Cash Back Hero, ridden by Angel Ramirez, wins the $51,000 Covered Bridges Stakes (G3)  on Sunday at Prairie Meadows.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA–AUGUST 31, 2025–Cash Back Hero delivered as the favorite on Sunday afternoon, notching his first career stakes victory in the $51,000 Covered Bridges Stakes (G3) at Prairie Meadows.

Breaking sharply from post seven, Cash Back Hero dueled early before edging clear to win by half a length over Into The Lite. The 3-year-old gelding by Valiant Hero stopped the timer in 45.500 seconds for 870 yards with a 101 speed index under jockey Angel Ramirez.

Cash Back Hero’s winning effort earned $25,500 for owners Becky and Warren Johnson, boosting his career bankroll to $79,262. The Edward Hardy trainee has now compiled a record of three wins and three seconds from 13 starts, including a second place finish in the Valley Junction Juvenile Stakes during his freshman campaign.

The connections of Cash Back Hero accept the $51,000 Covered Bridges Stakes (G3)  winning trophy at Prairie Meadows on Sunday. © Jack Coady Photography

Bred in Oklahoma by Flag Ranch LLC, Cash Back Hero is out of Pops Zoomin Fury by Furyofthewind.

Runner-up Into The Lite battled throughout before being denied late by the winner. The 3-year-old gelding by Into Mischief (TB) is out of Isadelight, by One Famous Eagle. He was bred in Utah by Buck Way Ranch LLC and races for Buckway Ranch LLC.

Trained by Stacy Charette-Hill and ridden by Fernando Fonseca-Soto, Into The Lite earned $9,180 for the placing. He has seven career starts with two wins, a second, and two thirds with $42,164 in earnings.

Cartel Can Fly completed the trifecta under jockey Ken Tohill, closing late to finish 3 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up. The 4-year-old gelding is by Favorite Cartel and out of Babe Can Fly, by Foose. Bred and owned by David Wisdom of North Dakota, he is trained by Robert Johnson. He was a $40,000 repurchase at the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale and has now banked $27,021 from 10 career starts.

Following Cartel Can Fly under the wire were P Fifty One, We Call Him Joneson, Apolitical Seis, Just Tell Jess, and Katch This Eagle in that order.

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