ALTOONA, IA—OCTOBER 14, 2017 —The rain started to clear in time for the $174,400 Jim Bader Futurity, and the sloppy track did not deter the winner of the third stakes race of the Saturday night closing card at Prairie Meadows, Lil Black Wagon.

Jockey Jorge Torres piloted Lil Black Wagon ($9.00) to a wire-to-wire half-length victory as the second-favorite in the field. Final time for the 350-yard stakes was 17.615, fast enough to earn a 94 speed index. Torres finished second in the rider standings by wins, but led the meet by earnings.

Lil Black Wagon is trained by leading trainer of the 2017 Prairie Meadows Quarter Horse meet, Stacy Charette-Hill. Michael Pohl and Bob Urich own the 2-year-old black gelding; Urich also bred Lil Black Wagon, by Lil Kool Wagon, out of the Special Legend mare Ru Special. He is a half-brother to Lil Stepper, who won the Polk County Derby in the previous race, for the same connections.

The winner of the Iowa-bred stakes event debuted in Remington but broke his maiden at Prairie Meadows in a trial for the Iowa Stallion Futurity. He finished fourth in that final, but returned to win his trial for the Jim Bader and Saturday’s final. He is now three for five lifetime and has career earnings of $95,489.

Lil Black Wagon was the seventh-fastest qualifier to the Jim Bader from trials held on September 29.

Second-fastest qualifier Iris Royal Jess finished second, clearing the rest of the field by a length. The son of Captain Courage was ridden by Cristian Esqueda for trainer Alex Wessels and owner B/B Wessels LLC.

The gelding was bred in Iowa by Warren Garrels, out of the Pure D Dash mare Pure Royal Dash. He is relatively lightly raced, with three career starts, but has one win, two second-place finishes, and over $40,000 in career earnings. He finished second in his trial to fastest qualifier Cr Lota Girl, who ran seventh in the final.

Who Rah, with Ricky Ramirez aboard, finished third in the Jim Bader. Stacy Charette-Hill also trains the 2-year-old son of Furyofthewind for owner and breeder Jim Harvey. Who Rah is out of Rodeo Rona, by Cowboys Rodeo.

Completing the field were Tohottwotouch, Kays Dynasty, Flash First Moon, Cr Lota Girl, Sweet Twisted Tea, Apollitical Mess and Jess Summertime.