Bye Byefreighttrain, under jockey Roberto Valero, winning the Grade 3 $45,000 Two Rivers Stakes on Saturday evening at Prairie Meadows.

© Coady Photography

ALTOONA, IA—OCTOBER 13, 2018—Bye Byefreighttrain took advantage of a clean trip and the rail to come home on top in the Grade 3 $45,000 Two Rivers Stakes on Saturday evening at Prairie Meadows.

The 5-year-old gelding was ridden to victory by Roberto Valero for trainer Shawna Manriquez. The pair finished the 440-yard race in 21.888 to earn a 95 speed index.

The win was the first of the year for the son of Freighttrain B, who was second in the 2017 running of the Two Rivers Stakes. In his nine starts in 2018, he had finished second twice, including the Grade 3 Keokuk Stakes, also at Prairie Meadows. He was third in the Skip Zimmerman Memorial Stakes and the 100-yard Dash in a Flash Stakes at Canterbury Park. With Saturday’s stakes win, his 2018 earnings now total $45,910 and he has earned over $313,000 in his career to date.

Bye Byefreighttrain ($10.60) is a homebred for L.P. Frank. He was bred in Oklahoma out of Bye Bye Bygones, by Takin on the Cash.

The post-time favorite for the Two Rivers was Ferrari James, who overcame a squeezed break to finish second, three-quarters of a length behind the winner and a neck ahead of Sissys Soquili in third place.

Ferrari James was ridden by Jonathan Dominguez and is trained by Manny Campos for owner Alfredo Botello. He was bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley and W.E. Smith, out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Ferrari Fast Prize.

The son of Ivory James most recently won the $45,000 Keokuk Stakes, defeating Bye Byefreighttrain by a neck, and he was the defending champion of the Two Rivers Stakes. As a 3-year-old, he qualified for the Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby (RG3) and the Canterbury Derby, and he won the Iowa Double Gold Derby and Altoona Derby at Prairie Meadows in 2016. The 4-year-old gelding has earnings of $260,000 in 27 career starts.

Sissys Soquili finished third in his first career stakes appearance. The 5-year-old gelding was ridden by David Brown and is trained by Brent Clay for Sisemore Ranch. Sisemore Ranch also bred Sissys Soquili in Oklahoma, by Louisiana Senator and out the Pure D Dash mare Pure D Zaks.

Sissys Soquili had three wins in five starts in 2018 prior to entering the Two Rivers. Over half of his lifetime efforts have come at Prairie Meadows, including his debut in 2015 and his maiden breaking effort in 2016.

Completing the field were Nsm Skydancer, Family Legacy, Faster Than Hasta, Corona Springs, Apollitical Approach, Franchise Player B and Ls Prince. Apollitical Approach finished in eighth place but disqualified and place ninth for interference.

About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given more than $1.6 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers more than 1,700 slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.