Private Prospect aims to stay perfect in Juvenile Mile

ALTOONA, Iowa – Featuring some intriguing 2-year-olds set to test their stamina, Prairie Meadows calls an end Saturday to its Thoroughbred meet with a renewal of the $100,000 Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile.

Headed by the Prairie Gold Juvenile winner, Private Prospect, shippers from Chicago, Kentucky, and Texas will fill six of the seven spots in the starting gate.

As the 66-date meet comes to a close, the competition for local honors has quieted. Jockey David Mello has 95 wins and holds a commanding lead in the standings, while trainer Ray Tracy has 48 tallies, giving him a lead of seven over defending champ Chris Richard.

Mello will partner with the local hope and July 20 maiden winner Flashy Indian, trained by Ray Ashford, in the Juvenile Mile.

Part of a 10-race program that begins at 6:30 p.m. Central, the Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile is scheduled to be run at 10:03.

Key contenders

Man of Stature (Last 2 Beyers: 78-60)

* Finished well on Lone Star’s turf course July 11 to go clear of 11 rivals in a 7 1/2-furlong test around two turns.

* The Bret Calhoun trainee retains the services of jockey Cliff Berry, who wins at a 30 percent clip for the stable, and shows a good Aug. 1 work in 47.80 seconds on his way north at Remington Park.

Goo Bird (Last 2 Beyers: 57-34)

* Based at Churchill with Kenny McPeek, this Summer Bird colt significantly improved to win an Ellis Park one-mile maiden race on turf. After a slow start, closed stoutly and displayed a good turn of foot on that surface.

Lucky Player (Last 2 Beyers: 45-47)

* Another visitor from Louisville is this Steve Asmussen-trained colt from the first crop of Lookin At Lucky.

* Stretches out to a mile following a pair of sprints: a rallying May 23 maiden win over five furlongs and a well-beaten fourth June 28 in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor.

* Reunited with Ricardo Santana Jr., who ships in to ride.

Private Prospect (Last 2 Beyers: 67-65)

* Astutely claimed for $50,000 out of a June 26 maiden win at Arlington. Quickly repaid connections with a 5 1/2-length victory July 19 in the Prairie Gold Juvenile. Overcame greenness on that occasion, and Alex Birzer keeps the mount for trainer Michael Campbell.

Recount (Last Beyer: 85)

* Recorded eye-popping Beyer when pulling away from five foes in July 20 maiden sprint over Arlington’s Polytrack.

* Young pilot Emmanuel Esquivel makes the trek from Chicago to stay aboard this exciting Jimmy DiVito-trained prospect.