Prayer for Relief guts out Iowa Derby win

Last updated: 6/26/11 1:07 PM

Prayer for Relieve gave Baffert back-to-back Iowa Derby scores
(Jack Coady/Coady Photography)

Last year, trainer Bob Baffert shipped Concord Point (Tapit) from his
California base to Prairie Meadows for the Iowa Derby (G3). The move paid off as
the colt scored by 8 1/2 lengths before going on to take the West Virginia Derby
(G2) at Mountaineer Park.

On Saturday night, history repeated itself when the Baffert shipper PRAYER
FOR RELIEF (Jump Start) pulled out a two-length victory in the
Iowa
Derby over a tenacious Sherriff Cogburn (Vindication). The Zayat Stable
colorbearer ran 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt at Prairie Meadows in 1:41 3/5
under Rafael Bejarano to add a first stakes win to his resume.

Prayer for Relief attempted to take the lead in the race, but longshot Marco’s Fling (Marco Bay)
ranged up to grab command to his outside. The dark bay colt briefly dueled with
his rival, but Bejarano eventually settled him into a stalking position just
behind that one. Chosen Miracle (Ghostzapper) kept pace outside of Prayer for
Relief as Marco’s Fling posted splits of :23, :46 4/5 and 1:10 4/5.

Bejarano sent Prayer for Relief after the longtime leader nearing the turn
and, by the time they hit the stretch, the three-year-old had grabbed the
advantage. However, he found a new challenger in the form of Sherriff Cogburn
running to his outside. The two momentarily battled it out, but Prayer for
Relief would not be denied and claimed the victory as the 5-1 third choice,
paying $13.60, $6.40 and $6.20.

Sherriff Cogburn was easily best of the rest, finishing 5 1/2 lengths in
front of Dreaminofthewin (Successful Appeal). Caleb’s Posse (Posse), Marco’s
Fling, 1-2 favorite Astrology (A.P. Indy) and Chosen Miracle finished out the
order under the wire after Irish Lion (Lion Hearted) was withdrawn.

Prayer for Relief broke his maiden during last year’s Oak Tree at Hollywood
Park meet before running second in the Real Quiet S. in early November. He
didn’t reappear until May 29, when he captured an allowance at Hollywood by
three parts of a length. The lightly raced colt boosted his lifetime earnings to
$214,000 with Saturday’s win, and his line now reads 6-3-1-0.

Bred in Kentucky by G.R. Aschinger, Prayer for Relief RNAed at $39,000 as a
Keeneland November weanling before selling for $80,000 at the 2009 Keeneland
September Yearling Sale. He is out of multiple stakes winner Sparklin Lil (Mr.
Sparkles) and is a half-brother to dual stakes victor Twin Sparks (Twining), the
unraced juvenile Conundrum (Kitalpha), an unnamed yearling colt by Kitalpha and
a 2011 colt by that same sire. This is the same family as 1985 Vosburgh S. (G1)
scorer Another Reef (Plum Bold).