Theperfectvow stretches back out in Hawkeyes Stakes

Mywomanfromtokyo has been unbeatable in two-turn stakes restricted to Iowa-bred females. She’s run in five such races and won them all. But Mywomanfromtokyo’s streak could be in jeopardy when she faces five foes Friday night in the $65,000 Hawkeyes Stakes.

The Hawkeyes is a 1 1/16-mile race for Iowa-bred fillies and mares, and Mywomanfromtokyo won it last June by more than five lengths. But is Mywomanfromtokyo the same horse now as then? Perhaps not.

All three of her starts this year have been sprints, and the mare always has improved around a second turn, but even accounting for that preference, her performance level has lagged well behind her career standards, and perhaps not even more suitable conditions will turn things around for Mywomanfromtokyo this season.

Theperfectvow holds appeal at something like her 7-2 morning-line odds. She was third behind the Hawkeyes entrants My Sister Madi and Zella Rose while racing six furlongs May 18 in the Mamie Eisenhower Stakes, but that was Theperfectvow’s first start since Aug. 26, and she went 2 for 2 in route races last summer.

My Sister Madi has won two straight at this meet and has a strong Prairie Meadows record, but she appears to prefer sprints and was no match for Theperfectvow at two turns last summer. Zella Rose has more two-turn upside and starts for trainer Karl Broberg, whose barn is having a very productive meeting.