Super Stock, winner of the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) last April at Oaklawn, is among seven 3-year-olds entered in Saturday's inaugural $150,000 Poinsettia Stakes.
The 1 1/16-mile Poinsettia is one of four stakes Oaklawn created to accommodate 10 racing dates in December, which marked the earliest opening in its 117-year history. The Poinsettia goes as the ninth of 10 races, with probable post 4:13 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:30 p.m.
Super Stock exits a 1 ¼-length victory in the $250,000 Zia Park Derby Nov. 23 at Zia Park for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and his father/co-owner, Keith Asmussen. In addition to the Arkansas Derby, Super Stock won the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby Aug. 15 at Ellis Park.
Steve Asmussen has tapped Luis Contreras to ride Super Stock for the first time in the Poinsettia.
The Poinsettia also drew Flash of Mischief for trainer Karl Broberg. Flash of Mischief has finished ahead of Super Stock in two meetings this year – $250,000 Iowa Derby July 2 at Prairie Meadows and $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) Sept. 26 at Remington Park – and owns victories in the $250,000 St. Louis Derby Aug. 28 at FanDuel Sportsbook And Horse Racing and the $100,000 Delta Mile Stakes Nov. 13 at Delta Downs.
The projected Poinsettia field from the rail out: Last Samurai, Jon Court to ride, 121 pounds, 5-1 on the morning line; Defeater, Ricardo Santana Jr., 124, 3-1; Flash of Mischief, Ramon Vazquez, 124, 5-2; Super Stock, Luis Contreras, 124, 9-5; Myopic, David Cohen, 117, 12-1; Simovitch, Florent Geroux, 124, 8-1; and Ram, Francisco Arrieta, 124, 12-1.
Last Samurai finished fifth behind Super Stock in the Arkansas Derby for trainer Dallas Stewart. Defeater ran sixth in the Oklahoma Derby for trainer Tom Amoss. Ram broke his maiden last April at Oaklawn for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas before being beaten a head in the $150,000 Perryville Stakes Oct. 23 at Keeneland.
Myopic adds blinkers for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
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