Two-time stakes winner Prize Flyter has been set as the 9-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's $57,290 Cyclone Derby at Prairie Meadows.

© Jack Coady Photography

By StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA–JULY 10, 2025–A field of talented Iowa-bred three-year-olds will line up Saturday, July 12, for the $57,290 Cyclone Derby at Prairie Meadows. The race will be contested at 350 yards with an approximate post time of 6:50 p.m. (CDT).

The final is part of the track’s Quarter Horse stakes calendar and highlights the continuing success of local breeding programs.

Morning-line favorite Prize Flyter (9-5) will break from post four for owners LXXI Racing Stables (Daniel Jahnke & Ladrew Luers). Trained by Alex Wessels and piloted by Miguel J. Ramirez, the sorrel filly by leading third crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Fast Prize Tacita by Tac It Like A Man was bred in Iowa by Craig J. Kirby.

Prize Flyter has banked over $102,000 from five lifetime starts, winning three and placing second or third twice. Her 2024 campaign included a gutsy victories in the Jim Bader and Hawkeye Futurity at Prairie Meadows and multiple allowance scores. She comes off a sharp third-place finish in a conditioned allowance on June 23, where she showed her usual early speed before yielding late.

At 9-2 on the morning line, Imma Southern Bell is the next to watch, breaking from post three. The filly is owned and bred in Iowa by Tony Dean Jones and Rick Neff. Trained by Jones, with Ramiro H. Garcia aboard, this daughter of Go To The Gravel out of Southernrunaway by Southern Cartel)has three wins from five starts, all at Prairie Meadows, and earnings just under $57,000.

Imma Southern Bell has shown a versatile front-running style, capturing last year’s Iowa Stallion Futurity and a futurity trial win. She was fourth in a recent allowance event on June 23, a useful prep for this final.

Another top contender is Ajs Favorite Ia, who drew the rail and is 4-1 on the morning line. Owned by Stephen Moyle, trained by Alex Wessels, and ridden by Cristian R. Esqueda, this Iowa-bred gelding by leading sire Favorite Cartel out of Df Aj Green Leaves by Apollitical Jess was bred by Darling Farms.

Ajs Favorite Ia has earned over $59,000 in just five starts, winning two and hitting the board in all but one. He exits a strong allowance win on June 20 at Prairie Meadows, fighting gamely on the outside to prevail by a nose going 300 yards. The gelding finished second to Prize Flyter in last year’s Jim Bader and Hawkeye Futurity, showing he belongs with the top local sophomores.

Saturday’s Cyclone Derby promises an exciting dash with these standout Iowa-breds looking to build on their stakes records at Prairie Meadows.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.