Few in Gray's Lake field stack up to 'Wild West'

ALTOONA, Iowa - Wild Wild West seeks his first stakes score when he leads a field of six Iowa-bred 3-year-olds in Sunday's $50,000-added Gray's Lake Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Wild Wild West began his career here on Aug. 29 with a second-place finish against open maidens. Trainer Kelly Von Hemel then gave the gelded son of Slewacide a six-month layoff. He returned to the races in March at Oaklawn Park and proceeded to run second twice in a row.

Wild Wild West returned to Prairie in April and scored a convincing 5 1/4-length victory on opening night. In his latest start, his first against statebreds, Wild Wild West was a three-quarter-length winner at 1-5 odds in a one-other-than allowance here two weeks ago.

Tim Doocy has the return call aboard Wild Wild West in the six-furlong Gray's Lake. The pair figure to be prominent throughout as they go for their third straight victory together.

Wild Wild West's rivals include only one stakes winner and three who have each won once.

Plum Sober, the most accomplished member of the Gray's Lake field, looks to regain his 2003 form, which earned him the Iowa-bred 2-year-old championship.

Plum Sober captured the Iowa Cradle Stakes at Prairie on Aug. 30 by 4 1/4 lengths, but he didn't race again until April 17 here. Trained by Dave McShane, Plum Sober has finished off the board in all three of his starts this year, but has been facing tougher competition. Terry Thompson, the meet's leading rider, has the call on Plum Sober, who figures to stalk the early pace as he cuts back from a mile race.