Racing


Irish Royal Jess Wins Third Straight, Sets Top Mark in Polk County Derby Trials
Iris Royal Jess, under jockey Lucas Constantin, splashes to fastest time in Saturday's Polk County Derby trials at Prairie Meadows.

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Irish Royal Jess Wins Third Straight, Sets Top Mark in Polk County Derby Trials

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 29, 2018—Irish Royal Jess, runner-up in last year's Jim Bader Futurity, scored his third consecutive win in as many starts this season to set the top qualifying time from two trials contested Saturday for the Polk County Derby at Prairie Meadows.

Under jockey Lucas Constantin Iris Royal Jess veered out at the start but rallied to defeat Sfs Silver Lining by three-quarters while clocking a :19.854 time over a "wet fast" racecourse with a 10 mph crosswind.

Iris Royal Jess was the first of two qualifiers saddled by trainer Alex Wessels. The son of multiple stakes sire Captain Courage races for owner B/B Wessels LLC. Bred by Warren Garrels, from the Pure D Dash mare Pure Royal Dash, the gray gelding has compiled a (6) 4-2-0 record and banked $65,971 in two seasons of racing.

The aforementioned Sfs Silver Lining held for the second fastest time of :19.964 seconds. Trainer Stacy Belt saddled the daughter of Fantastic Corona Jr for owner Sunflower Stables LLC.

Ridden by jockey Jonathan Dominguez, Sfs Silver Lining stepped up from a third-place finish for a $15,000-tag just six days ago to qualify for the Polk County Derby. Bred by Craig Kirby, from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Speed Too, Sfs Silver Lining has earned $22,365.

Last year's Jim Bader Futurity winner Lil Black Wagon finished third in the fastest trial to get the third fastest time of :20.043. Stacy Charette-Hill trains the son of multiple stakes sire Lil Kool Wagon for Michael Pohl and Bob Urich.

Urich bred the black gelding from the Special Leader mare Ru Special. A winner of four of eight career starts, Lil Black Wagon has earned nearly $110,00.

Thomas Lepic's homebred The Polar Vortex, under jockey Cristian Esqueda, held off Let Bull Fly by a neck in the first trial to get the fourth fastest time of :20.105 seconds, on a "fast" track with a 15 mph crosswind.

Trainer Jason Olmstead conditions the stakes-placed Carters Cartel filly from the Shazoom mare Signs Zoomer. A half-sister to champion The Fiscal Cliff, The Polar Vortex was third in the Iowa Double Gold Derby on September 1st. The brown filly has banked $53,997.

Olmstead also trains Let Bull Fly, an Iowa-homebred for owner/breeder Leonard D. Reed. Ridden by Nakia Ramirez, the son of Talkalota Bull posed the fifth fastest time of :20.137. Out of the Strawfly Special mare Sixy De Straw, the brown gelding has earnings of $28,110.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from the two trials contested will return to the Prairie Meadows on Saturday, October 13th to vie for the winner's share of a $121,850-est. purse over 400 yards.

For the complete list of finalist for the Polk County Derby qualifiers, their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

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About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given more than $1.6 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers more than 1,700 slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.