Six Stakes Selections for the Iowa Festival of Racing

Friday … Race 5 - The Iowa Distaff - In a matchup of two former Iowa Distaff winners, I like the 2013 winner, Flashy American just a bit better than the 2014 winner, Diva’s Diamond. While the latter will already be making her seventh start of this season, the former has been freshened by trainer Ken McPeek after a disappointing fifth place finish in the Grade 2 Azeri in March. She has been working great at Churchill Downs the past month, and now should be ready to roll for her second lifetime start at Prairie Meadows. Also, with a fair amount of speed in here, she should get the type of early pace best suited for her late run under rider, Shane Laviolette.

Race 6 - Iowa Sprint Handicap - Another race in which we are not going to break the bank here, but I think the third time in the Iowa Sprint will be the charm for the excellent Maggi Moss sprinter, Delaunay. Now eight, the winner of better than $1.1 million has an unusual three-race losing streak coming in, but not for poor racing. In his last, he was just beaten by a neck in the local prep after leading most of the way through fast fractions. The horse that narrowly beat him last time, Bobcat Jim, looks to be the main threat in here, but with Delaunay drawing the outside post in the small field, I expect him to dictate things on his terms. The old man has paid his dues in this race, now it is time to win the thing.

Race 7 - The Saylorville - After the male sprinters do their thing, it will be the distaff set’s chance to torch the main track at Prairie Meadows in the final stakes race of Friday evening. There are plenty of fast mares in here including the classy Sugar Shock, who has won her last three at the six panel trip, but the one I landed on is a true pro at sprinting. Heykittykittykitty has finished first or second in 14-of-16 lifetime, but her latest effort may have been her best yet, finishing second against a deep field in the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. The gray Ron Moquett trainee does not need to bring her track or her track condition with her, and is tactical enough to find a good spot throughout regardless of how the race unfolds. You have to like a horse like Heykittykittykitty, and in the Saylorville, I like her best.

Saturday … Race 5 - The Iowa Oaks - The first of three consecutive graded stakes races on Saturday evening, the female version of the Derby has attracted a deeper group than did the males. Sarah Sis is listed as the 7-2 morning line chalk, and probably is the one to beat, but there are five other fillies in here given a good chance as well, as evidenced by their 6-1 or lower pegging. As wide open as it looks, I hate to be on the favorite, so I will try to beat Sarah with the filly just to her inside, Sweet Success. The daughter of Candy Ride is stretching out from a nice seven furlong score for trainer George Arnold, and was relatively competitive in graded stakes racing before that. My guess is that she will appreciate the 8 ½  furlongs, especially if she can assume the role of early leader from her rail post position. I suspect that she will not be any lower than her 5-1 program odds.

Race 6 - Iowa Derby - I simply cannot get past the morning line favorite, Hillbilly Royalty, in this one. Not only does he possess the most speed in the race, but he also got in an excellent prep over the local strip while winning his first stakes race four weeks ago. The Donnie Von Hemel charge is only listed as 7-2, so it’s not likely he will be bet down too low. I would suggest jumping on the winner of 3-of-6 lifetime if he goes off at those odds, as this seems like a perfect spot for him to become a graded stakes winner. Of the rest, the lightly raced Bent On Bourbon looks to be developing into a nice runner for trainer Eddie Kenneally, and would be the most likely horse to upset the Hillbilly.

Race 7 - Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap - The good people at Prairie Meadows saved the best for last, as the final stakes race of the two-day Festival, is the best one. Solid graded stakes types like Carve, Golden Lad, and Tapiture lead the way, and deserve top billing, but there are a number of interesting candidates in here more than willing to topple the corn cart. I am going to go with one option from column A, and once option from column B. Of the favorites, I like Golden Lad the best. He has the speed to be right there all the way, and his last at Penn National underlines his good form. Javier Castellano clearly liked what he had that day, and his return mount only helps the chances of the 7-of-14 lifetime runner. Of the interesting value horses, I’ve landed on the tactical Jessica’s Star. He won the local prep for this nicely to raise his record at PM to 3-for-3. This is a class test for him, but I think the Iowa Derby winner of 2014 may well be up to the challenge.