Warrant heads field of six for Cornhusker Handicap
Warrant will start as the 121-pound highweight in the Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap next Saturday night, July 9, at Prairie Meadows. He drew post 5 in the field of six older horses when entries were taken Saturday.
The Cornhusker is a 1 1/8-mile race that anchors the Iowa Racing Festival of Racing. The series features four stakes Friday night and another four on the Saturday card that includes the $250,000 Iowa Derby that drew 10 and the Grade 3, $225,000 Iowa Oaks. First post for each card is 6 p.m. Central.
Warrant is coming off a runner-up finish in the Grade 2 Brooklyn on June 11 at Belmont Park. Ricardo Santana Jr. has the mount on the Grade 3 winner for Twin Creeks Racing and trainer Brad Cox.
Rated R Superstar was third in last year’s Cornhusker. David Cabrera was aboard and will again be in the saddle Saturday for what will be one of his first mounts back following injuries sustained in April.
Silver Prospector should get good support as the winner of the Grade 3 Steve Sexton Mile last out at Lone Star Park.
The complete Cornhusker field from the rail with riders is: Flash of Mischief, Alex Canchari; Officiating, Javier Castellano; Silver Prospector, Stewart Elliott; Rated R Superstar, Cabrera; Warrant, Santana; and Fleetridge, Wilmer Garcia.
Pletcher targets Iowa Oaks, Derby
New York-based trainer Todd Pletcher has entered Major General in the Iowa Derby and Falconet in the Iowa Oaks. Both races will be run over 1 1/16 miles on Saturday.
Major General won the Grade 3 Iroquois at the distance last year at Churchill Downs. Castellano has the mount from post 3.
The complete field for the Derby from the rail with riders is: Rome, Walter De La Cruz; Big Blue Line, Cabrera; Major General, Castellano; Actuator, James Graham; Conagher, Joe Rocco Jr.; Feel the Fear, Kevin Roman; Diamond Rim, Jermaine Bridgmohan; Ain’t Life Grand, Elvin Gonzalez; Rattle N Roll, Glenn Corbett; and Chileno, Elliott.
Grade 1 winner Rattle N Roll won the American Derby on Saturday at Churchill.
Pletcher trainee Falconet will be going for her third straight win when she starts in the Iowa Oaks. She won her maiden at Keeneland and an allowance at Churchill in her starts leading up to the race at Prairie Meadows. Castellano has the mount in the eight-horse field that includes stakes winners Free Like a Girl, Butterbean, and Candy Raid.
Ortiz seeks sprint wins
Trainer John Ortiz will send out some notable sprinters in Friday’s stakes. Joyful Cadence could go favored in the $100,000 Saylorville for fillies and mares at six furlongs, while Top Gunner will start as a chief contender in the $100,000 Iowa Sprint.
Both horses will be ridden by Reylu Gutierrez.
On the same card, Oliviaofthedesert will attempt to improve her Prairie Meadows record to 3 for 3 in the $100,000 Iowa Distaff.