Chief Know It All enters Golden Circle off sharp win at Keeneland

The second day of the 2017 Prairie Meadows race meet features the first stakes of the season, with six 3-year-olds going six furlongs in the $65,000 Golden Circle Stakes on Friday.

Chief Know It All is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, drawn on the rail with Alex Birzer riding for trainer Brad Cox. Reckling and Smokin Now looks like major contenders, with Conquest Crown Me and Warrior’s Kid fringe players, and Get That Box the deserving longest price on the field.

Golden Circle, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Smokin Now, by Tiznow

Last 3 Beyers: 72-60-81

◗ Under the race’s allowance conditions he carries only 112 pounds, a massive 10-pound break from major rivals Chief Know it All and Reckling.

◗ Debuted in blinkers last season at Prairie Meadows, showed nothing in his one-start 2-year-old campaign, and returned at Oaklawn, blinkers off, a much more polished racehorse.

◗ Wired a maiden field for his career-best 81 Beyer, but has been caught in speed duels his last two starts. A good break and a clear early lead over the other main pace player, Conquest Crown Me, could land him a fair-priced win for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Formulator Fact: Over the last two years, Diodoro has gone 3-2-2 from nine starters in sprint stakes at Prairie Meadows with a $2.06 return on investment.

Reckling, by Dialed In

Last 3 Beyers: 75-78-63

◗ Won his maiden second out at Saratoga, but went through a flat period late in his 2-year-old season and early this year.

◗ Trainer Steve Asmussen added blinkers three races ago, and Reckling started running better. He has become pace-dependent, however, and rallied from well back in two recent good showings at Oaklawn.

Formulator Fact: The last three years in Prairie Meadows stakes races, Asmussen has gone 14-0-2-4.

Chief Know It All, by Flashy Bull

Last 3 Beyers: 83-75-79

◗ Comes off a career-best 83 Beyer Figure just three weeks ago at Keeneland. He was overmatched in the Southwest Stakes, but otherwise has been in good form all year.

◗ Note the pace of his recent race at Keeneland, which was contested at seven furlongs and 184 feet: The first quarter-mile went in 23.48 seconds. Chief Know It All breaks from the rail, and it’s possible he’s just not quick enough to go with the other pace horses drawn to his outside.

◗ Trainer Brad Cox seems to find success everywhere he races, and Prairie Meadows, where he has gone 6-2-2-1 with a $2.10 ROI during his career, is no exception.