Top Connections Back at Prairie Meadows
Oklahoma-based Danny Caldwell, leading owner at Prairie Meadows in 2014, will have approximately 30 horses stabled at this Altoona, IA race track when the 2015 Thoroughbred season opens on Saturday April 18.
“I’m coming back, whether you like it or not,” kidded Caldwell by phone last week. “I was thinking about trying Churchill Downs this year, but –in the end– I decided to come back and defend my title.”
“I think my horses would have done well in Kentucky,” he added. “But (my trainer) Federico (Villafranco) and I know what it takes to win at Prairie Meadows. I’ve claimed a few horses recently that should fit well and might be able to win in Iowa.”
Caldwell, who won 40 races at Prairie Meadows last season and dethroned eleven-time leading owner Maggi Moss, had his best year as a Thoroughbred owner in 2014. He tallied 105 wins from 379 starters and finished as the 8th leading owner in North America.
Jockey Ramon Vazquez will return to ride “first call” for Caldwell and Villafranco. Vazquez finished 3rd in the Prairie Meadows standings last season behind David Mello (100) and Alex Birzer (78) with 64 wins.
Vazquez will be represented at Prairie Meadows in 2015 by agent Vincente Hakspiel, a newcomer to Iowa. Hakspiel, a retired military veteran and longtime handicapper, has booked mounts over the last two years for Tommy Turner, Joshua Navarro, and Jose Luis Medina.
“I’ve been at Oaklawn Park walking the barns and developing relationships with the trainers who will move on to Prairie Meadows,” Hakspiel said. “We’ll ride first call for Danny Caldwell, but I hope to get on horses for Chris Richard and other trainers.”
Thoroughbred racing at Prairie Meadows in 2015 will be offered typically on a Thursday through Sunday schedule between April 18 and August 8. There are some exceptions including a two-day first week and a three-day second week.
The complete racing calendar, including regular and special post times, can be found online at http://www.prairiemeadows.com/
Source: Prairie Meadows