Royal Candy King (inside) was a game winner under jockey Angel Ramirez, over Takin It To Go in the $191,200 Jim Bader Futurity at Prairie Meadows Saturday night.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 27, 2025—Royal Candy King proved his grit and class Saturday evening at Prairie Meadows, holding off a late challenge to win the $191,200 Jim Bader Futurity for accredited Iowa-bred 2-year-olds.

The bay gelding covered 350 yards in 17.695 seconds, earning a speed index of 89 in the fast-track test run under clear skies with no wind recorded.

Breaking in and bumping at the start, Royal Candy King quickly found his stride under jockey Angel Ramirez and refused to yield through the lane, fighting gamely to win by a nose and remain undefeated.

The son of Jess Good Candy out of Tell Her Shes Queen, by Teller Cartel, was bred in Iowa by Summer Hill Farm LLC and races for his breeder under trainer Alex Wessels. The victory was worth $86,040, boosting his career bankroll to $115,922 from a perfect four-for-four record.

“This makes our whole season,” owner-breeder Bob Brown said in the winner’s circle. “This horse, when we started out the first of the year, we didn’t know if he’d learn enough to even get out of the starting gate. We didn’t even put him in the Hawkeye Futurity because of that. Now all of a sudden he’s 4 and 0 and one of the best horses we’ve had in a long time.”

The winning connections of Royal Candy King accept the Jim Bader Futurity stakes trophy on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

Takin It To Go, a brown gelding by Inseperable out of Takin Okey Dokey by Okey Dokey Dale, finished a game second by a nose. Bred in Iowa by Lisa Goedken and James Steger, he races for his breeders, with Lisa Goedken handling the training and Martin Lazalde in the irons.

The runner-up share of $34,416 boosted his career earnings $48,402 as he dueled bravely to the wire.

Hawkeye Futurity runner-up Corona Streakin Jess, by Corona Cartel out of Streakin Jesszee by Mr Jess Perry, closed strongly to secure third, another half-length back.

Bred by Jeff State and owned by RDS Legacy Racing LLC, the gelding is trained by John Stinebaugh and was ridden by Alfredo Triana Jr. He earned $19,120 for his effort to bring his earnings to nearly $60,000.

Royal Candy King returned $3.00 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.10 to show. Takin It to Go paid $5.20 to place and $3.00 to show, while Corona Streakin Jess returned $2.40 to show.

Following the top three across the line were Ivory Attack, Rebas First Kiss, Sfs Shooting Cowgirl, Ts Daddys Girl, Painted Tres Sign, and Cr Grey Goose.

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

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