Ecleto Red wins Prairie Meadows Handicap

ALTOONA, Iowa – The heavily favored Ecleto Red ($2.80) seized command in the early stages and dug deep in the final sixteenth to hold Hazards of Love's determined bid safe for a neck victory in Saturday's $49,000 Prairie Meadows Handicap.

Swerving in at the start from his inside post, Ecleto Red quickly recovered and was guided to the lead by regular pilot Alex Birzer. The Lynn Chleborad-trained 4-year-old gelding edged clear into the stretch, with Hazards of Love in pursuit. The remaining trio of Street Spice, Prado U, and One Voice never threatened from behind in the 1 1/16-mile test. Hazards of Love decreased Ecleto Red's margin but failed to get on even terms.

Ecleto Red, a game second behind Golden Lad in the June 27 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, collected $30,000 on Saturday for owners Glenn Puryear and Jack Crews, who had privately purchased him from his breeder Dr. Wayne Browning for $7,000. The Prairie Meadows Handicap was the Oklahoma-bred Master Command gelding's first stakes win. He covered the distance in 1:45.16.