Asmussen enters 5 in Springboard Mile

They might as well rename Sunday’s

$400,000 race at Remington Park the Steve Asmussen Mile.

The Hall of Fame trainer has five of the 11 entered in the Springboard Mile, a race for

2-year-olds that in its short life has produced some important winners at Oaklawn Park. The Springboard, with a 7:52 p.m. post time, highlights a 12-race card, beginning at 3 p.m., that ends the summer-fall racing season in Oklahoma City.

Despite Asmussen’s formidable presence, the early favorite hails from another barn. Epic Dreamer, sired by Kentucky Derby winner Orb, is the early 8-5 choice off two starts at New York’s Belmont Park, gaining his maiden victory by 2 1/2 lengths in front-running fashion going 1 1/16 miles Oct. 26. Trainer Kelly Breen, with a Belmont Stakes victory to his credit, encouraged Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano to keep the mount.

Epic Dreamer, a $185,000 purchase at April’s Ocala, Fla., sale of 2-year-olds in training, breaks from the rail post.

Besides those trained by Asmussen, the Springboard Mile includes some young horses likely to be seen next year at Oaklawn. The $150,000 Smarty Jones, also at one mile, launches Oaklawn’s rich stakes program for 3-year-olds on Friday, Jan. 25, opening day in Hot Springs.

Asmussen’s band includes last-out Remington stakes winner Long Range Toddy, a Take Charge Indy colt owned and bred by Arkansan Willis Horton. With Richard Eramia aboard, the bay colt won the seven-furlong Clever Trevor on or near the lead and could represent the early speed in Sunday’s race. Long Range Toddy, drawing post five, opens at 12-1.

Horton and Winchell Thoroughbreds are listed owners of last-out Belmont Park stakes winner and July Saratoga maiden winner Bankit, the early 3-1 second choice. Ricardo Santana Jr., Asmussen’s principal rider and like the trainer a perennial Oaklawn champion, regains the mount on Bankit, who drew post eight.

Asmussen also entered August’s Ellis Park Juvenile winner, Tobacco Road, a close third in the Remington stake won by Long Range Toddy. Ramon Vazquez inherits the mount.

Asmussen’s other Springboard Mile starters are Remington maiden winners Kazaringa, a Candy Ride colt bred and owned by Calumet Farm, and Tone Broke. Oaklawn regular David Cabrera sticks with Canadian-bred Tone Broke, a 15 1/4-length Remington maiden winner going a mile Sept. 26.