Successful Dan, who exits a track record-setting victory in the Grade 2
Alysheba Stakes, and champion Hansen will add star power to the festivities at
Prairie Meadows Saturday night when they line up for the Grade 3, $300,000
Cornhusker
Handicap and Grade 3, $250,000
Iowa Derby,
respectively. The Iowa track will also offer the Grade 3, $200,000
Iowa Oaks
on its blockbuster program.
It’s been a remarkable comeback this year for Successful Dan, who was forced
to miss the entire 2011 season due to injuries. The six-year-old gelding
returned with a commendable one-length score over a stakes-quality
allowance/optional claiming field at Keeneland on April 6 before capturing the 1
1/16-mile Alysheba in 1:41 on May 4, netting a remarkable 114 BRIS Speed rating
for the latter.
Successful Dan has finished first in his last five starts, but was
controversially disqualified from the win in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap in
November 2010. Julien Leparoux will be in to guide the Charles Lopresti trainee,
who will spot his rivals two-to-eight pounds as the 121-pound highweight.
Only five rivals will line up to challenge Successful Dan, including
defending champion Headache, who is slated to make his 2012 bow for trainer Mike
Maker. The six-year-old gelding will have the services of Ramon Dominguez, who
is in town to ride Hansen. Grade 1 hero Awesome Gem, a venerable nine-year-old
gelding, will return after finishing second as the favorite last year. The Craig
Dollase chestnut exits a close runner-up in the Grade 3 Berkeley Handicap over
the Tapeta at Golden Gate Fields. David Flores will pilot the earner of more
$2.8 million.
Fort Larned will wheel back off a two-week rest following a disappointing
eighth in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap. A convincing winner of the Grade
3 Skip Away three starts back, the Ian Wilkes-conditioned four-year-old colt
turned in a commendable performance when finishing second by a length to
Successful Dan in the Alysheba. Brian Hernandez will regain the mount.
Shadowbdancing exits a 2 1/2-length local score in the Jim Rasmussen Memorial
and will show speed with jockey Israel Ocampo. Stakes victor Taptowne rounds out
the field.
Hansen is cross-entered to Saturday’s Red Legend Stakes at Charles Town, but
the nearly-white son of Tapit is considered likely to run in the Iowa Derby. A
runaway winner of his first two career starts at Turfway Park, the front-running
specialist secured champion two-year-old male honors when defeating Union Rags
in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall. The Maker trainee captured the Grade 3
Gotham and finished second in the Grade 1 Blue Grass earlier this year before
recording a ninth in the Kentucky Derby last out.
Hansen, who drew the rail with his regular rider, figures to appreciate the
cutback to 1 1/16 miles Saturday and will square off against only four foes.
Alsvid, a convincing winner of the Prairie Mile and Golden Circle Stakes in
his last two outings, is the main rival. The Officer colt will make his graded
debut for trainer Chris Hartman. Grade 2 Louisiana Derby upsetter Hero of Order
is also entered.
Six three-year-old fillies are set for the Iowa Oaks at 8 1/2 furlongs, with
Ice Cream Silence and Tapajo as the leading contenders.
Ice Cream Silence will bring a three-race win streak, including a five-length
score in the Optimistic Gal at Churchill Downs most recently, into her graded
debut, and Hernandez will be back up for Rusty Arnold. Tapajo hails from
the Steve Asmussen shedrow with a two-race win skein, posting easy wins in the
Panthers and Goldfinch at Prairie Meadows, and she’ll keep Alex Birzer in the
saddle.
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