Super Stock dominates Ellis Park Derby
HENDERSON, Ky. – In the time that has passed since Super Stock won the Arkansas Derby, the race has been maligned by handicappers. None of its six starters had gotten much done out of the April 10 race, including the winner.
That didn’t stop bettors from making Super Stock the even-money favorite Sunday in the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby – nor did it deter the colt from returning to peak form with a dominating 3 3/4-length victory in the signature race of the summer meet at what is fondly known as “The Pea Patch.”
“He’s back,” jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. said after Super Stock stalked Colonel Bowman into defeat in the 1 1/8-mile race, then turned back a bid from There Goes Harvard in midstretch. “He broke good and put me in a position that he really liked to be. I was sitting second behind that other horse and I knew he was going to finish up.”
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Super Stock, trained by Steve Asmussen, returned $4 after finishing in 1:48.89. In three starts since the Arkansas Derby, the Dialed In colt had finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby, then fourth in the Texas Derby and Iowa Derby. The others exiting the Arkansas Derby also have had similarly unproductive records in the interim.
“I think it was a matter of how much he’s liked being here at Ellis Park,” said Darren Fleming, Asmussen’s on-site assistant. “He’d really been doing well.”
There Goes Harvard was second in the field of six 3-year-olds, another two lengths before Sermononthemount, who trailed much of the way before getting up for third.
“I really thought I had a shot at the quarter-pole, but the winner got away from us,” said Joe Talamo, who rode There Goes Harvard. “Hats off to the winners.”
Super Stock is owned by Asmussen’s father, Keith, in partnership with longtime client Erv Woolsey. He now has won three of 12 starts and has earned $957,677.
Four other stakes surrounded the Ellis Derby on a nine-race card, with early speed dominating all five run over a fast main track. These were the last five stakes at a 31-day meet that runs through Sept. 4. Kentucky Downs begins its six-day meet Sept. 5.
$123,679 Groupie Doll
Matera, who drew in as the lone also-eligible in an original field of 13 fillies and mares when her Brad Cox stablemate, Lady Rocket, was an early scratch, wore down the 2020 winner, Lady Kate, in taking this one-mile race by a neck. The winner paid $18.40 after finishing in 1:36.41.
“Lucky 13!” winning jockey Florent Geroux exclaimed afterward. “It worked out great. We got lucky with the scratch. When she broke good from her outside post, I just took it from there. Lady Kate put up a good fight, but got a little short there at the end.”
Matera, a 4-year-old Tapit filly owned by the Don Alberto Stable, was coming off a victory in the July 7 Mari Hulman George Memorial at Indiana Grand and now has won four of her last five starts.
Lady Kate, in front all the way, was another two lengths before late-running High Regard, who was up for third in the field of 12.
This was the third win for Cox since this race was renamed in 2015 to honor Groupie Doll, the two-time Eclipse filly-mare sprint champion; it was formerly known as the Gardenia. Cox, who watched Sunday from Saratoga, previously won with Call Pat (2015) and Tiger Moth (2017).
Retired trainer Buff Bradley, who won the Gardenia in 2011 with Groupie Doll, was on hand to present the winner’s trophy.
$99,250 Audubon Oaks
Carribean Caper remained unbeaten in four starts when getting the best of Magic Quest following a sustained duel that got under way in earnest as the field entered the far turn of the seven-furlong Audubon Oaks.
In a matchup of riding brothers, Colby Hernandez was aboard Carribean Caper when finally pushing ahead late to finish a length in front of Magic Quest, who had led from the opening stages under Brian Hernandez Jr. A field of seven 3-year-old fillies started, with Minute Waltz another 3 1/4 lengths back in third.
Carribean Caper, a Speightstown filly trained by Al Stall Jr. for the Columbine Stable of Andrea Pollack, returned $4 as favorite after finishing in 1:22.09. This was her stakes debut following victories in a maiden race and two allowances that totaled 17 lengths.
“She just wouldn’t be denied,” said Stall, adding her next start could come in the Sept. 25 Dogwood at Churchill Downs and/or the Oct. 23 Raven Run at Keeneland.
$124,750 Ellis Juvenile
Roger McQueen held on grimly after leading from the start of the seven-furlong Juvenile, prevailing by a half-length over Lucky Boss and even-money favorite Costa Terra in a three-way go from the eighth pole to the wire.
Adam Beschizza was aboard Roger McQueen, a 2-year-old Candy Ride colt shipped here from Chicago by trainer Larry Rivelli on behalf of owner Carolyn Wilson. Roger McQueen was coming off a five-length maiden win here July 17.
“It was a pretty straightforward trip,” Beschizza said. “He’s not over-aggressive. He was pretty quick to rate and relax on the front end.”
Lucky Boss was second by a head over Costa Terra, whose jockey, Santana, was making his lone appearance at this meet while otherwise riding at Saratoga.
$125,000 Ellis Debutante
Verylittlecents took early command in the seven-furlong Debutante and never looked back when shaking off a couple of mild bids before drawing clear to a 2 1/2-length triumph.
Joe Talamo was aboard Verylittlecents for owner Randy Patterson and trainer Randy Morse in winning for the second straight time at this meet, following a July 11 maiden score at five furlongs. She returned $4.60 as favorite in a field of six 2-year-old fillies after finishing in 1:23.32.
“When she made the lead that easy up the backside, I was liking it,” Morse said. “I sure do think she’s got some talent.”
An objection against the winner by Chris Landeros, who rode runner-up Golden Sights, was disallowed. The top two finishers both are daughters of Goldencents.