Prairie Meadows: Sakakawea formidable sprinting in Mamie Eisenhower

Sakakawea, the pride and joy of Ray Tracy’s stable, will be the odds-on favorite in Friday evening’s feature at Prairie Meadows, the $70,000 Mamie Eisenhower, a six-furlong sprint for four year olds and up Iowa-bred fillies and mares.

Defending her title in the race and an undefeated 7 for 7 record in one-turn races at Prairie Meadows, Sakakawea is as good as ever two races into her 5-year old-campaign. According to Tracy, “She’s definitely as sound as ever.”

Tracy said he plans to run Sakakawea in a few races at Prairie Meadows and then look for a few turf sprints for her later in the year.

Sakakawea is versatile in regards to surface. She has won on Gulfstream’s turf course and ran a brave second over the Fair Grounds turf. The only time she has lost at Prairie Meadows in eight starts was in the 1 1/16-mile Hawkeyes Handicap of 2009 when, according to owner-trainer Tracy, “she cracked a cannon bone.”

Facing five opponents on Friday night, Sakakawea’s chief opposition may come from Rico’s Posse and stablemate Samara Street, the same pair who chased her home in the April 23 Iowa-bred allowance prep for the Mamie Eisenhower.

Go Milan Go, second in last year’s Eisenhower by just a neck, route specialist L D’s Shes Special, and Oklahoma invader Caughtupnthemoment round out the field.