Prairie Meadows: Sherriff Cogburn brings perfect record off long layoff into Golden Circle

A group of six lightly-raced colts and geldings, led by the undefeated Sherriff Cogburn and the rapidly improving Sharp Dude, will battle in Saturday’s $60,000 Golden Circle Stakes at Prairie Meadows. The Golden Circle is a six-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds.

Sherriff Cogburn, who is trained by Don Von Hemel, is 2 for 2 in his career. He won a maiden race at Arlington Park over Polytrack last July by seven lengths, then took the Prairie Juvenile Mile on dirt with consummate ease by 9 1/4 lengths in August.

The probable favorite, Sherriff Cogburn, has prepped sharply at Oaklawn Park for his return, most recently breezing five furlongs in 59 seconds on April 14. Perry Compton will be aboard.

Sharp Dude, trained by locally based Greg Zielinski, is unbeaten in two starts at Hawthorne this season. He won a maiden race in mid-February and a first-level optional claiming race on March 30.

Arizona shipper Arcadian, Louisiana invader Moonbie, Billy Two Hats, and the Arkansas-bred Ile St. Roy round out the field.