Prairie Meadows track report

First Copy finished in a tie for most wins during the Thoroughbred meeting at Prairie Meadows with four victories, which was not only good news for his connections but also for Ken Richman, an Iowa resident who was one of three winners in a virtual owner promotion held by the track.

Prairie Meadows drew one person's name for each of three designated races during the first week of the meet. The people selected became the virtual owner of the winner of their designated race for the remainder of the meeting. Each owner received the horse's earnings during the meeting, minus a 10 percent jockey and trainer's fee.

First Copy won a $5,000 claiming race on April 27 while racing in the barn of Lynn Chleborad and Richman became the virtual owner. Trainer Clinton Stuart claimed First Copy, a 7-year-old gelding, out of that race for owner Claim to Fame Stable. First Copy went on to win two starter allowance races during the meeting to go along with a second-and third-place finish in starter events. On July 3, First Copy ran for the final time during the meeting, rallying to score an easy victory over $7,500 claiming rivals.

Richman's take as the virtual owner of First Copy came out to $40,560. The Claim to Fame Stable also bagged a very sizable profit on First Copy, who was claimed from Monday's race by trainer Tim Martin.

The other horses in the virtual owner contest were Lift Up, who won twice at the meeting and earned Stacia Dungan $19,064, and Wild Arrow, who had a win and a second-place finish at the meeting, good for $8,425 in earnings for his virtual owner, Ed Glick.