Kentucky Derby 2020 Blog: Shoplifted Captures Remington Springboard Mile

The 2-year-old road to Kentucky Derby 2020 came to an end in the Remington Springboard Mile on Sunday, Dec. 15, and Shoplifted picked up ten points for his head victory over Answer It. The current juvenile set will officially become sophomores on January 1, and the Jerome at Aqueduct is the first points race of 2020.

Check out Today's Racing Digest for handicapping products, analysis, and more! Shoplifted capture above courtesy of Today's Racing Digest.

Kentucky Derby 2020 Points Race Recaps

Remington Springboard Mile Recap (12-15-19) - Winner: Shoplifted ($10.60)

The pace was contested with Rowdy Yates, Alternate Time, and Maximiliano mixing it up early. The group behind those runners would settle this exciting flat mile affair. My value top choice Embolden (11-1) made a wide move to take the lead but was never in command. His short advantage vanished in midstretch. Shoplifted was on the move outside, and post time favorite Answer In was making a bid from the rail. In the end, Shoplifted had the momentum and prevailed by a head. Answer In was a 1/2 length in front of Embolden, and it was 13+ back to 4th place finisher Jungle Runner. The order of finish was completed by Maximiliano, Southgate, Rowdy Yates, Kirkcules, Slew Tang Clan, Alternate Time, and Shipman’s Song. The top three all ran well, and the winner had the class edge on paper. He was exiting a pair of unplaced efforts vs. grade one rivals at Santa Anita (American Pharaoh Stakes, BC Juvenile). I am not completely against Shoplifted going forward. I can see him making some noise on the Derby trail if he continues to improve for Steve Asmussen.  

Hot Prospects: Untitled

This is a new Derby blog feature. Each time I update the blog, I will profile one exciting new prospect on the Derby trail. Last time, I profiled Azul Coast. Today, I will look at sharp debut winner Untitled. The latter could not have been any more impressive at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 14. He went straight to the front and dominated throughout in an 11-length romp. Ralph Nicks trains the son of Khozan. At this point, we know he is a fast sprinter. He will probably stretch out in the near future. Let’s see if this one ends up getting sold. The phone is reportedly ringing off the hook.   

You can read the rest of this post at The Runaway Horse...