Stakes Advance - Poinsettia

Compiled by Robert Yates

I’m the Boss of Me seeks her first career stakes victory in the $150,000 Poinsettia for female sprinters Saturday at Oaklawn.

The Poinsettia, for 3-year-olds and up, highlights a 10-race card that begins at 12:30 p.m. (Central). Probable post time for the 5 ½-furlong Poinsettia, the ninth race, is 4:14 p.m.

The seven-horse Poinsettia field from the rail out: High Class, Cristian Torres to ride, 122 pounds, 2-1 on the morning line; Dealing Justice, Ramsey Zimmerman, 124; 15-1; I’m the Boss of Me, Francisco Arrieta, 124, 4-1; Margoinabubblebath, Emmanuel Esquivel, 122, 6-1; She’s Storming, Kylee Jordan, 122, 20-1; Topsy, Ricardo Santana Jr., 119, 9-5; and Chandana, Rafael Bejarano, 117, 10-1.

I’m the Boss of Me is winless in five career stakes starts, but the 5-year-old daughter of Midshipman has two runner-up finishes and one third against top company.

I’m the Boss of Me ran in three sprint stakes for females last season at Oaklawn, finishing fourth behind Grade 3 winner Pretty Birdie in the Poinsettia, second behind future Grade 3 winner Hot and Sultry in the $150,000 American Beauty and third behind Grade 2 winner Wicked Halo and Grade 1 winner Matareya in the inaugural $250,000 Matron in March.

The closest call came in the American Beauty, where I’m the Boss of Me was beaten a half-length after holding a narrow lead in midstretch. I’m the Boss of Me also finished third, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the $100,000 Skipat Stakes at 6 furlongs May 20 at Pimlico.

“We’ve been close,” trainer Greg Compton said. “Hopefully, we can check this off the list. It looks like a good spot for her. It’s not the toughest field in the world, but there are some horses in there on the improve.”

I’m the Boss of Me was a sharp allowance winner April 21 at Oaklawn and exits a fifth-place finish in the $100,000 Dashing Beauty Stakes July 8 at Delaware Park. Both races were six furlongs. I’m the Boss of Me has five published workouts this season at Oaklawn in advance of her comeback.

Compton said he planned to run I’m the Boss of Me in a Dec. 8 allowance sprint at Oaklawn, but the race didn’t fill.

“Wanted to get a race over the track, but she’s run well before fresh,” Compton said.

Compton, seeking his first career Oaklawn stakes victory, co-owns I’m the Boss of Me with Danny Brown and Brown’s fiancé, Charis Brenneman. They also campaign Willy D’s, who finished second at odds of 67-1 in the $150,000 Advent Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters Dec. 8 at Oaklawn. The trio claimed I’m the Boss of Me for $50,000 out of a Dec. 31, 2021, sprint victory at Oaklawn.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who has a record 105 career Oaklawn stakes victories, sends out High Class and Topsy. High Class won two consecutive allowance sprints this fall at Churchill Downs. Program favorite Topsy exits a one-length victory in the $100,000 Zia Park Distaff Stakes at 6 furlongs Nov. 28 at Zia Park.