The highest profile horse in trainer John Ortiz’s stable for the first half of the year has been Kentucky Derby starter Barber Road. But the router is now on vacation, and the barn’s sprinters will take center stage during the Iowa Festival of Racing that begins Friday night at Prairie Meadows. Joyful Cadence is the probable favorite in the $100,000 Saylorville for fillies and mares, and Top Gunner will vie for favoritism in the $100,000 Iowa Sprint. The six-furlong races for 3-year-olds and up are among the four stakes on the program. There are another four stakes Saturday night at Prairie Meadows, for total festival stakes purses of more than $1.2 million. Post time for each card is 6 p.m. Central. Joyful Cadence is part of a field of seven in the Saylorville, with Clickbait and Becca’s Rocket among her chief rivals. Becca’s Rocket is cross-entered in the $100,000 Iowa Distaff, and on Wednesday morning a decision had not yet been made on which race she will target, according to trainer Jayde Gelner. “It’s kind of even right now which one we want to go into,” he said. Joyful Cadence long has targeted the Saylorville. Ortiz said she bypassed last month’s Grade 3 Chicago over seven furlongs at her base of Churchill Downs in favor of the distance Friday. Joyful Cadence has made three stakes starts – all at six furlongs – and the half-sister to $10 million earner Country Grammer finished second or third in each race for WSS Racing. Joyful Cadence’s latest effort was a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Winning Colors on May 30 at Churchill. “She came out of that last race in superb condition,” Ortiz said. “I’m excited to see her get a real, live opportunity to finally win a stakes race here. She’s really been sitting on it. :: Get ready for Saratoga and Del Mar with a Quarterly subscription to DRF Past Performances “This filly has always done really well when we’ve given her plenty of time between races. She’s a little rocket right now, going for a black-type win.” Joyful Cadence has speed and the outside post, which might give jockey Reylu Gutierrez options. Joyful Cadence could set the pace, or settle just off the quick Clickbait, who breaks from post 2. “Reylu’s a really hot rider for the barn,” Ortiz said. “He knows her. He’s worked her several times coming into this race.” Becca’s Rocket drew the rail, one start after breaking from the same post in the Memorial Day Sprint on May 30 at Lone Star Park. She closed from last for second, beaten three-quarters of a length by Grade 1 winner Kalypso. “It was a real big effort,” Gelner said. “She just got beat by a nice horse that won a graded race. She was running gamely at her, just didn’t get by her.” Earlier this year, Becca’s Rocket was fourth to Pauline’s Pearl in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic over 1 1/16 miles at Sam Houston. Lane Luzzi has been named to ride Becca’s Rocket, whether she runs in the Saylorville or Distaff, which is over 1 1/16 miles. He’s one of several Lone Star-based riders competing this weekend at Prairie Meadows. Top Gunner is part of an eight-horse field for the Iowa Sprint. He could start as the second choice to Oil Money, who is looking for his fifth straight win. Others set to start include Macron, who was a multiple allowance winner during the Oaklawn Park meet. Top Gunner was third in the $200,000 Aristides at Churchill in his most recent start June 4 and before that won the $158,000 St. Matthews at the same track May 4. Top Gunner’s run of late includes an allowance win April 15 at Oaklawn. “We call him T-Money,” Ortiz quipped of the horse he trains for 4 G Racing. “He’s making all the money right now. He’s getting it done for us. “I’ve always felt he was an up-and-coming Hollis – that can go six furlongs. Hollis is king at five and a half. Top Gunner has been developing through each start, getting better and better. We’re having fun with him.” Gutierrez has the mount on Top Gunner from post 2. “He doesn’t need the lead, but he’s a close stalker,” Ortiz said. “He’s quick.” Oil Money is 3 for 3 at Prairie Meadows, with all of those wins coming at the current meet. He began his streak in February at Tampa Bay Downs before making his Prairie debut one start later on May 21. Oil Money won the Ed Skinner in his last start June 10. The Beyer Speed Figure of 101 he earned is the best career number in the Iowa Sprint. Iowa Distaff Oliviaofthedesert has never been beaten at Prairie Meadows and will attempt to improve her local record to 3 for 3 in the seven-horse Iowa Distaff. “She likes it there – she always runs good there,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. :: Bet the races on DRF Bets! Sign up with code WINNING to get a $250 Deposit Match, $10 Free Bet, and FREE DRF Formulator. Oliviaofthedesert shipped in and won the local prep, the Jack Bishop, in her last start June 10. It was the third career stakes win for the daughter of Bernardini, who races for Susan Moulton. Glenn Corbett was aboard for the Jack Bishop and has the mount again from post 7. “She just likes to settle and kick home,” McPeek said. Ortiz will counter with Graysonsmacho Gal. She figures to be prominent when she starts from post 4 under Gutierrez. “She’s got some guts,” Ortiz said. “She’s brave on the front end. She’s really quick early on in the race and even if they do pass her, she re-engages, tries to run the last sixteenth with everybody. She’s got a big heart, a strong will, loves to compete.” Graysonsmacho Gal will be making her first start since October. “We gave her a little break last year, decided to give her the winter off,” Ortiz said. “She’s bigger, stronger, really blossoming.” Prairie Gold Lassie The first stakes on the card is the $100,000 Prairie Gold Lassie for 2-year-old fillies over 5 1/2 furlongs, which has brought together horses bred in Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Texas. Corningstone is the lone maiden in the eight-horse field, but owns its best career Beyer Speed Figure. She put up a 64 last out when second in a maiden special weight at Churchill in her June 17 career debut. Corningstone set the pace after breaking from the rail. For the Lassie, the Indiana-bred will break from post 3. “I loved her first race, and they ran fast that day,” McPeek said. “She needs to repeat that back, and if she does, she’ll have a good chance.” Corbett has the mount on Corningstone.