Shelly McShane / Coady Photography

ALTOONA, IA—AUGUST 18, 2012—Mary Kirby's Chi Ter dueled early with Cruzin The Wagon before drawing off to a three-quarter length victory in the 22nd running of the $51,750 Keokuk Stakes at Prairie Meadows Saturday night.
It was the 5-year-old's 15th career win and the $28,462 winner's purse pushed his career total to $376,608. Under jockey Jesus Salazar the Jackie Kirby trainee completed the 400 yards in :19.470 seconds, a 104 speed index.
Herb and Doris Pierce bred the Granite Lake gelding in Oklahoma from the Chicks Beduino mare This Chicks Stylish. He has a 15-5-4 record in 36 starts.
Coming off a win in the RG3 Jack Brooks Stakes at Remington Park on May 20, Terry and Mary Pursel's Cruzin The Wagon earned $8,797 for second. Brent Clay trains the super consistent Pyc Paint Your Wagon filly that is 9-2-0 in 12 starts with earnings of $293,629.
Ridden by Stormy Smith, the filly kicked off the season with a win in the Oklahoma Derby before finishing second in the Remington Park Derby. Michael Pohl bred Cruzin The Wagon from the Okey Dokey Dale mare Penelope Cruzin.
Still looking for his first win this season, Giorgino put in a steady effort to finish third, earning $5,175. Kasey Willis saddled the homebred Apollo (TB) colt for Jorge Haddad. Ridden by Agustin Silva, the multiple graded stakes winner comes off a super 3-year-old season that included appearance in both the Ruidoso Derby(G1) and Rainbow Derby(G1) at Ruidoso Downs.
An earner of more than $308,000, Giorgino is from the First Down Dash mare Las Alamitos and a half-brother to Heritage Place Futurity(G1) winner Ragazzo.
Completing the field were Jesse In Town, Believers Gathering, Jess Katiebug Blue, First Black Wagon, T Gold J, Surprise Ending and Streakin Rare.
















