Zeki takes down Ralph Hayes Stakes for fifth win at meet

ALTOONA, Iowa – Zeki seized command early and, with jockey Shane Laviolette managing his speed efficiently, went on to an unchallenged victory in Saturday night's featured $95,200 Ralph Hayes Stakes a 1 1/16-mile test for older Iowa-breds.

Capping off a stellar campaign, which saw the 4-year-old gelding win five of his six races around this oval, the Jon Arnett-trained Zeki held the rallying Oh My Gravy safe by two lengths while covering the distance in 1:45.38. Oh My Gravy finished 3 1/4 lengths clear of Zeki's entrymate, Cainam, who was going for his third Hayes win.

Bred and owned by James R. Leech, the Zeki-Cainam entry returned $3.20 and earned a combined $66,640. Zeki brought home the lion's share by collecting $57,120.

The Ralph Hayes, the finale of a program featuring seven consecutive Iowa-bred stakes worth a combined $632,290, likely clinched Iowa-bred Horse of the Year honors for Zeki, and he became the first runner with five wins at the 2014 meet.

Caribbean Cowboy, trained by Kelly Von Hemel and ridden by Glenn Corbett, took his undefeated record to 3 for 3 with a 2 1/4-length score over the regarded Kid Brock in the $92,766 Iowa Cradle. Caribbean Cowboy ($4.00), a 2-year-old Petionville colt bred and owned by Shattuck and RPM Inc., brought home $55,660.

Shock Hazard, the lone 3-year-old in a field of seven, stalked and pounced for a 3 1/4-length tally in the $78,325 Iowa Classic Sprint. Trained by Arnett and partnered by Ken Tohill, Shock Hazard ($5.00) went six furlongs in an impressive 1:09.44.

Brock'sspringfling ($3.80), conditioned by David Tibbitts and handled by Corbett, garnered a 1 1/4-length win in the $86,641 Iowa Sorority, a six-furlong dash for 2-year-old fillies.

Corsierra ($3.00), a Lloyd DeBruycker-owned homebred, led virtually every step of the way for a dominant 8 1/2-length win in the $91,825 Iowa Breeders' Oaks. Ridden by Laviolette, Corsierra is trained by the meet's leading trainer, Ray Tracy.

Whisper to Curlin ($2.80), another for the Corbett-Von Hemel tandem, continued his winning ways with a 2 3/4-length score over his stablemate, Ooey Gooey, in the $91,808 Iowa Breeders' Derby.

Sumting Wong ($30.00) posted the night's lone upset with a neck win over Rallydownthealley in the $95,725 Donna Reed Stakes, the filly and mare equivalent of the Ralph Hayes. Parlaying her success from last year's Iowa Breeders' Oaks, Sumting Wong provided the meet's leading rider, David Mello, and trainer Doug Anderson with a valuable victory.