Ajs Favorite Ia, ridden by Cristian Esqueda, wins the $57,290 Cyclone Derby at Prairie Meadows on Saturday.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA–JULY 12, 2025– Ajs Favorite Ia broke sharply from the inside post and never looked back, holding off a strong late charge from Flying Finn to win the $57,290 Cyclone Derby at Prairie Meadows on Saturday.

Ajs Favorite Ia covered the 350-yard distance in 17.790 seconds, earning a speed index of 87. Ridden by jockey Cristian Esqueda, he delivered a gate-to-wire performance to secure his first career stakes victory. The sorrel gelding by Favorite Cartel is owned by Stephen Moyle and trained by Alex Wessels.

“We were praying for the inside and got it,” said trainer Alex Wessels

The winning connections of Ajs Favorite Ia accept the Cyclone Derby trophy at Prairie Meadows on Saturday.
© Jack Coady Photography

The winning effort added $25,780 to his bankroll, boosting his career earnings to $85,188. Ajs Favorite Ia, who was second in last year’s Jim Bader Futurity, has now lit the board in all six starts with three wins. Sent off at odds of 3-1, he returned $8.00 to win.

Flying Finn rallied from post ten with a strong late run to finish second, just a neck behind the winner. The sorrel gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 out of Unveil, by First Down Dash, was bred and is owned by Christine A. Hovey.

He is trained by Ed Hardy and was ridden by Angel Ramirez. Flying Finn, third in the Jim Bader Futurity last year behind Ajs Favorite Ia, earned $10,312 for this effort and stopped the clock in 17.825 seconds with a speed index of 86.

Jesszees Girl finished third, a length behind the runner-up. The bay filly by Valiant Hero races for RDS Legacy Racing LLC. Trained by John Stinebaugh and ridden by Joseph Belloc Jr., she earned $5,729, boosting her career earnings to $25,612 while posting a final time of 18.004 seconds and a speed index of 81.

Jesszees Girl has now hit the board in four of six career starts and was coming off a maiden-breaking win on June 16 at Prairie Meadows. Bred by Jeff State, she is out of Streakin Jesszee, by Mr Jess Perry.

Following the top three finishers, Summerhill Fly Girl finished fourth, followed by Mitey High in fifth, Prize Flyter in sixth, Happyhoursomewhere in seventh, Imma Southern Bell in eighth, Th Tres of Red in ninth, and Ts Fast as My Gto completed the field in tenth.

Editor's note: As soon as the track photographer releases a photo of the winner, it will be posted with this article. 

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