Asmussen Bullish on Super Stock in Iowa Derby

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Asmussen Bullish on Super Stock in Iowa Derby
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Photo: Chad B. Harmon
Super Stock trains April 26 leading up to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs

The Iowa Derby fell from grade 3 to listed status in 2018, but the $250,000 event remains on the radar for the connections of promising 3-year-olds.

A field of nine was entered for the 1 1/16-mile dirt race July 2 at Prairie Meadows, led by Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Super Stock  and stakes-winning Nova Rags . Graded-placed Proxy  will be scratched due to a hind-leg setback, trainer Mike Stidham said. 

Keith Asmussen and Erv Woolsey's Super Stock is the leading money earner with earnings of $822,762. Following his Arkansas Derby victory, he ran 16th of 19 in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs May 1. He followed that race with a fourth-place finish with a troubled trip in the $300,000 Texas Derby at Lone Star Park May 31.

Farther off the pace than usual in the Texas Derby, he was part of a scrum into the first turn in which rival Get Her Number  clipped his heels. Super Stock rallied belatedly to finish 3 1/2 lengths behind victorious Warrant . A further excuse might have been the sloppy track condition.

"It was run in a deluge," said Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

Asmussen likes the timing of the Iowa Derby for Super Stock, as well as for Stonestreet Stables'  Pauline's Pearl  in the Iowa Oaks (G3)—one of two other races in which he has starters at Prairie Meadows Friday night. He also runs Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold  in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3).

The timing of the Kentucky Derby this spring wasn't as favorable for Super Stock, nor did the Texas Derby work out how Asmussen wanted.

"Running back in the Derby was a little quick off his lifetime best in the Arkansas Derby, regressed just a tad," the trainer said. "He had anything but a decent trip in the Texas Derby there, but he's trained solidly. Very fun horse to run."

Under Ricardo Santana Jr., he shares high weight of 122 pounds with Stilleto Boy  and Snow House . Five of their rivals carry 116. Proxy had been assigned 113.

Nova Rags is graded-placed, having been third behind Drain the Clock  and Jackie's Warrior  in the Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Nassau County Industrial Development Agency (G1) at Belmont Park June 5 and second in both the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) and Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) this year. The Union Rags   colt won the Pasco Stakes for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and owner/breeder Michael Shanley in January at Tampa Bay Downs.

He breaks from the outside post under Junior Alvarado.

Other Iowa Derby contenders include Snow House, a winner of two of three starts, Prairie Mile Stakes 1-2 finishers Gagetown  and Flash of Mischief , and Texas Derby third-place finisher Rightandjust .


Entries: Iowa Derby

Prairie Meadows, Friday, July 02, 2021, Race 6

  • STK
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $250,000
  • 3 yo
  • 8:12 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Proxy (KY) Joe Bravo 113 Michael Stidham 4/1
2 2Super Stock (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Ricardo Santana, Jr. 122 Steven M. Asmussen 7/2
3 3Bourbon Thunder (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Chris Landeros 116 Ian R. Wilkes 15/1
4 4Flash of Mischief (KY) Elvin Gonzalez 116 Karl Broberg 8/1
5 5Stilleto Boy (KY) Fernando De La Cruz 122 Doug L. Anderson 12/1
6 6Rightandjust (KY) David Cabrera 116 Shane Wilson 6/1
7 7Gagetown (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Florent Geroux 116 Brad H. Cox 6/1
8 8Snow House (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Brad H. Cox 8/1
9 9Nova Rags (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Junior Alvarado 116 William I. Mott 5/1