Strawberry Baby pulls away for Prairie Gold Lassie win

ALTOONA, Iowa – Strawberry Baby put forth an authoritative display when pulling away from six 2-year-old fillies to take Saturday's co-featured $75,000 Prairie Gold Lassie by 7 1/4 lengths.

Trained by J.R. Caldwell, the favored Strawberry Baby ($4.80), a Warrior's Reward filly, made the trek up from Lone Star Park worthwhile by leading virtually every step of the way under jockey Dakota Wood, who went 3 for 3 on the card.

Strawberry Baby, who had won her only previous race May 30, was not extended and covered the 5 1/2 furlongs of the Lassie in a quick 1:04.19. The locally based A Wild Notion sustained a four-wide bid to gain second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of the Texas-bred Cats West.

Owned by Brad and Judy Miller and purchased for $15,000 out of last year's Keeneland September Yearling sale, Strawberry Baby earned $45,000.
Private Prospect ($11.20), an Arlington Park visitor conditioned by Michael Campbell, asserted himself with a four-wide rally to seize the $75,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile by 5 1/2 lengths.

Green and excitable beforehand, Private Prospect, a $50,000 claim out of his debut victory, settled nicely for jockey Alex Birzer, who kept the Discreet Cat colt out of traffic throughout. Turning for home, Private Prospect forged clear from the pacesetting Brookerson and extended his advantage thereafter. Brookerson held second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of the late-rallying Flying Frank.

Owned by Mellon Patch Inc., Private Prospect collected $45,000 and went the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.85.