Prairie: Class edge to Vazandar

ALTOONA, Iowa - Vazandar leads a full field of 12 3-year-olds in the $50,000-added Iowa Stallion Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Vazandar, a son of Demidoff, is the only open stakes winner entered in the mile-and-70-yard Stallion Stakes by virtue of his rallying two-length score in the $50,000 Come Summer Stakes at Canterbury Park on June 26.

The Come Summer, a one-mile turf race, is Vazandar's only try around two turns in eight career starts for trainer Hugh Robertson. In his most recent start, the late-running Vazandar finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in a $40,000 stakes for Minnesota-breds at six furlongs on July 10 at Canterbury.

Overall, Vazandar sports a record of 3-2-2 from eight starts, good for $72,010 in earnings for his owner-breeder, Kisson Thoroughbreds. Vazandar's regular rider, Seth Martinez, will be in from Minnesota for the mount. Vazandar will carry 122 pounds, conceding four to nine pounds under the allowance conditions of the Stallion Stakes.

Plum Sober is the only other stakes winner in the field. Plum Sober was a four-length winner of the Iowa Cradle Stakes here last year against statebreds.

Plum Sober, a gelded son of Blumin Affair, is the leading money earner in the field with $89,897, but he is winless in six starts in 2004. Plum Sober has finished on the board in his last three starts, however, including a runner-up effort in the $50,000 Grays Lake here May 30. In his most recent start, Plum Sober rallied to finish third against allowance company here at Saturday's mile-and-70-yard distance.

Tim Doocy picks up the mount on Plum Sober for trainer Dave McShane. The pair get in light at 114 pounds.