Sure Shot Biscuit shoots to pass $1 milllion

ALTOONA, Iowa - Three-time defending Iowa-bred horse of the year Sure Shot Biscuit will try to end the longest losing streak of his career, as well as become the first Iowa-bred ever to earn $1 million, when he heads a field of five in Saturday's $75,000 added Cyclones Handicap at Prairie Meadows.

A 6-year-old gelded son of Miracle Heights, Sure Shot Biscuit has lost six straight races dating back to September of last year, but has finished on the board in all four of his starts this season.

In his most recent race, Sure Shot Biscuit dueled for the lead through the final half-mile of the John Wayne Stakes at six furlongs here June 8 before finishing second, three-quarters of a length behind Reuben. The Cyclones will be Sure Shot Biscuit's first start around two turns in 2002. He won multiple stakes routing last year for trainer Kelly Von Hemel.

Overall, Sure Shot Biscuit has won 23 of 44 career starts, good for $980,669 in earnings for his owners, the Okoboji Racing Stable. Regular rider Terry Thompson will once again be aboard Sure Shot Biscuit on Saturday when he starts as the

122-pound highweight and concedes from seven to 16 pounds to his four rivals.

Two possible upsetters in the 1 1/16-mile Cyclones are Take Me Up and Cowboy Stuff.

Take Me Up dropped a tough three-quarter-length decision to Fort Metfield after dueling for the lead in a mile and 70-yard allowance event here in his last start May 30. A 4-year-old gelded son of Take Me Out, Take Me Up has compiled a career record of 3-4-1 from 11 starts for trainer Paul Pearson.

Perry Compton has the mount on Saturday. Take Me Up gets in at 114 pounds but will likely carry two pounds of overweight, as 116 pounds is Compton's regular riding weight.

Cowboy Stuff is an up-and-coming star in the Iowa-bred ranks for trainer, co-owner, and breeder Don Von Hemel. A 3-year-old son of Evansville Slew, Cowboy Stuff has won 4 of his 7 career starts and has never finished worse than third.

Cowboy Stuff won the Gray's Lake Stakes here against statebred 3-year-olds at six furlongs May 27 by a widening 3 3/4 lengths.

In his most recent start, his first around two turns, Cowboy Stuff finished third, beaten just three-quarters of a length against open company in the one-mile Panthers Stakes here June 15. Luis Quinonez takes over in the irons for Thompson on Saturday. Cowboy Stuff will carry 115 pounds.