Prairie Meadows: Bob Bryant, Gray’s Lake top live card

ALTOONA, Iowa – Following its simulcast of the Preakness, Prairie Meadows has slated a pair of featured six-furlong stakes sprints for Iowa-bred 3-year-olds, the $60,000 Bob Bryant for fillies and the $60,000 Gray’s Lake for colts and geldings.

The Bob Bryant, which drew six, is headed by Cat Five’ O, a Clinton Stuart-trained filly who has proven her mettle against open stakes company during her seven-race career. Victorious in Retama Park’s one-mile Mistletoe Stakes last Dec. 9 and second by a head to accomplished local American Sugar last Oct. 26 in Remington’s El Gaylord Memorial, Cat Five’ O, a Pleasantly Perfect filly, is a reliable sort with a consistent late kick.

Most recently, Cat Five’ O was unable to get involved when she ran fifth in the open Goldfinch here over the Bob Bryant course and distance on April 27. She should be fitter this Saturday, however, in her second start of the year and will be aided by the services of jockey Terry Thompson, the meet’s leading rider with 24 wins, for the first time.

The opposition is headed by two-time sloppy-track winner Jumped the Harbor, the unbeaten Tra Kela, and the talented Jaco Ia. Jumped the Harbor, trained by Larry Dunbar, dominated five rivals on a cold and rainy May 2, taking a 5 1/2-furlong allowance race by 4 3/4 lengths. Tra Kela, trained by Chris Richard, who is tied at 13 wins with Ray Tracy at the top of trainer standings, cruised to a 2 1/4-length maiden tally in her April 26 debut. Jaco Ia has trained well, including a spritely five-furlong move in 1:00.39 on May 7, for David McShane and is likely to improve in her second start of the campaign.

Rounding out the group are Lady Kee, second in the Iowa Sorority last Aug. 4, and Lucky Lady M, who won her maiden on April 19 here.

Trainers Jon Arnett, Tim Martin, and Tracy will each send a pair of capable geldings to the gate for a competitive renewal of The Gray’s Lake.

Arnett’s duo of Senor Captain and Zeki, who bookend the field in posts 1 and 7, have proven their well-being with wins here this season. Senor Captain, a solid sprinter with a legitimate turn of foot, pulled away for a 2 1/2-length allowance tally on April 21. The versatile Zeki outstayed his allowance rivals for a three-quarter-length score on May 4 over a mile and 70 yards.

Martin has last year’s Iowa Cradle winner, Cagey Rascal, primed for his seasonal debut following a series of local works, and the vastly improved Mr. Norfleet, who proved he belonged with a 3 1/4-length wet-track maiden win on May 4.

Tracy, a force in Iowa-bred sprint races for many seasons, takes his chance with the speedy May 2 maiden winner Wolf Pack Jack, the field’s likely pacesetter, and Rushin’ Rubietta, who drubbed maidens by 8 1/2 lengths on April 20.

Patty’s Key, second in his only try on April 27, completes the lineup.

In order to accommodate the Preakness Day crowd, Prairie Meadows gets under way Saturday with a special first post of 4:45 p.m. Central. The Bob Bryant is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. and The Gray’s Lake is set to go at 8:32 p.m.