Apollitikal Dreamer and jockey Ramiro Garcia hold off Encourager by a nose to win the $263,560 Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity on July 4 at Prairie Meadows.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA–JULY 4, 2026–Fastest qualifier Apollitikal Dreamer added another stakes victory to his record on Saturday, holding off a late surge from Encourager to capture the $263,560 Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity at Prairie Meadows.

Ridden by Ramiro Garcia, Apollitikal Dreamer dueled throughout before holding on by a nose in the 350-yard futurity, stopping the clock in :17.701 and earning a speed index of 89. The Brenda Reiswig homebred collected the winner's share of $118,602 from the rich purse.

Trained by Jason Olmstead, the gelding is sired by all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess and out of the stakes-winning Hes Relentless mare One Kool Dreamer. His female family traces to two-time champion Kool Kue Baby.

The winning connections of Winnemuca accept the Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity stakes trophy.
© Jack Coady Photography

The victory improved his record to 5-3-1-1 and boosted his earnings to $175,186. Prior to qualifying for the futurity, Apollitikal Dreamer won the Remington Park Juvenile before finishing third in the Grade 2 Easy Jet Stakes.

Encourager closed stoutly under Mauro Rodriguez but came up a nose short after covering the distance in :17.708 with a matching 89 speed index. The Craig Lauger homebred is trained by Fernando Ivan Manriquez.

The gelding is by Jess Good Candy and out of the First Moonflash mare Hundred Year Flood. Winner of his June 15 trial with the fourth-fastest qualifying time, Encourager now owns a record of 3-2-1-0 and earnings of $67,136.

Third-fastest qualifier Be Iconic finished another neck back in third under Alfredo Triana Jr., completing the race in :17.711 and also earning a speed index of 89.

Owned by Horton Racing LLC and trained by John Stinebaugh, Be Iconic was bred by Tom Maher and Dick Tobin. The $200,000 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale graduate is by champion Hes Relentless and out of the stakes-winning Apollitical Jess mare Lynnder 16, winner of $920,486. His female family includes champion Tiny First Effort ($445,393).

The gelding improved his record to 4-1-2-1 and increased his earnings to $43,201.

Eyesa Chick Magnet finished fourth. Cyber Spy and Jess Danica dead-heated for fifth and were followed by Vf Wheely Foosed, Strive, Wisp, and Flying Fire.

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

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