Prairie Meadows: Cornhusker Sees Derby Darling Return

Prairie Meadows is gearing up for an exciting day of racing with a variety of thrilling contests including the Cornhusker which sees the return of Skippylongstocking.

Full Card Selections

Quarters

The first three races on the card are for quarter horses. These horses are a different breed of animal and bred to run really fast for a very short distance.

When handicapping these races, it can be important to look at Speed Index numbers which are like speed figures, but are based on raw times.

The other key aspect of these races is the start. With so little time to recover it is wise to avoid horses that constantly find trouble out of the gate.

Prairie Meadows- Race 1

Post: 6:00 PM CT; $15.5k Optional Claiming going 300 yards on dirt; Entries: 7

• #7 SWYPE RIGHT (2-1) gets the top selection. She has been quick away from the gate. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #3 BIGG DADDYS BAC (7-2) appears to be a major player based on her gate speed and speed index numbers.
• #1 MY CANDYS RELENTLESS (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. She comes into the race in really good form. This one goes out for the Olmstead barn and gets Garcia in the irons.
• #5 MIGHTY CUTE (10-1) is a price horse that has reasonable speed index numbers to be in the mix.

Selections: 7 – 3 – 1 – 5

Prairie Meadows- Race 2

Post: 6:25 PM CT; $89.9k Hawkeye Futurity going 330 yards on dirt; Entries: 10

• #6 COWBOY 123 (8-1) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. He has races good enough to beat this group.
• #10 FIVE BAR PHI (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race based on his speed index numbers. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Hardy and Ramirez.
• #9 PERRYS SPECIAL K (4-1) goes out for the 2nd start. The debut effort puts this one right in the mix here.
• #4 SUMMERHILL EXPRESS (12-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race going out for the Jones barn and gets Dominguez in the irons. The speed index numbers make this one worth the odds.

Selections: 6 – 10- 9 – 4

Prairie Meadows- Race 3

Post: 6:50 PM CT; $157.243k Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity going 350 yards on dirt; Entries: 10

• #1 CARDIAC COWBOY (3-1) looks best here. He has superior gate speed and should be able to break out and take them all the way.
• #9 JESS A REDNEC COWBOY (7-2) appears to be a major player in this race. He seems to fit well enough here. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #4 TEMPTING SCOUT (6-1) has the speed index numbers to be a threat in this race.
• #8 LITTLE BARBIE TALES (9-2) has been consistently solid in recent efforts and with a good start, has every right to be on the wire with the rest of the top players

Selections: 1 – 9 – 4 – 8

Race 3 is the final Quarter Horse race. All remaining races are standard thoroughbred events.

Prairie Meadows- Race 4

Post: 7:16 PM CT; $43.243k Maiden Special Weight going 5 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #5 KISSED A CADET (5-2) should improve off the first start and gets the top selection. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 DAWSON’S STORM (8-5) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one goes out for the Fett barn and gets Corbett in the irons.
• #6 STROLLER BOY (7-2) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. This one comes into the race in really good form.
• #1 JUPITER MISSION (10-1) is a price horse and seems to be running for the minor placings in this contest. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Arnett and Birzer.

Selections: 5 – 4 – 6 – 1

Prairie Meadows- Race 5

Post: 7:42 PM CT; $43.243k Maiden Special Weight going 5 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #4 CEL’S STAR (3-1) is the top pick. She could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. This one has to be respected going out for the Hicklin barn.
• #1 MORNINGNOONANDNITE (2-1) should improve off the first start and could be in with a shot in this race. She has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. A repeat of the debut effort could make this one tough to top.
• #2 OLIVIA’S HOPE (8-1) debuts here and has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot. The morning line is not ideal indicating that maybe this runner needs a start.
• #7 QUIET I’M NOT (4-1) is a firster who is a bit more fancied on the morning line. The breeding on this one makes sense for this spot.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 2 – 7

Prairie Meadows- Race 6

Post: 8:11 PM CT; $100k Prairie Gold Juvenile S. going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 REAPER (2-1) looks best here. He has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #1 U CAN DO U (3-1) should improve off the first start and should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #3 SURPRISE ROAD TRIP (5-1) goes out at second asking and should see improvement off the first start. That makes this one interesting at a nice price.
• #5 DIALED IN TO WIN (5-2) is another 2nd time starter that should have gotten a lot out of the debut effort.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 3 – 5

Prairie Meadows- Race 7

Post: 8:40 PM CT; $225k Iowa Oaks going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 7

• #3 CRYPTO MO (5-1) gets the top selection. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one has races good enough to beat this group.
• #1 BROKEN HEARTS BAY (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #2 IMONRA (5-2) has to be considered as she could get the absolute right setup in this race.
• #7 PEACOCK LASS (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 1/16 mile distance.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 2 – 7

Prairie Meadows- Race 8

Post: 9:09 PM CT; $300k Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. going 1 1/8 miles on dirt; Entries: 10

• #7 FROSTED GRACE (5-1) is the top pick. He will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #5 SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has the top overall power rating in the group and will look to live up to the Kentucky Derby wise guy horse status earned during his 3 year old year.
• #10 AIN’T LIFE GRAND (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #1 GIANT GAME (15-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. This one will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. At one point the connections had this one pegged as a handicap division horse. He’s flashed that talent occasionally, but lacks the consistency to be trusted.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 10- 1

Prairie Meadows- Race 9

Post: 9:38 PM CT; $250k Iowa Derby going 1 1/16 miles on dirt; Entries: 14

• #6 BO CRUZ (9-2) looks best here. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #8 EYEING CLOVER (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one could get the right setup in this race.
• #5 DENINGTON (12-1) is a price horse and should be competitive in this spot. He seems to fit well enough here. This one will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.
• #7 RAISE CAIN (4-1) was at one point on the Derby trail. These aren’t Derby horses and maybe that is just what this improving colt needs as he heads into the summer of his 3 year old season.

Selections: 6 – 8 – 5 – 7

Prairie Meadows- Race 10

Post: 10:04 PM CT; $34k Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #3 A J’S RIDE (2-1) gets the top selection. She shouldn’t have trouble with the 6 furlong distance.
• #5 ARRESTED (4-1) should improve off the first start and appears to be a major player in this race. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #6 MINNIE’S READY (7-2) makes a lot of sense in this race. She projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #4 DIXIE PENNY (8-1) has speed figures that fit snuggly in this group. At 8-1 this one is worth inclusion on a few tickets.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 6 – 4

Prairie Meadows- Race 11

Post: 10:30 PM CT; $27.8k Starter Allowance going 1 mile 70 yards on dirt; Entries: 7

• #6 HERZEN (7-2) is the top pick. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 DARYL’S BOLT (4-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #7 LEAVEITONTHEFIELD (8-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He shouldn’t have trouble with the 1 mile 70 yard distance.
• #2 ITWASTHISBIG (5-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. The price is a bit short though when others are preferred.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 7 – 2