Prairie Meadows: Big money for inexperienced group

ALTOONA, Iowa – Friday night’s Iowa Stallion Futurity at Prairie Meadows gives the 10 juveniles in the field, all maidens, a shot at some big money. The 5 1/2-furlong race offers added money of $60,000, and with its complicated scheme of bonuses and incentives, the race could end up being worth six figures.

The field comprises six unraced runners and the four who have made just one start each. Two of the entrants are fillies. All of them are locally based, with the exception of Lone Star shipper Kip’s Mescalero, trained by Bret Calhoun.

Kip’s Mescalero flashed speed when dueling for the lead in his June 12 debut, fading to fifth in that five-furlong event, beaten 5 1/4 lengths. A gray Kipling colt, Kip’s Mescalero went into the race off a four-furlong work in 49.80 at Lone Star.

Leading trainer Chris Richard, who continues to win races here at a 40 percent clip, entered two unraced colts who have been training well, the Minnesota-bred Sun Country and the Iowa-bred Due to Dazzle You. Sun Country, a son of first-crop stallion Sun King, has breezed particularly well here, including a best-of-23 bullet half-mile in 48.42 on June 30.

Beware the Devil, trained by Lynn Chleborad, exhibited ability when second behind tearaway 6 3/4-length winner Voodooville in a June 25 maiden special weight race here.

Trainer Dick Clark entered the race’s two fillies, Gray Edge and Chazanne, both bred in Iowa. Gray Edge was fifth in her lone try June 27, and Chazanne has not raced. Clark also sends out first-time starter Uncle Eddy.

The field is rounded out by Chunk, Azraels Count, and A Little Edgy.