Two rivals should battle it out again

ALTOONA, Iowa - The 18th running of the $70,000 Mamie Eisenhower kicks off the Iowa-bred stakes program at Prairie Meadows on Friday.

Six of the eight entrants in the Mamie Eisenhower, a six-furlong race for fillies and mares, ran in a non-conditioned statebred allowance opening night. The top two finishers, Sakakawea and Go Milan Go, finished 11 1/2 lengths ahead of the rest of the field. Sakakawea outlasted a determined stalking bid from Go Milan Go to win by a length.

Trainer Ray Tracy said Sakakawea has been training well since her last race and that he was impressed with her four-furlong in-hand workout May 10, when she went a bullet 47.01.

Sakakawea has returned this year in great form, showing no signs of being slowed from the shin injury she suffered in the 2009 Hawkeyes Handicap.

Sakakawea will probably be pressured again by Go Milan Go, who should be better conditioned in her third start off a five-month layoff. Go Milan Go is a half-sister to Irish Party, winner of the 2009 Mamie Eisenhower.

Go Milan Go is not the only horse in the field with a relative who won the Mamie Eisenhower. Champagne Attitude, the third-place finisher in the opening night allowance, is out of One Fine Shweetie, winner of the 2003 Mamie Eisenhower. Trainer Thad Keller said he believes Champagne Attitude fits in this race but that he would like to get her back in two-turn races. He has been pointing her toward the Hawkeyes Handicap at Prairie Meadows on June 11.

The Mamie Eisenhower is the eighth race on Prairie Meadows's nine-race card. It is scheduled to begin at 9:37 p.m. Central