Super Stock gains Kentucky Derby berth with Arkansas Derby victory

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Super Stock secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate and handed Concert Tour the first defeat of his career Saturday when he moved past Concert Tour in the stretch for a 2 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby.

Caddo River finished second in the 1 1/8-mile race, a head in front of third-place finisher Concert Tour. Get Her Number finished fourth, a half-length behind Concert Tour. The first four finishers earned Kentucky Derby points on a scale of 100-40-20-10, with Super Stock, Caddo River, and Concert Tour all among the top 20 in points for the Kentucky Derby, according to the latest leaderboard issued by Churchill. Super Stock is third, Concert Tour is ninth, and Caddo River is 13th.

The Arkansas Derby was the richest of four stakes on the Saturday card and was contested under sunny skies, before an estimated ontrack crowd of 17,000. The program was part of the Racing Festival of the South, which continues next Saturday with the running of a pair of $1 million races, the Apple Blossom and Oaklawn Handicap. Handle on the 13-race card Saturday was $21,100,134.

:: Bet horse racing on DRF Bets. Double Your First Deposit Up to $250. Join Now.

Super Stock ($26.40) was bumped out of the gate and settled in third along the rail behind Caddo River and Concert Tour. Caddo River set fractions of 22.62 for the opening quarter, 46.51 for the half-mile and 1:11.25 for six furlongs, while pushed along by Concert Tour. The eventual winner was moved off the rail by jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. on the final turn, followed the leaders into the stretch, then was angled outside of that pair. Super Stock finished with authority, and covered the 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:50.92.

Super Stock was given a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The horse has just been touting himself, getting better and better,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said in an interview broadcast by Oaklawn.

Super Stock won his maiden in the $113,000 colts and geldings division of the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity last August at Lone Star Park under Keith James Asmussen, the son of Steve Asmussen and the grandson of Super Stock’s co-owner Keith Asmussen. The youngest Asmussen returned to university not long after the race to continue his education after what was a temporary riding career that came together during the coronavirus pandemic at his home track of Lone Star.

Super Stock, meanwhile, went on to run third in the Grade 3 Iroquois in September at Churchill Downs, third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 3 at Keeneland, and second by a half-length in the Street Sense back at Churchill. He launched his 3-year-old season in the Rebel and finished fourth, 6 1/2 lengths behind winner Concert Tour.

“It truly is just a blessing to have this sort of success,” Asmussen said of the family connection during the interview. “My mom and dad to be here, what the horse has already meant to the family – to win the Arkansas Derby on such a beautiful day.”

Steve Asmussen said plans are to advance to the Kentucky Derby.

Super Stock earned $600,000 for the victory in the Arkansas Derby to improve his record to 2 for 8 for earnings of $804,762. He is a son of Dialed In and was bred in Kentucky by Pedro Gonzalez and P.J. Gonzalez.

Erv Woolsey co-owns Super Stock with Keith Asmussen. The men have long been partners in horses. Steve Asmussen leads the nation in wins and earnings in 2021.

Jockey Joel Rosario rode Concert Tour.

“Everything was going the right way,” Rosario told publicity at Oaklawn. “I was happy where I was, following the horse on the lead. I got to him. He kept going, but that horse [Super Stock] came strong on the outside. He tried hard. He was moving good, doing everything right. That horse that won came running today.”