Ain't Life Grand displays solid form in Iowa Derby

Ain’t Life Grand emerged as the top 2-year-old of the Prairie Meadows meet a year ago and he showed that good local form again Saturday night when he closed for a 1 1/2-length win over 1-2 favorite Conagher in the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” winning trainer Kelly Von Hemel said.

The Iowa Derby was one of four stakes on the card that closed out the two-night Iowa Festival of Racing. The richest offering was the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap and it went to Officiating ($18.80).

Ain’t Life Grand ($25.20) was content to let the speed go and had one horse beat early as Rome set fractions of 22.71 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.14 for the half-mile, with Conagher in close attendance. Ain’t Life Grand advanced down the backside and on the turn, as Conagher took over through six furlongs in 1:10.19 and continued to separate himself from his rivals into the stretch.

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“I was a little worried turning for home,” Von Hemel said in a post-race interview broadcast by Prairie Meadows. “I knew my horse would keep coming.”

Ain’t Life Grand was angled out for the drive under regular rider Elvin Gonzalez and ate up ground with each stride to catch the leader nearing the wire. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.65.

Ain’t Life Grand is an Iowa-bred by Not This Time and races for his breeders, RPM Thoroughbreds. He won 3 of 4 starts last year at Prairie Meadows, including a pair of stakes. The Iowa Derby victory improved his career record to 4 for 7 for earnings of $347,621.

Chileno finished third in the Iowa Derby, a length and a quarter behind Conagher.

Another stakes for McPeek

Butterbean gave trainer Kenny McPeek his third stakes win on the day when she charged home by three lengths over 3-5 favorite Falconet in the Grade 3, $250,000 Iowa Oaks. It was another five lengths back in third to Free Like a Girl.

Earlier on Saturday, the McPeek barn won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby with Classic Causeway and the Mari Hulman George Memorial at Horseshoe Indianapolis with Semble Juste.

Butterbean ($9.80) trailed the field early, as Free Like a Girl set fractions of 23.50 for the opening quarter, 47.18 for the half-mile and 1:11.57 for six furlongs. Butterbean advanced on the turn, unleashed a big run through the stretch, and covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.72.

It was the second Prairie Meadows stakes win for Butterbean, who last month shipped in and won the Panthers. Glenn Corbett was aboard for the Panthers and said in a post-race interview broadcast by Prairie Meadows that in the Panthers he learned a lesson that served him well Saturday.

“Pretty much leave her alone - she’ll come with that knockout punch,” he said.

Butterbean is a daughter of Klimt owned by Magdalena Racing and William Klimashousky. She has now won 3 of 8 starts for earnings of $294,510.

Emotional win in Prairie Gold

Tyler’s Tribe ran his record to 2 for 2 when he led throughout for an 8 1/2-length win over Toddchero in the $100,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile for 2-year-olds. It was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third to Top Recruit.

The win from Tyler’s Tribe came following a 16 3/4-length romp in a maiden special weight in his career debut June 20 at Prairie Meadows.

Tyler’s Tribe ($7.60) on Saturday set fractions of 22.07 seconds and 45.16 for the half-mile before going to cover 5 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:03.64. Kylee Jordan was aboard for trainer Tim Martin, who co-owns Tyler’s Tribe with Thomas Lepic.

The horse is named for Lepic’s elementary school-aged grandson, who has been battling leukemia. Tyler was part of a large contingent in the winner’s circle, many with T-shirts reading “Tyler’s Tribe.”

Tyler’s Tribe is a son of Sharp Azteca and he has earned $106,544.