Slight edge to Go Milan Go in Hawkeyes

Go Milan Go heads a field of nine Iowa-bred fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles in the $75,000 Hawkeyes Handicap on Friday at Prairie Meadows.

Go Milan Go is coming off a nose victory in a statebred allowance race at a mile and 70 yards and will carry high weight of 119 pounds, conceding from one to seven pounds to her opponents.

"I kind of disagreed with the high weight," said trainer Kelly Von Hemel, mentioning he discussed that subject with racing secretary Dan Doocy. "It's a wide-open race. The two route races she has run so far have been solid, but to have a shot of winning she will have to improve."

LD's Shes Special, trained by Larry Dunbar, won the Hawkeyes last year by six lengths over a sloppy track, and she returns to defend her title. She has yet to return to that level of performance but should improve off her first start this year, a third against open company in an allowance race at Prairie Meadows.

Trainer Thad Keller entered Champagne Attitude. He bypassed the six-furlong Mamie Eisenhower last month because Champagne Attitude is better going long, he said. Champagne Attitude will get the services of jockey Terry Thompson. Thompson, a resident of Ankeny, Iowa, moved his tack to Delaware Park this year but will be in town to ride this weekend.