Prairie Meadows: Shadowbdancing reaffirms affinity for local track in Jim Rasmussen

ALTOONA, Iowa -- Course specialist Shadowbdancing used his tactical speed to good effect Saturday night when scoring by 2 1/2 lengths in the $60,000 Jim Rasmussen Memorial Stakes at Prairie Meadows.

Owned by RNB Racing LLC and trained by Chicago-based Terrel Gore, Shadowbdancing, a 7- year-old Montbrook-sired horse, raised his record to 5 for 11 around the Altoona oval for earnings of $420,500. Expertly handled by jockey Israel Ocampo, Shadowbdancing stalked Flat Black comfortably, seized command approaching the five-furlong marker, and had enough left to remain clear of rallies by P D Q Kiddo and It Happened Again.

Following the race, Ocampo dedicated the win to his dear friend Eddie Razo Jr., the rider for Shadowbdancing when he won the 2009 Rasmussen and 2010 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, who died last month at his Illinois home. Ocampo said, "this is for my best friend Eddie as this horse was one of his all-time favorites."

Sent off as the fourth choice, Shadowbdancing ($10.80) covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.08 and earned $36,000.

Sterling Madame turned the co-featured $60,000 Wild Rose into a procession when she galloped away from her four foes, capturing the $36,000 first prize by 12 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Tom Amoss, the 4-year-old Sterling Madame ($2.80) was unchallenged after taking over six furlongs from home and traveled the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.15.

Another World, conditioned by Donnie K. Von Hemel, stayed on to finish a remote second, six lengths in front of the Iowa-bred Ginger Added.

It was the first stakes win for Sterling Madame, an Unbridled Energy-sired filly.