In 26 runnings of the Iowa Oaks this decade, 21 jockeys and 22 trainers visited the winners’ circle. Another chapter will be added to the 1-1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies this Friday, July 10, at Prairie Meadows. The $225,000 Oaks is part of an All-Stakes Pick 4 wager. Here’s a closer look and a suggested $1 ticket that costs $30 to play:
Prairie Meadows Park 5th Race (8:51 EST)
GOOD CHEER (pictured) won three consecutive Grade 2 stakes at today’s distance before she won the G-1 Kentucky Oaks at 1-1/8 miles. Her class should prevail in the $100,000 Iowa Distaff as the shortest price in the Pick 4 sequence. If GOOD CHEER is scratched, use #1 QUEEN AZTECA in the leadoff leg.
Prairie Meadows Park 6th Race (9:21 EST)
Maiden Special Weight winners from five tracks unite in the $100,000 Prairie Golden Lassie, with all but one making their stakes debut. WILD VEKOMA, bet down to 2-to-5 in her debut at Prairie Meadows, was far back on the turn going 5F. But she lived up to the hype in the final quarter mile, blowing past her leg-weary stablemate “without really being asked,” according to announcer Bobby Neuman. She might be this good and the extra half furlong can only help. MY KID’S SAID NO blazed to the lead under strong urging in her debut at Gulfstream Park and left three rivals in the dust. The $70,000 sales buy returned to Canterbury Park, worked in :46-4/5 from the gate in her second of two bullet preps, now shows up here. VALKYRIE, the lone entrant with a stakes race on her resume, “held firm” on the lead in her MSW debut, holding off a pair of sub 2-to-1 favorites to win at Churchill Downs.
Prairie Meadows 7th Race (9:53 p.m. EST)
MIZUMI saved ground, tipped 3-wide at the top of the stretch and hit her best stride in mid-stretch while drawing away from maiden Wolf Hill in the Grade 3 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita. She extended the margin quickly on the gallop out and could sit another dream stalking trip in the speed-laden Iowa Oaks at the same distance. GRACE IS FREE lost by double-digit lengths in her only two stakes races at 1-1/16 miles. But she served notice that the Iowa Oaks distance is well within reach as she sat a perfect stalking trip off a spirited pace and overpowered the field in the one-mile Panthers Stakes to go 2-for-2 locally.
Prairie Meadows 8th Race (10:24 p.m. EST)
On their best, the eight entrants in the $100,000 Saylorville Stakes range from an 83 to 88 Beyer speed figure. In addition, they are a combined 24-for-80 with six $200,000-plus earners. PARADISE CITY ran 6F for the first time in her career after seven months away, but she won going away despite awaiting room in early stretch on a day when off-the-pace runners fared well on the Churchill Downs dirt. THUNDERS ROCKNROLL toured four tracks and won her last four 6F stakes races by a combined 16-3/4 lengths. EVRADEAN has tactical speed, runs well fresh and is 14 of 17 in the money with a $338k bankroll at 6F. SILENT LAW won a Grade 3 stakes race through disqualification as a 3-year-old, made the lead from post 10 in the Grade 1 La Brea, now puts the blinkers back on for her second start as a 4-year-old for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. TAPIT QUICK fits on her best race, can be excused for a “bumpy” comeback and makes the ticket at 12-1 on the morning line.
Suggested Pick 4
PrM 5th Race: 5 (If scratched, insert #1)
PrM 6th Race: 2, 6, 7
PrM 7th Race: 1, 4
PrM 8th Race: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Cost for a $1 ticket: $30
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