Fast Draw, under Angel Ramirez, edges Jess Flash The Cash by a nose in the opening trial for the Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge on Friday at Prairie Meadows.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA—JULY 31, 2026–Originally scheduled for July 27 but postponed due to weather, two trials for the $50,000-added Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge were held Friday at Prairie Meadows, with Fast Draw posting the fastest qualifying time for the 400-yard event. The ten fastest qualifiers will return for the finals on August 15.

Ridden by Angel Ramirez, Fast Draw captured the opening trial for trainer Edward Hardy, overcoming a close battle throughout before digging in late to prevail by a nose in :19.975, earning a 89 speed index, the fastest qualifying mark of the afternoon.

Owned by RVR Partners 23, the Bobby D. Cox-bred gelding is by Moonin The Eagle and out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Fast N Fancy.

The victory was his third straight following a score in the Prairie Meadows Gold Derby and improved his record to 12 starts, six wins, one third, with earnings climbing to $138,408.

Last season, Fast Draw was a finalist in both the Black Gold Colts & Geldings Futurity (G3) and the Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity.

Jess Flash The Cash rallied gamely after tracking the early pace but came up just a nose short of the winner while recording the second-fastest qualifying time.

Ridden by Ramiro Haro Garcia for trainer Jason Olmstead, the homebred filly for Brenda Reiswig completed the 400 yards in :19.978, also earning an 89 speed index.

The daughter of Jess Good Candy out of the First Moonflash mare Royal Cash Flash now sports a record of eight starts, two wins, two seconds and one third, with earnings of $63,359.

Still seeking her first stakes victory, she was a finalist in last year's Heritage Place Futurity (G1).

Margarets Cowboy secured the third-fastest qualifying time after setting the early pace before yielding late to finish third, 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

Ridden by Miguel Jose Ramirez for owners Bradbury Racing and John Hammes, who also trains, the gelding stopped the timer in :20.063 and earned an 87 speed index.

A homebred son of Flying Cowboy 123 out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Now Margaret, Margarets Cowboy now owns a record of 13 starts, two wins, one second and four thirds, with earnings of $85,149.

Earlier this year, he was a finalist in the Mr Master Bug Stakes (G3) and captured last year's Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge.

The second trial was won by Roy Hobs, who took command approaching the wire and drew clear to win by one length in :20.143 with an 85 speed index.

VIEW FULL LIST OF QUALIFIERS HERE.

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