Kentucky Derby: Asmussen pleased with Super Stock's final work
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Arkansas Derby, on April 10 this year, was the last major Kentucky Derby prep, and since Super Stock won the Arkansas Derby just two weeks ago, the tenor of his final Derby workout Saturday at Churchill Downs was relatively muted.
Going in company with and working outside of 4-year-old Max Player, Super Stock was clocked by Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch going five furlongs in 1:01.04, galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.54. It was a solid enough drill as Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, seeking his first Derby win, tries to balance adequately readying Super Stock for the very real rigors of the Derby while not doing too much with a horse coming back three weeks after a career-best performance.
“This was considerably more than I’d typically do the week of a race, but it was his one move” between races, Asmussen said after sending Super Stock out shortly after the track opened at 5:15 a.m. “I’m extremely pleased with where the horse is – his confidence level, how he’s moving, everything that he’s done to this point. He’s comfortable and loose. He’s a fast horse right now, which is exactly what you want.”
Asmussen’s second intended Derby runner, Midnight Bourbon, had a routine gallop of about 1 1/2 miles Saturday morning.
“Ideal,” Asmussen said of the session. “He’s in rhythm. We’ll be looking for a little half-mile from him Monday.”
Midnight Bourbon raced three times this winter at Fair Grounds, winning the Lecomte in January, finishing third in the Risen Star in February and second to Hot Rod Charlie in the March 20 Louisiana Derby.