Prairie Meadows: Bella Road upsets Hawkeyes Handicap

ALTOONA, Iowa – When his homebred filly Bella Road fought back under a persistent Ken Tohill ride to claim the $75,000 Hawkeyes Handicap, trainer Ray Tracy capped a four-win night on the Friday evening card at Prairie Meadows.

Bella Road, who alternated on the front end with the Kelly Von Hemel-trained Someplace Else for the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile event, saw her chief rival forge a clear lead entering the stretch. However, she dug in and outstayed Someplace Else, winning by three-quarters of a length. Sent off as the second longest shot in the eight-strong field of Iowa-bred fillies and mares, the 4-year-old Bellamy Road filly paid $31 to win.

Owned by the Tracy family’s Black Oak Farm, who had won earlier in the night with their ultra-quick mare Sakakawea, Bella Road collected $45,000 while covering the distance in 1:46.06.

Tracy, who is now 32 for 107 on the meet, was joined by leading rider Alex Birzer on the four-win plateau. Birzer, who won three for Tracy, has 55 wins on the season.