Work All Week Fights Off Delaunay in Iowa Sprint

Not even the summer rains could dampen the spirit of all fans of Illinois racing and breeding last night deep in the heart of Iowa. On night one of Prairie Meadow’s Iowa Festival of racing, it was the five-year-old Illinois-bred gelding, Work All Week who stole the show.

Somehow the reigning Illinois Horse of the Year had escaped the national spotlight despite enjoying an extended winning steak heading into last night’s showdown with the heavily favored Delaunay. Those days of anonymity might now be over, as the Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. owned chestnut bravely fought off every advance from the multiple stakes winning even money favorite. Delaunay would get close, but in the end, Work All Week would not be denied on his way to a half-length victory in the Iowa Sprint Handicap.

Now the winner of seven straight, Work All Week laid the gauntlet down by zipping right to the early lead through blazing fractions of 21.92 seconds and 43.99, with Delaunay in close pursuit. Those two retained their position heading into the stretch run with the other four in the field not able to make much noise against the fleet footed top two. Delaunay cut into the advantage until it was gone early in the stretch, but Work All and jockey Chris Emigh were ready for the challenge.

As two of the fastest sprinters in the land hit the sixteenth pole, it was clear that the early leader was going just a bit better. Work All Week edged in front late and hit the wire in an excellent 108.16 for the six furlongs over the muddy track. Delaunay, who was an easy winner of a graded stakes at Churchill Downs in his last start, was much the best of the rest, and easily held second, 2 ¼ lengths clear of Mico Margarita for the place money.

Work All Week, an Illinois-bred homebred, raised his lifetime record to a sparkling 12-10-1-0 for trainer Roger Brueggemann. His only off the board finish came when running a turf route in his career debut. Since then, he is only one scant nose short, in a sprint stakes at Arlington Park, of being a perfect 11-for-11.

One race prior to the Iowa Sprint Handicap, it was another big win for an Illini-bred, when Diva’s Diamond wore down heavily favored Quiet Success in the stretch to win the $100,000 Iowa Distaff going away. Also a five-year-old homebred, Diva’s Diamond won her third dirt start in as many tries this year, for trainer Carlos Silva, and owner Asiel Stable. Ridden by Channing Hill, Diva’s Diamond won by two lengths while completing the 8 ½ furlongs in 1:44.16.