Saturday card at Prairie Meadows will feature the $48,714 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge and the $56,006 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

ATLOONA, IA–AUGUST 15, 2026–The Saturday evening card at Prairie Meadows will feature another night of championship-caliber Quarter Horse racing, with a ten-race program starting at 5:00 p.m. Three stakes events headline the card: the $48,714 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge, the $56,006 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge, and the $57,575 Iowa Stallion Derby.

Adding even more importance to the evening, the winners of the two AQHA Challenge races will earn berths in their respective AQHA Racing Challenge Championship races at Albuquerque Downs on October 17.

The third race will feature the 20th running of the $48,714 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge Stakes. A field of ten sophomores will return to the 400-yard distance after earning their places in the finale in the July 31 trial heats.

Fast Draw leads the field as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after posting the fastest qualifying time. The gelding dug in late to prevail by a nose in his trial, securing his third straight victory. His winning streak also includes an impressive win in the $164,000 Prairie Meadows Gold Derby.

Fast Draw has now won six races in his career and has earned $138,408 for owners RVR Partners 23.

The son of Moonin the Eagle is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Fast N Fancy and was bred in Missouri by Bobby D. Cox. Trainer Edward Ross Hardy will saddle the gelding from post seven, with his regular rider, Angel O. Ramirez, aboard.

The stakes action continues in the fourth race with the 21st running of the $56,006 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge Stakes. Ten talented two-year-olds are scheduled to load into the gate at approximately 6:15 p.m. for the 350-yard contest, having earned their spots in the July 26 trial heats.

Counter 44 leads the juvenile field as the 9-5 morning-line favorite. The colt battled early before edging clear by a half-length to win his trial and post the second-fastest qualifying time. Through three career starts, he has already earned $10,140 and secured two victories.

Nancy S. McCoy's Kansas homebred colt is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Corona Cartel mare Im Gone for a Corona. Counter 44 is trained by Charley Hunt and will break from post nine with Angel O. Ramirez aboard.

With championship berths on the line, both Challenge Stakes will carry added weight as some of the region's top sophomores and juveniles chase victories and a chance to advance to Albuquerque Downs in October.

The stakes action kicks off earlier in the evening with the $57,575 Iowa Stallion Derby, set for the second race on the card. See the related story in the Racing News section for a complete preview of the Iowa Stallion Derby.

The races at Prairie Meadows can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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