Super Stock Upset Winner In Arkansas Derby
The Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park was supposed to be a coronation for Bob Baffert’s Concert Tour. Concert Tour was coming off an impressive win in the Rebel Stakes and all but penciled in as the morning line favorite for next month’s Kentucky Derby. But like the old saying goes ‘there’s a reason they run the races’. Concert Tour got into a test of speed with Caddo River at the top of the stretch which gave 6-1 betting choice Super Stock the opportunity to come from off the pace and win the $1 million Grade 1 race for trainer Steve Asmussen with Ricardo Santana, Jr aboard.
Super Stock had finished fourth behind Concert Tour at the Rebel Stakes but that had more to do with a bad trip and midrace traffic issues than any shortcomings of his own. With the Arkansas Derby victory he’s now in the field for the Kentucky Derby. The four top finishers all earned Kentucky Derby qualification points with 100 to Super Stock, 40 to Caddo River, 20 to Concert Tour and 10 to Get Her Number.
While trainer Asmussen affirmed that Super Stock came out of the race in fine shape there’s as of yet no word about Concert Tour. Trackside observers gave no reason for the loss such as injury or obstruction. In theory, Concert Tour could be due for a bounceback performance at Churchill Downs but the ‘glass half empty’ view is that he couldn’t get the job done in what was perceived as a ‘historically weak’ field on Saturday. Baffert now has to decide which scenario is more valid. Concert Tour’s jockey Joel Rosario said after the race that he was satisfied with his horse’s performance:
“Everything was going the right way. 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.”
Concert Tour will have enough in the way of qualification points to make the field for the Kentucky Derby. He’s currently in ninth place with 70 points. Super Stock moves up to third in the points standing (109) behind Hot Rod Charlie (110) and Blue Grass Stakes winner Essential Quality (140).