday.

The fourth-place finisher in the Grade 1 Alcibiades in October at Keeneland, Sassy Sienna exits a runner-up finish to Miss Mo Mentum, a dazzling winner of a Gulfstream stakes last weekend in an allowance at Churchill.

Cox said Dazzling Gem is being pointed to the Hawk Memorial.

Maldonado to ride at Oaklawn

Jockey Edwin Maldonado plans to ride at the Oaklawn Park meet, which opens in January, according to Bill Castle, an agent who will represent the rider at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.

Castle also will have the book for David Cohen.

Maldonado has won graded stakes with Comma to the Top, Ethnic Dance, and San Onofre.

“He’s a high-end rider,” Castle said.

“He’s been at Del Mar and Santa Anita for seven years. I have a wonderful one-two punch now. We’re very much looking forward to the meet. We’ll arrive very early with both riders, do whatever’s necessary – breeze, gallop, jog. Both riders are really looking forward to this meet.”

Cohen, a Travers-winning jockey riding for the first time since 2014, has been named on Pilot House in Thursday night’s second race at Delta Downs. Cohen also has been named to ride in Saturday night’s sixth race at Delta, but his mount, Lucky Lotto, is on the also-eligible list. Both Delta horses are trained by Robertino Diodoro.

Delta Downs increases purses

Delta Downs has increased overnight purses about 15 percent, according to Chris Warren, director of racing. The new purse schedule was to go into effect with the Wednesdaynight card.

Delta has a slots casino that is outperforming projections, Warren said. This comes despite the significant damage Hurricane Harvey inflicted on the key Texas markets that have long patronized the operation.

The storm made landfall in August and, on the recommendation of the Louisiana Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Delta canceled eight open-company stakes, led by the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot and the Grade 3, $500,000 Delta Downs Princess.

The cancellations also contributed to the purse increase at Delta.

Gladyousawme eyes Fair Grounds

Gladyousawme, a winner of all three of his starts including the $150,000 Louisiana Legacy at Delta Downs, could put his perfect record on the line later this month at Fair Grounds.

“Right now we’re looking at the Louisiana Futurity on Dec. 31,” said Brad Cox, who trains Gladyousawme for Klein Racing.

The six-furlong race for 2-year-olds has a $100,000 purse.

Gladyousawme debuted in a mile turf race Sept. 27 at Indiana, then took a first-level allowance at Delta on Oct. 28 before the Louisiana Legacy. The allowance was a sevenfurlong race run around two turns, while Gladyousawme won at a mile in the Legacy.

Gladyousawme is by Due Date, a stakes winner sprinting on turf who also won sprinting on dirt.

◗ Evangeline Downs will close its meet Saturday night with a program worth $1.8 million, making the card the richest Quarter Horse program ever run in Louisiana, Warren said.

◗ John Soileau Sr., a prominent Quarter Horse breeder who raced champion Jls Mr Bigtime, died Saturday in Opelousas, La., according to LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home.

Soileau was 81. He founded JLS Speed Horse Ranch.