Prairie Meadows: Twelve Hundred dominates Prairie Juvenile Mile

ALTOONA, Iowa - Twelve Hundred controlled the pace and romped to an eight-length victory in Saturday’s closing night feature at Prairie Meadows, the $60,000 Prairie Juvenile Mile Stakes.

Shipped in from his Arlington Park base by trainer Jim DiVito, Twelve Hundred ($3.20), a Cape Town gelding named after his modest purchase price at last October's Fasig -Tipton Kentucky yearling sale, broke sharply, seized command under Francisco Giles, and turned back a brief challenge from runner-up Let's Get Crackin on the far turn. He covered the mile in 1:39.41 in defeating his seven stretched-out pursuers.

Following the race, there was a stewards’ inquiry and objection by Jake Barton, rider of Let's Get Crackin, against the winner, alleging interference approaching the seven-eighths marker. Although Let's Get Crackin lacked room and was forced to steady briefly when Twelve Hundred came over towards the rail entering the first turn, the stewards found insufficient evidence for a change in the order of finish.

In just his second lifetime start following an easy 5 3/4 length maiden win at Arlington sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs on July 14, Twelve Hundred earned $36,000 for his B. Jock Racing. Notably, it was rider Giles’s first trip around the Prairie Meadows oval.

The Thoroughbred meet, conducted over 66 cards, concluded in the race following the Prairie Mile Juvenile. Leading jockey Terry Thompson broke the record with his meet-leading 96 wins. Leading trainer Chris Richard also set a new standard with his barn's 65 victories.

Des Moines-based leading owner Maggi Moss, currently fifth in the country with 117 wins in just 335 starts for earnings of $2,377,484, comfortably defended her local title with 38 wins in 108 starts.

Live racing resumes Friday with the commencement of a 26-date Quarter Horse meet. During the Quarter Horse season, live racing is conducted Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings with first post set for 6:30.