Iowa-Bred Juveniles Chase Jim Bader Futurity Berths At Prairie Meadows

The road to one of Iowa’s premier Quarter Horse events begins Saturday evening at Prairie Meadows, where 28 Iowa-bred juveniles will battle for just 10 coveted spots in the Jim Bader Futurity.

The 12-race program gets underway at 5:00 p.m., highlighted by four trial heats for the Jim Bader Futurity. The 2-year-olds will compete over 350 yards in races two through five, with the first trial scheduled to load into the gate at approximately 5:25 p.m.

At the conclusion of the four heats, the 10 fastest qualifiers will advance to the September 26 final, which is expected to offer a $200,000 purse.

TS Cyber Flash enters the trials as one of the accomplished juveniles to watch. The gelding will line up in race three, the second trial, as the 8-5 morning-line favorite, aiming to extend his winning streak to three.

TS Cyber Flash has won three of his four career starts and enters Saturday’s trials after an impressive victory in the $50,000 Hawkeye Futurity. After breaking outward and bumping at the start, he recovered quickly and drew clear to win by one length. The victory followed a win in his qualifying trial and increased his career earnings to $67,902.

Thomas J. Scheckels’ Iowa homebred is by Cyber Monday and out of the First Moonflash mare Stylish Flash. Trainer Fernando Ivan Manriquez will send the gelding from post five, with jockey Francisco Calderon aboard.

Another promising young runner will take center stage in race four when Jess a Lil Whiskey goes to the gate as the even-money morning-line favorite in the third trial.

Jess a Lil Whiskey already has experience against TS Cyber Flash, finishing second by one length to him in the Hawkeye Futurity in just his second career start. He returned on August 9 against allowance company and delivered another strong performance, kicking clear to win by a half-length.

The lightly raced gelding has now won two of his three starts and earned $38,858 for owners Jose Antonio Villegas and Jim Kobett.

Bred in Iowa by HK Performance Horses, Jess a Lil Whiskey is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Valiant Hero mare Jess Valiant. Trainer Tony Dean Jones will saddle the gelding from post five, with jockey Angel O. Ramirez aboard, as the pair looks to secure a place in the rich September final.

With only 10 qualifying spots available among 28 hopefuls, every fraction of a second will matter Saturday night. TS Cyber Flash and Jess a Lil Whiskey may enter their respective trials with proven form, but four competitive heats will give Iowa’s rising young stars their chance to step forward.

By the end of the evening, the field will be set, and the countdown to the estimated $200,000 Jim Bader Futurity on September 26 at Prairie Meadows will begin.

The races at Prairie Meadows can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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