Nearly nine lengths adrift of the leaders and about seven behind his closest rival, Hence had plenty to do in the final half-mile of the $250,000 Iowa Derby (G3) Friday night at Prairie Meadows.
Fortunately for the backers of the 7-2 third choice, the Calumet Farm homebred kicked into gear around the far turn, making a sweeping five-wide move into contention under Mike Smith, and sustained that bid to the wire to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:42.84 for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Hence paid $9.40. It was the second stakes win of the evening for Smith and Asmussen, who also teamed up to win the $101,733 Iowa Distaff with Danzatrice.
McCormick, pressured throughout while setting an early pace of :23.98, :48.05 and 1:11.92, held second by a length over Impressive Edge. Petrov, the 2-1 favorite, faded to fifth in the field of eight.
This was the second career stakes win for Hence, who closed from off of a hot pace to win the March 26 Sunland Derby (G3) by 3 3/4 lengths. A non-threatening 11th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) next out, Hence entered the Iowa Derby having finished ninth in a field of 10 for the Preakness (G1).
By Street Boss and out of the A.P. Indy mare Floating Island, Hence is from the family of Canadian champion Marchfield. He’s now earned $612,001 from a line of 9-3-1-1.
