No standout among eight in Juvenile

ALTOONA, Iowa - Two-year-olds takes center stage in a pair of $50,000 five-furlong stakes at Prairie Meadows on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday is day three of the four-day Iowa Festival of Racing. The festival features two stakes races per day worth a total of more than $1.1 million.

The Prairie Gold Juvenile, which drew a field of eight, presents an interesting handicapping challenge.

All eight entrants in the Juvenile are making their second career start. Seven of the eight won in their debut, while the other, Dawn of War, finished second, beaten just three-quarters of a length and earning the highest Beyer Speed Figure, a 75, of any Juvenile entrant.

Riders Up, trained by Tom Amoss, may be a slight favorite on Sunday based on his gate-to-wire, 1 3/4-length maiden special weight score at Arlington Park going 4 1/2 furlongs on May 21.

Riders Up, a gelded son of Artax, has recorded two sharp works at Churchill Downs since his win, the latest coming on Wednesday morning when he went five furlongs in 1:00, breezing. Tim Doocy, the meet's leading rider, picks up the mount on Riders Up in the Juvenile.

Counterfeit Gold, trained by Willie Padilla, was an easy 9 1/4-length winner in his debut June 12 going five furlongs at Canterbury Park.

Hesluckytoo, a son of Lucky Lionel, may be the top local hopeful in the Juvenile based on his game two-length debut win here May 30 at five furlongs. Hesluckytoo adds Lasix on Sunday, but his owner-trainer, Larry Hunt, wasn't happy when he drew the rail post on Thursday. Ken Shino will be back aboard Hesluckytoo.

The Prairie Gold Lassie for 2-year-old fillies drew a field of nine, headed by local hopeful Jazzy Okie, Chicago invader Whatsitgonnatake, and Kentucky shipper Spotless Mind.

Jazzy Okie showed an impressive turn of foot in her debut, rallying to score a widening 3 1/2-length victory here at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 21. Jazzy Okie, trained by Kelly Von Hemel, adds Lasix on Sunday and sports two bullet workouts here since her victory. Joel Campbell has a return call.

Whatsitgonnatake, trained by Rebecca Maker, recorded the field's top Beyer Figure, 59, last out when she scored a 1 3/4-length victory at 4 1/2 furlongs over special weight company at Hawthorne on May 9. Greta Kuntzweiler will be in to ride Whatsitgonnatake on Sunday.

Trainer Dale Romans ships Spotless Mind, owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, here following a rallying head score over maiden claiming company at Churchill May 18. Rafael Mojica Jr. has the call.