ARKANSAS DERBY WINNER SUPER STOCK RETURNS IN POINSETTIA
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Hoyt, Director of Racing
jhoyt@oaklawn.com or 501-363-4305
Photo credit: Coady Photography
ARKANSAS DERBY WINNER SUPER STOCK RETURNS IN POINSETTIA
HOT SPRINGS, AR (Friday, Dec. 10, 2021) – The inaugural $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Oaklawn has drawn millionaire Grade 1 winner Super Stock, the 7-5 program favorite for the 1 1/16-mile race.
The Poinsettia is one of four stakes Oaklawn created to accommodate 10 racing dates in December, which marked the earliest opening in its 117-year history. The Poinsettia goes as the ninth of 10 races, with probable post 4:13 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:30 p.m.
Super Stock exits a 1 ¼-length victory in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby Nov. 23 at Zia Park for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and his father/co-owner, Keith Asmussen. Super Stock has earned $1,151,677 in his 14-race career, collecting roughly half that total from an upset victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) last April at Oaklawn. In addition to the Arkansas Derby, Super Stock won the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby Aug. 15 at Ellis Park. Steve Asmussen has tapped Luis Contreras to ride Super Stock for the first time in the Poinsettia.
The Poinsettia also drew Flash of Mischief for trainer Karl Broberg and Texas breeder/owner Jerry Namy. Flash of Mischief has finished ahead of Super Stock in two meetings this year – $250,000 Iowa Derby July 2 at Prairie Meadows (second) and $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sept. 26 at Remington Park (second) – and owns victories in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby Aug. 28 at FanDuel Sportsbook And Horse Racing and the $100,000 Delta Mile Stakes Nov. 13 at Delta Downs.
Broberg said Flash of Mischief has been at Oaklawn for approximately two weeks after winning the Delta Mile, his first start against older horses.
“He’s come around nicely,” said Broberg, the country’s winningest trainer in 2014-2019. “He surprises me every time. It’s a super-tough spot. Super Stock, you obviously don’t expect to see an earner like that in a purse of this caliber at this time of year, but it’s the last chance for people to run against 3-year-olds. I was not pleased to see him in there, but Flash of Mischief is doing great and just continues to surprise. We shipped him up early enough to get acclimated. Whoever wins the race is going to have to bring their ‘A’ game. That’s all I’m going to say.”
The projected Poinsettia field from the rail out: Last Samurai, Jon Court to ride, 121 pounds, 5-1 on the morning line; Defeater, Ricardo Santana Jr., 124, 3-1; Flash of Mischief, Ramon Vazquez, 124, 5-2; Super Stock, Luis Contreras, 124, 9-5; Myopic, David Cohen, 117, 12-1; Simovitch, Florent Geroux, 124, 8-1; and Ram, Francisco Arrieta, 124, 12-1.
Last Samurai finished fifth behind Super Stock in the Arkansas Derby for trainer Dallas Stewart. Defeater ran sixth in the Oklahoma Derby for trainer Tom Amoss. Ram broke his maiden last April at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before being beaten a head in the $150,000 Perryville Stakes Oct. 23 at Keeneland.
“He’s been knocking at the door against the better-type horses,” Lukas said. “This looks like a good spot, to me, for him. His numbers should fit that. I love the distance for him. That’s another thing. So, we’ll jump right in there.”
Myopic adds blinkers for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
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