Ain't Life Grand runs away with Iowa Breeders' Derby
Ain’t Life Grand won his second derby of the Prairie Meadows meet Saturday night when he drew out by 13 1/4 lengths in the $100,000 Iowa Breeders’ Derby at Prairie Meadows.
The race was one of seven Thoroughbred stakes on the $1 million Iowa Classic Night and the lineup included the $100,000 Cradle won by Breeders' Cup prospect Tyler’s Tribe. The 13-race card that stretched for nearly six hours also included four stakes for Quarter Horses.
Ain’t Life Grand won the $300,000 Iowa Derby earlier in the meet at Prairie Meadows in a performance that sent him to the Travers at Saratoga. He finished seventh after being part of the pace and was making his first start in the Breeders' Derby since traveling to New York.
Ain’t Life Grand ($2.10) sat just off pacesetter Freddy J in the 1 1/16-mile race as that one took the field thorough an opening quarter in 23.77 seconds and a half-mile in 48.42.
Ain’t Life Grand moved to the fore on the final turn, taking over through six furlongs in 1:13.44. He separated himself from his rivals through the stretch and covered the distance on a fast track in 1:43.70.
:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!
Elvin Gonzalez was aboard the winner for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.
Ain’t Life Grand is a son of Not This Time who races for his breeders, Ray and Peggy Shattuck. Ray Shattuck said in an interview conducted by Prairie Meadows that plans for the horse’s next start are to be determined,
“We’ll run one more time then bring him back next spring,” he said.
Finish Up finished second in the Breeders’ Derby, a neck in front of third-place finisher Late for Lunch.
Ain’t Life Grand has now won 6 of 10 starts for earnings of $489,283. He was winning the fifth stakes race of his career Saturday.
Von Hemel strikes again
Von Hemel had a second stakes winner on the card with Miss Peach, who captured the $100,000 Iowa Breeders’ Oaks. She was up for a half-length win over Kayla to give her co-owner, Poindexter Thoroughbreds, the first two finishers in the stakes. Miss Peach also races for Albaugh Family Stables.
Miss Peach ($13) covered one mile, 70 yards in 1:43.46. Glenn Corbett was aboard the daughter of Dominus, who was one of three stakes winners on the night bred by Allen Poindexter.
* Poindexter bred and owns Bossy Moment ($5), who was a 1 3/4-length winner of the $100,000 Donna Reed. Kela’s Turn was second in the race for fillies and mares held over one mile, 70 yards. The winner covered the distance in 1:42.90. Lynn Chleborad trains Bossy Moment, who is a daughter of Street Boss. She was the second stakes winner on the night for Gonzalez.
* Poindexter-bred Greedy Creedy ($11.20) was a 1 1/4-length winner over Minecraft Maniac in the $100,000 Governor Terry Branstad. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles for older horses in 1:45.25. Alberto Pusac was aboard the son of Jimmy Creed for Kuhlman Racing and trainer Kelli Martinez.
* Pusac also won the $100,000 Dan Johnson Sprint with Basic Chance ($25.40). It was a half-length back in second to Mollies Rocket. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:09.26. William Martin trains Basic Chance, who is by Yes It’s True, for Martin Bros. and Gene Burkholder.
* Jockey Kylee Jordan completed a sweep of the stakes for 2-year-olds when she guided My Happiness ($5.40) to a 1 1/4-length win over 4-5 favorite Bonnieview in the $100,000 Sorority. Earlier on the card, Jordan won the Cradle with Tyler’s Tribe. My Happiness covered six furlongs in 1:11.29. She is a daughter of Bee Jersey and she races for breeder, owner and trainer, Christine Hicklin.
* Early on the card, Star of Mine was an eight-length maiden special weight winner for Poindexter, who also co-bred the son of Pioneerof the Nile. The 3-year-old is a half-brother to Chanel's Legacy, a four-time stakes winner who earned more than $400,000.
* Prairie Meadows is scheduled to close out its meet Sunday.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.