ALTOONA, IA—OCTOBER 14, 2017—Lil Stepper notched his second career stakes victory on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows in the $110,132 Polk County Derby. Jorge Torres and the 3-year-old gelded son of Lil Kool Wagon pulled a slight upset, winning at 11-1 and paying backers $24.00.

Though the card started during a break in rainstorms that lasted all day on Saturday, the storm came back in full force just minutes before the running of the Polk County Derby. Lil Stepper broke well and maintained his speed to win, finishing half a length ahead of Real Wagon.

Torres and Lil Stepper finished the 400-yard stakes event in 19.744 and earned a 93 speed index for trainer Stacy Charette-Hill and owners Michael Pohl and Bob Urich. Bob Urich bred the gelding in Iowa, out of Ru Special, by Special Legend. Torres, Charette-Hill, Pohl and Urich would complete the double in the following race, winning the Jim Bader Futurity with Lil Stepper’s half-brother.

Lil Stepper also won the Iowa Stallion Derby earlier this fall. He has won three races in nine starts, and has earned over $102,000 in his career to date.

In second place was Real Wagon and leading Prairie Meadows jockey Stormy Smith. Alex Wessels trains the gelding for owner and breeder Kay Sage. Real Wagon is by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, out of Real Royal Down, by Mr Jess Perry.

Fastest qualifier Cr Game Changer completed the trifecta in the Polk County Derby with Brayan Velazquez aboard. The sorrel filly by Game Patriot is trained by Jason Olmstead. Dick and Curt Tobin bred and own Cr Game Changer, who is out of the Streakin La Jolla mare Lw Evening Lajolla.

Cr Game Changer was the winner of the 2016 Jim Bader Futurity, and also finished second in the Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity at Canterbury Park last summer. After several derby trial attempts, the Polk Country Derby was his first stakes appearance as a 3-year-old. In his 17 career starts, he has five wins and $137,950 in earnings.

Completing the field were My T Oak Tree, Special Lee Fast, Crusin the Lake, Kool Lil Jess, Fast N Famous Jeans, Shot of Southern and Mr Special Wagon.