Three stakes winners sired by Maclean’s Music kickoff Iowa Festival of Racing

The stallion Maclean’s Music sired the winners of three of the four stakes on the first night of the $1.2 million Iowa Festival of Racing on Friday at Prairie Meadows.

He was represented by Magical Lute, who won the $100,000 Iowa Distaff; Unsung Melody, winner of the $100,000 Saylorville; and Shezafunkydrummer, who captured the $100,000 Prairie Lassie.

Necker Island, by Hard Spun, won the other stakes on the card, the $100,000 Iowa Sprint.

The festival that is comprised of eight stakes continues Saturday night with the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker and Iowa Derby. Purses for the festival races total $1.2 million.

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Magical Lute ($3.60) closed from last for a 1 1/2-length win over pacesetter West Coast Fashion in the Iowa Distaff. It was another six lengths back in third to Flat Out Stormin.

The winner trailed behind fractions of 24.20 for the opening quarter and 49 seconds flat for the half-mile before going on to cover the 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares on a fast track in 1:44.90. Magical Lute earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 78.

Chris Landeros was aboard for trainer Ian Wilkes.

The Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred was winning her first stakes and improved her career record to 4 for 14 for earnings of $311,796.

Unsung Melody ($8) entered the Saylorville off a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. She rallied for a 2 3/4-length win over Happy Am I, while it was another 3 1/2 lengths back in third to Faith Alone.

Unsung Melody sat off fractions of 22.10 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.18 for the half-mile before covering six furlongs for fillies and mares in 1:09.59. She earned a Beyer of 89.

Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard for trainer John Ortiz.

Olga Isabel, the 4-5 favorite, pushed the quick pace and encountered costly trouble in the stretch before finishing sixth. She had won the local prep for the Saylorville.

Unsung Melody was winning her first stakes. She races for WSS Racing and has now won 3 of 12 starts for earnings of $302,009.

Shezafunkydrummer ($7.80) ran her record to 2 for 2 with her 2 1/4-length victory over Elegant Justice in the Prairie Gold Lassie. She tracked fractions of 22.42 seconds for the opening quarter and 46.03 for the half-mile before covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.83. Shezafunkydrummer earned a Beyer of 65.

David Cohen was aboard for Patricia’s Hope and trainer Larry Rivelli. Shezafunkydrummer, who came into the race off a maiden win, has now earned $78,000.

The Iowa Sprint was the fourth career stakes win for Necker Island, who was up for a three-quarter length victory over Jaxon Traveler. It was another neck back in third to Confidence Game.

Necker Island ($18) stalked favorite Count de Monet through fractions of 22.44 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.51 for the half-mile before going on to cover six furlongs in 1:09.76. Necker Island earned a Beyer of 86.

Mitchell Murrill was aboard for trainer Chris Hartman.

Necker Island races for The Scherr Boys. He has now won 9 of 41 starts for earnings of $1.1 million.

First post Saturday night is 6 p.m. Central.

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