Iowa-bred Ain't Life Grand comes through for Kelly Von Hemel in local derby

The veteran trainer Kelly Von Hemel has been in racing long enough to know how difficult it can be for plans to come together with a horse. But when they do, it can be, well, grand.

Ain’t Life Grand hit a major target set by owner RPM Thoroughbreds and Von Hemel when he won Saturday night’s $300,000 Iowa Derby at his home track of Prairie Meadows. He defeated a notable field at 11-1 and earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98.

“Our goal was to stretch him out and the first goal we mapped out in our plan for him was the Iowa Derby,” Von Hemel said Tuesday. “Plans don’t usually work out. Fortunately, they did.”

Ain’t Life Grand closed from next to last for a 1 1/2-length win under regular rider Elvin Gonzalez.

“The pace scenario set up like we wanted,” Von Hemel said. “We wanted to have a very hot pace.”

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Von Hemel said Ain’t Life Grand finished as strongly as hoped. It was the third career stakes win for the Iowa-bred son of Not This Time. All of those victories have come at Prairie Meadows.

Von Hemel said Ain’t Life Grand emerged from the Iowa Derby in good order, but his next move has not been determined.

“We haven’t made any plans yet,” he said. “We think he can run all day. We’d love to find a mile and an eighth, a mile and a quarter for him.”

Von Hemel said both open company and Iowa-bred stakes will be considered for Ain’t Life Grand. There are three restricted stakes options for him over the remainder of the Prairie Meadows meet that ends Oct. 2. They include the $100,000 Iowa Breeders’ Derby on the Iowa Classics card Oct. 1.