Stakes Stars Take Center Stage Friday Night At Prairie Meadows

Prairie Meadows is set for a stakes-packed Friday evening, with a 14-race program bringing together some of the region’s top Quarter Horses and first post scheduled for 5:00 p.m.

Four stakes events headline the card, led by the Grade 3 $326,110 Valley Junction Futurity, the $138,350 Altoona Derby, and the Grade 3 $50,000 Two Rivers Stakes. The $30,000 Valley Junction Juvenile Stakes adds further depth to an evening loaded with talent and championship-caliber racing.

The spotlight will shine on the 36th running of the Grade 3 $326,110 Valley Junction Futurity in race four. Ten talented juveniles return from the September 6 trial heats to compete over 350 yards, with post time set for approximately 6:15 p.m.

Jessa Southern Girl enters the final as the commanding 4-5 morning-line favorite after an impressive performance in the trials. The 2-year-old filly broke sharply, controlled the race from the start, and powered away to a 4 1/4-length victory, posting the fastest qualifying time of the day.

She enters the final race with a four-race winning streak, including a victory in the $56,000 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge. Through six career starts, she has earned four victories and $44,318 for owner Robert S. Brown, who purchased her for $103,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Bred in Oklahoma by Leann J. Burns, Jessa Southern Girl is by Apollitical Jess and out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Mary Paintyourwagon. Trainer Jason L. Olmstead will send her from post nine, with Armando Alvidrez aboard.

Eyesa Chick Magnet looms as one of the leading challengers from the outside post at 6-1. The gelding turned in an impressive trial, taking command and holding clear through the wire to post the second-fastest qualifying time.

Earlier this season, Eyesa Chick Magnet finished fourth in the $264,000 Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity. He has won four of his six career starts and earned $49,848.

The Oklahoma homebred races for breeder and owner Stacy Charette-Hill. By Pyc Paint Your Wagon and out of the Country Chicks Man mare Eyesa Candy Chick, he is also trained by Charette-Hill and will break from post ten with Cristian R. Esqueda aboard.

The stakes action continues in race three with the 37th running of the $138,350 Altoona Derby. The ten fastest qualifiers from the September 7 trials return to run 400 yards, with the sophomore showdown scheduled for approximately 5:50 p.m.

Atsi Monday leads the field as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after winning her trial by 1 1/2 lengths and recording the third-fastest qualifying time.

The 3-year-old filly has put together a strong campaign, winning three of six starts this season. She has five career victories and has earned $111,024.

An Oklahoma homebred for Brenda Reiswig, Atsi Monday is by Cyber Monday and out of the Valiant Hero mare Atsi Hero. Jason L. Olmstead trains the filly, who will break from post five with jockey Ramiro H. Garcia.

Friday’s program wastes no time getting into stakes company, as the Grade 3 $50,000 Two Rivers Stakes kicks off the card in race one. Seven older Quarter Horses will square off over 400 yards in a competitive opener.

Curls Magic Wagon has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after his victory in the Grade 3 $50,000 Keokuk Stakes. The 4-year-old went straight to the front and never gave up the lead, clearing his rivals and holding on for a three-quarter-length victory.

He has been a consistent presence in stakes company throughout the season, finishing fourth in the Restricted Grade 2 Mr Jet Moore Stakes, second in the Grade 2 Bob Moore Stakes, and third in the Restricted Grade 2 Boyd Morris Stakes.

Through 19 career starts, Curls Magic Wagon has recorded six victories, four seconds and three thirds, earning $424,368.

The Oklahoma-bred runner is owned by Martin Stacy and is by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, out of the Spit Curl Jess mare Eye a Spit Curl Girl. Trainer John A. Stinebaugh will send him from post seven with Ali Rivera aboard.

With established stakes performers, rising sophomores, and some of the region’s most promising juveniles sharing the spotlight, Friday night at Prairie Meadows promises to deliver from the opening race through the final dash. The Valley Junction Futurity may carry the richest purse of the evening, but with stakes action spread throughout the card, racing fans and bettors will have plenty to watch as another major night of Quarter Horse racing unfolds in Iowa.

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

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