Iowa-Bred Stars Take Center Stage in Stakes-Packed Saturday At Prairie Meadows

The spotlight will shine brightly on Iowa-bred Quarter Horses Saturday afternoon at Prairie Meadows, where a five-race stakes showcase will feature some of the state’s top juveniles, sophomores and older runners. The action begins at 4:00 p.m., with more than $479,000 in stakes purses on the line across the first five races of the program.

The afternoon builds toward the featured $194,525 Jim Bader Futurity in race five, while the $119,900 Polk County Derby takes center stage in race four. The stakes action begins with the $70,000 Future of Iowa Stakes in race one, followed by the $70,000 Terrace Hill Stakes and the $25,000 Jim Bader Juvenile Stakes.

The $194,525 Jim Bader Futurity will close out the Iowa-bred Quarter Horse stakes action in race five at approximately 5:40 p.m. A field of ten 2-year-olds will race 350 yards after earning their places in the final through the September 5 trial heats.

Jess a Lil Whiskey leads the field as the 5-2 morning-line favorite and enters the final with three wins and a runner-up finish in four career starts. The gelding was impressive in his trial, taking command and drawing away to win by 1 1/4 lengths while covering 350 yards in :17.713. His résumé also includes a trial win in the Hawkeye Futurity and a runner-up finish behind Ts Cyber Flash in the $50,000 Hawkeye Futurity final.

The Iowa-bred son of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Valiant Hero mare Jess Valiant and was bred by HK Performance Horses. Jess a Lil Whiskey races for Jose Antonio Villegas and Jim Kobett and has earned $45,108 in his first four starts. Tony Dean Jones trains the gelding, who will break from the inside post with Angel O. Ramirez aboard.

One race earlier, the 3-year-olds will take center stage in the $119,900 Polk County Derby. Ten Iowa-Breds are set to run 400 yards in race four at approximately 5:15 p.m.

Corona Streakin Jess has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after posting the fastest time in the September 7 trials. The 3-year-old gelding won his heat by three-quarters of a length and enters the final with four wins in 11 career starts and earnings of $108,338.

The son of the Corona Cartel is out of the Mr. Jess Perry mare Streakin Jesszee and was bred in Iowa by Jeff State. Racing for RDS Legacy Racing LLC, Corona Streakin Jess has already proven himself against stakes company this season, winning the $68,000 Cyclone Derby at Prairie Meadows in July. John A. Stinebaugh trains the gelding, who will break from post nine with Ali Rivera returning to the saddle.

Saturday’s stakes action kicks off immediately in race one with the $70,000 Future of Iowa Stakes at approximately 4:00 p.m. Six Iowa-Bred fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older, will square off at 350 yards.

The older Iowa-Breds continue the showcase in race two with the $70,000 Terrace Hill Stakes at approximately 4:25 p.m. Eight runners, 3-year-olds and older, are set to stretch out to 400 yards in another competitive test for the state-bred division.

The next generation gets its chance in race three, where ten 2-year-olds will line up for the $25,000 Jim Bader Juvenile Stakes. Scheduled for approximately 4:50 p.m., the 350-yard event offers another group of Iowa-bred juveniles a chance to make their mark before the afternoon shifts to the Polk County Derby and Jim Bader Futurity.

From seasoned older horses to 2-year-olds beginning to make their names, Saturday’s program showcases Iowa’s Quarter Horse breeding and racing program in full. With five consecutive stakes, more than $479,000 in purses, and two major finals anchoring the afternoon, Prairie Meadows is set for a celebration of Iowa-Bred talent from the opening race through the final strides of the Jim Bader Futurity.

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

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