Prairie Meadows: American Sugar takes on boys in Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile

Nine 2-year-olds are expected to try and stretch their nascent abilities around two turns in Saturday’s featured $60,000 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile.

American Sugar, the field’s lone filly, upset the $75,000 Prairie Gold Lassie by two lengths at 21-1 on July 21. She stretches out from 5 1/2 furlongs to a mile for trainer Lynn Chleborad and is expected to make the transition under regular rider Israel Ocampo.

Chleborad said American Sugar “has shown patience thus far in her races, and Israel says she’s a push-button filly.”

The chief opposition may come from Ellis Park shipper Sir Pulpit, who tallied a 73 Beyer Speed Figure in his career debut, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden win by 2 1/2 lengths on July 14. Trained by Gary Thomas, the Pulpit colt should handle the added distance despite drawing the outside post. Alex Birzer, who enters the week with a meet-leading 91 wins, takes the call.

Ask Simon and Detention each ran well in his only start. Ask Simon chased Don’tchangetrainers and finished second, defeated by 2 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong maiden last Thursday. He is trained by Ray Tracy, who has enjoyed a 50-for-226 meet.

Detention, trainer Clinton Stuart’s best juvenile, finished well when third, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in an Aug. 2 sprint.

Dirty Rotten Shame, a half-length winner of a five-furlong maiden race here July 14, drew the rail for owner-trainer Dave Tibbitts. The Iowa-bred Sock Hop, who closed ground nicely when the 1 3/4-length victor of a restricted July 8 maiden race, will be ridden by Phil Teator.
Maidens Ebony Oro, Wild Student, and Sunshine Warrior also are entered.

The Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile, the eighth race on the closing card of the 2012 Thoroughbred meet, has a scheduled post time of 9:37 p.m. Central.

Quarter Horse racing begins Friday, Aug. 18 and goes through Saturday, Oct. 27, with racing on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The meet culminates with the track’s first hosting of the 2012 Bank of America Challenge Championships on Oct. 27.