Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, and Hotel garnered plenty of attention at the entry box as horsemen placed 71 runners into nine races for the opening night of the 67-day Thoroughbred season on Thursday, April 28.
“The horsemen stepped up and helped us fill nine competitive races,” said Racing Secretary Pat Pope. “We’re appreciative of their support for the opening night card and we anticipate that entries will stay strong all season long.”
Nine Iowa-bred fillies and mares will run six furlongs for a $42,245 purse in the marquee event of the evening, the eighth race on the card, which is scheduled for an 8:37 PM post time.
The field of distaffers is headed by the six-year-old mare Kims Star, who makes her 2016 debut for two-time defending top owner Danny Caldwell.
The daughter of Autonomy (IRE) – Another Audible, by Menifee was claimed by Caldwell for $7,500 out of a runner-up effort at Prairie Meadows in May of 2015.
Kims Star proceeded to win three straight races in Iowa for Caldwell, 2015 Prairie Meadows leading trainer Federico Villafranco, and 2015 Prairie Meadows riding champ Ramon Vazquez.
The mare won her first start of the 2015 season at Remington Park and added one more win before the end of the meet in Oklahoma to increase her lifetime victory count to 12.
The field in post position order will consist of: 1. Who’s Smokin (Karl Broberg/Sasha Risenhoover), 2. Foxy Fleda (Doug Anderson/David Mello), 3. Kims Star (Federico Villafranco/Ramon Vazquez), 4. Miss Lucky (Ray Tracy, Jr./Ken Tohill), 5. Wait N C Spring (Lynn Chleborad/Alex Birzer), 6. Kera Kera (Satchell Stevens/Terry Thompson), 7. Ella’s Glory (Lynn Chleborad/Geovanni Franco), 8. Jumped The Harbor (Larry Dunbar/Glenn Corbett), 9. Dreamin (Tim Martin/Belen Quiñonez).
Association Steward Dan Fick provided an update on the bio-security situation at Prairie Meadows. “We’re maintaining the highest level of bio-security as we continue to control and monitor the restricted horses on the grounds.”
“We are working very closely with the Iowa State Department of Agriculture and State Veterinarian Dr. John Sweeney,” Fick added. “There have not been any reports of elevated temperatures or related symptoms.
The Racing Office at Prairie Meadows will take entries for the second day of the Thoroughbred season, Friday, April 29, on the morning of Tuesday, April 26.