Tazdue, Bint Julep lead well-matched field for Iowa Stallion Stakes

ALTOONA, Iowa – Sunday’s $60,000-added Iowa Stallion Stakes, at one mile and 70 yards and restricted to nominated 3-year-olds who were kept eligible by a fee payment, drew a well-matched field of 12, headed by the Indiana-bred shipper Tazdue and the quick local product Bint Julep.

Tazdue, based just north of Louisville, Ky., at High Pointe Training Center in trainer Wayne Minnock’s high-percentage stable, has plied his trade at Indiana Grand in recent months. With two pace-controlling sprint tallies in his last four outings, the Devil His Due gelding will aim to carry his tactical speed farther under jockey Jeremy Rose.

Bint Julep, who shed his maiden tag here June 8 with a 14-length romp over Iowa-bred maiden claimers, drew the rail and must carry his speed around two turns for trainer Chris Richard. His regular rider, Terry Thompson, takes the call.

Leadin Rusher, representing the successful tandem of trainer Ray Tracy and jockey Alex Birzer, steps up in class and distance but has led every step of the way for clear-cut wins in her last two sprints. The Rushin’ to Altar filly’s 2 1/4-length win over open company in a June 14 conditioned claiming race appears to be solid form in this company.

Mama’s Mad Money, a 3 1/4-length winner of last season’s Iowa Stallion Futurity, has a class edge over most of these and ran well when third, beaten three lengths by the well-regarded Even Song, in a May 30 open allowance sprint. Like many of her rivals, she is inexperienced at route distances.

The lightly raced pair of Cowboysteviewonder and I Forgot It’s Name should not be dismissed. The Ray Ashford-trained Cowboysteviewonder has three recent races over the Iowa Stallion Stakes distance, so stamina might be his forte. I Forgot It’s Name, also prepared by Tracy, has run well in both career tries, including a 3 1/2-length maiden score over Iowa-breds on June 14.

The Iowa Stallion Stakes has a scheduled post time of 4:06 p.m. Central.