Ajs Favorite Ia, under jockey Christian Esqueda, won the $122,180 Polk County Derby at Prairie Meadows on Saturday.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 27, 2025—Ajs Favorite Ia, pulled away late to capture the $122,180 Polk County Derby at Prairie Meadows on Saturday, scoring his sixth consecutive win of the meet.

A sorrel gelding by leading sire Favorite Cartel out of Df Aj Green Leaves by Apollitical Jess, he also won the Cy-Hawk Stakes and Cyclone Derby at Prairie Meadows this season.

With Cristian Esqueda in the irons for owner Stephen Moyle and trainer Alex Wessels, the gelding covered the 400 yards in 19.725 seconds over a fast track, earning a 94 speed index. The victory came by 2¾ lengths, with no wind recorded.

The winning connects of Ajs Favorite Ia accept the Polk County Derby stakes trophy on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

Bred in Iowa by Darling Farms, Ajs Favorite Ia added $54,981 to bring his bankroll to 166,161. He rewarded bettors with payouts of $2.80 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.20 to show.

Pyc Force, a bay gelding by Pyc Paint Your Wagon out of For Your First Lady by First Down Dash, finished a clear second after breaking alertly and battling for the lead before being overtaken late.

Ridden by champion jockey Ricky Ramirez, trained by Alex Wessels, and owned by Paul Tonderum, Pyc Force earned $21,992 for the runner-up effort. An earner of nearly $50,000 he returned $20.60 to place and $15.80 to show.

Kiss Me I Am Famous, a sorrel gelding by Kiss My Hocks out of One Famous Hawkeye by One Famous Eagle, dug in to earn the show spot by a nose. Piloted by Valente Vorrath, the gelding races for owners Ricky Neff and Tony Dean Jones and is conditioned by Tony Jones.

Bred in Iowa by Robert S. Brown, he earned $12,218 for his connections and returned $8.20 to show.

Also rans were Cr Freighttrain (4th), Talk About Me Later (5th), Jesszees Girl (6th), Divas Lil Wagon (7th), Summerhill Fly Girl (8th), Hes a Wild Dream (9th), and Happyhoursomewhere (10th).

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