Iowa Festival of Racing Full Preview

Friday

Saylorville Stakes

The Pick:#2 Dancin’ Lil

The Longshot:#5 Cruzette

Race Analysis:

#1 Broken Blues – Has won 4 of 5 this year including 2 in a row at Prairie Meadows.  This is a class jump, but she might be ready.

#2 Dancin’ Lil – Has been flawless since leading owner Danny Caldwell claimed her.  Hasn’t ran since April, but we think she’ll fire big off the freshening.

#3 Zuni Women – Recent allowance winner at Prairie Meadows, but does she fit class wise?

#4 American Sugar – Tough as can be when sprinting, and won the local prep for this one.  Has every chance to win and is a must use on all tickets.

#5 Cruzette – Was third in the prep for this one last time out, but she definitely needed that race.  Second off the layoff…look for her to run huge.

#6 Canopy Lane – Second in the local prep, and should compete well in here.  Play her on the bottom of tri’s and supers.

#7 Flashy Campaign – Ran against some tough competition last time out at Chruchill Downs, but still might not be good enough to win this one.

#8 Elitism – Another with a recent win at Prairie Meadows, but this race has probably come up a little too tough for her.

#9 Challenging – Doesn’t look to fit in with this bunch at all.  Probably the least likely to win.

#10 Livi Makenzie – Won this race last year and has a shot again although her form isn’t quite as sharp.  Cross entered in the Iowa Distaff, but think this is her race.

#11 Even Song – Showed signs last time of perhaps coming around a little bit, but the waters are pretty deep here.

Iowa Distaff

The Pick:#6 Quiet Success

The Longshot:#9 Hung the Moon

Race Analysis:

#1 Gigglin’ Gal – Curious entry here…doesn’t look like she has much of chance.

#2 Clarinda – Another that doesn’t look to have much of a shot.

#3 Hitechnoweenie – She won the Panthers Stakes here last year, and finished second in the local prep for this one.  Should be set up for a big race.

#4 Glorys Last Chance – Ran decent in the prep for this one, but may not be fast enough.

#5 Lady Haddassah – Might have an outside chance if she run back to her February form…but she hasn’t ran since that nice race so its a question mark.

#6 Quiet Success – Has proven success at tracks like these, and should take advantage of a so-so field.

#7 Liberty Girl – Yet another entry in here that is a head-scratcher.

#8 Livi Makenzie – Think she’ll opt for the Saylorville Stakes, but this spot is a little easier.

#9 Hung the Moon – Won the local prep and looks to be in great form again.  Dangerous and should have every chance to win.

#10 Diva’s Diamond – Consistent as can be, but how will she do outside of Illinois bred company.

Iowa Sprint Handicap

The Pick:#5 Delaunay

The Longshot:#1 Apprehender

Race Analysis:

#1 Apprehender – Ran perhaps the strangest race ever last time out, but still finished second.  Great play at 8-1.

#2 Alsvid – As classy as any horse can be, and won the local prep race for this.  Has every chance to win this one.

#3 Work All Week – All he does is win!  It was awfully hard to pick against him, but he’s a must use on all tickets.

#4 Frederico – Tough horse, but this spot is extremely difficult.  Will have to run a career best race.

#5 Delaunay – He’s starting to round back in form…think he makes up for getting upset in this race last year.

#6 Mico Margarita – Certainly is good enough for a race like this, but this race has come up very tough.  Think he might struggle a bit…

Saturday

Iowa Oaks (Grade 3)

The Pick:#7 Thank You Marylou

The Longshot:#2 Designer Legs

Race Analysis:

#1 Awesome Jill – Comes in off a nice allowance win at Churchill Downs…could be improving at the right time.

#2 Designer Legs – Could be rounding back into form, and has ran some sneaky good races.  Love the price…worth a shot.

#3 Size – Up and comer for Bill Mott fits perfectly into this race…dangerous!

#4 Ria Antonia – Who knows what we can expect from here.  Just glad they have finally put her in the right spot.

#5 Sugar Shock – Deserving favorite, but do believe she’s beatable.  Didn’t look super in winning the local prep, which was a lot weaker than this race.

#6 Tiz Windy – Another Churchill Downs shipper that has ran some solid races recently. Have to respect the connections as well.

#7 Thank You Marylou – She’s the classiest one of the bunch, and this spot looks to be perfect for her.  Think she’s ready to find the winners circle again…

#8 Senior Prom – Two wins in a row at Churchill Downs…yet another that can upset this field.

#9 Dream Spinner – Ran well in the local preps for this one, but this race is a whole new ballgame.

Iowa Derby (Grade 3)

The Pick:#8 Vicar’s In Trouble

The Longshot:#4 Smack Smack

Race Analysis:

#1 Embellishing Bob – He’s proven he can go a one turn mile, but can he go two turns at a mile and one sixteenth?  Probably a good chance he can.

#2 Russellin – Horse is on the rise, and his local prep race was strong.  Little bit of a class jump here…but could handle it.

#3 Six Spot – First graded stakes try, but it’s probably time.  Has ran fairly well in a couple of ungraded stakes, but still looking for his first stakes win.

#4 Smack Smack – Hasn’t come back from injury quite as good as his two year old year, but his last race was an improvement.  One more jump up gives him a shot.

#5 Charge Now – Winner of two in a row is the up and comer of the field.  Definitely ready for this spot.

#6 Jessica’s Star – Upset winner of the Prairie Mile last time out looks to become a grade 3 winner.  It might not be the worst field to give it a try in…

#7 I Got It All – Illinois bred stepping into open company…always a mystery.

#8 Vicar’s In Trouble – Easily the class of this field.  Should romp if ready to run.

#9 Tairneach – Proved he had some class last time out in the Prairie Mile, but still thinking this might be too steep for him.

Cornhusker Handicap (Grade 3)

The Pick:#7 Carve

The Longshot:#4 Right to Vote

Race Analysis:

#1 Eriugena – Tried a weird a race last time out, but this looks to be a better spot.  Still leaning towards others a bit more.

#2 Lent – Horse looks to be out-classed in this spot.

#3 Bellarmine – Big Churchill allowance winner fits the bill as many other previous Iowa Racing Festival winners.  Churchill shippers have done very well.

#4 Right to Vote – Won the local prep race for this one, and should have a big chance to win in this spot.  Has found a home going a route of ground.

#5 Coin Broker – Ran a nice third in the Alysheba last time out…this race makes a lot of sense.

#6 Ground Transport – Another that comes out of the Brooklyn Handicap, and like Eriugena this spot makes a lot more sense.

#7 Carve – Took a couple of shots against tougher stakes company, but this spot should be perfect for him.  Looks to get his first stakes victory.

#8 Golden Ticket – Surprising that they are bringing him back on short rest like this.  He hasn’t had a victory since the Prairie Meadows Handicap in late July of last year.  Vulnerable favorite??