Express Kid speeds to $71 upset of Remington Springboard Mile

Dec 21, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Express Kid outran his 34-1 odds in the Springboard Mile (Photo by Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park)

Purchased by Steve Haahr for a mere $2,000 in Arizona last fall, Express Kid is now on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail after upsetting Saturday night’s $300,000 Remington Springboard Mile.

The Wade Rarick trainee was overlooked at odds of 34.50-1 in the grand finale of the Remington Park season. Although Express Kid won his latest start, a Nov. 6 allowance on the Remington turf, he had been beaten in both prior stakes attempts. He was runner-up in the Prairie Meadows Freshman S. in August and subsequently a distant sixth in the Clever Trevor S., a local stepping stone to the Springboard Mile.

Express Kid had plenty to prove against the leading contenders who shipped in, especially Mike Maker’s 9-10 favorite Arctic Beast, Steve Asmussen’s Road to the Kentucky Derby veteran Spice Runner, and his Asmussen stablemate, Time for Music. Moreover, Express Kid had something to find on the more logical locals, including Clever Trevor winner Essential Time. But he found plenty to prove himself when it counted.

Breaking from the far outside post 11, Express Kid was in an early battle for the lead with Jets Rio. The issue was settled rounding the clubhouse turn, when Express Kid forged ahead, and he never looked back.

Express Kid rolled through fractions of :23.54, :47.58, and 1:12.83 under confident handling by Jose Alvarez. Arctic Beast, the hitherto unbeaten New York-bred, advanced into second, but he was already being driven along without making a dent on the winner.

As Express Kid swung for home, he continued to stride out with authority. His margin widened down the lane until he crossed the wire 6 1/4 lengths clear in a final time of 1:38.99.

Express Kid rewarded his backers with $71 – the second-highest payout in Springboard Mile history, according to track announcer Dale Day. The biggest upset came courtesy of Texas Bling, who sparked a $259.60 mutuel in the 2012 edition.

Along with 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby, Express Kid boosted his bankroll to $236,902 from his 5-3-1-0 line. The bay has come a long way since his narrow debut win in a 4 1/2-furlong dash at Canterbury.

Arctic Beast garnered five points in his first try around two turns, and outside of New York-bred company. Oklahoma-breds Royalamerican (three points) and Western Man (two points) did their state proud by placing third and fourth, respectively.

Way Beyond, the longshot of Steve Asmussen’s trio at 53-1, outperformed expectations in fifth (one point). Big Apple Patrick finished sixth, trailed by Essential Time, Jets Rio, Time for Music, Supreme Good, and Spice Runner. My Dream Zapper was scratched.

Express Kid is by Bodexpress, who became an instant celebrity by unseating his rider at the start of the 2019 Preakness (G1) and completing the race on his own. Bodexpress capped his career with a victory in the 2020 Clark (G1) at Churchill Downs, but he’ll always be remembered for his Preakness adventure.

Express Kid’s dam (mother), Sensationalize, is by 2007 Kentucky Derby champion Street Sense. Sensationalize is herself out of multiple stakes victress and Grade 2-placed Stormy West. This is the further family of European sprint supremo Dayjur, who famously jumped the shadow in the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).

Bred by Richard Barton Enterprises in California, Express Kid failed to sell for a $12,000 bid at the Fasig-Tipton Fall Yearlings Sale in Pomona in his home state. He turned up in the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Fall Mixed Sale, where Haahr got him for $2,000. The rest is history, still in the making.