As Prairie Meadows moves into the heart of the meet, Iowa breds are stretching out and there is no better example of this than the pair of state bred stakes on the schedule Saturday night.
A pair of horses that have only sprinted thus far this season will look to carry their speed a mile and sixteenth as the top choices in the $75,000 Cyclones Handicap.
Cainam, the 123 pound high weight in the Cyclones, is carrying a two race winning streak with his last a score in the six furlong John Wayne. Cainam is going to be coming from way off the pace and should get some help in that department. In the longer contest, Cainam should also be much closer to the pace giving him much less ground to make up late.
One of those ahead of him early on should be morning line favorite and defending champion Zeki. After going 5 for 6 in 2014, Zeki hasn’t seen the winners’ circle in 2015 but the stretch out from six furlongs gets him much closer to his wheelhouse. In his first start of the season, the John Wayne, he showed little and was beaten soundly by Cainam. However he showed more speed in his last, a state bred allowance, and he looks to be rounding into form. Additionally, Zeki has defeated Cainam twice in route stakes.
In the $75,000 Hawkeyes Handicap for the distaff side the overwhelming favorite is Sumting Wong, a mare that is coming into the Hawkeyes on a two race winning streak including a professional score in the Mamie Eisenhower. Since the Mamie Eisenhower she has been training lights out with a pair of bullet works over the strip. If she’s ready to tackle two turns again, she is going to be very difficult to beat.
Since returning to Prairie Meadows, Stelawithanatitude has steadily improved, winning her last though DQ’d for interference in the stretch. She has early speed and has been able to carry it over a mile but she hasn’t wired the likes of Sumting Wong. She’s going to have company on the front end with I Tour and possibly Corsierra, further flattering Sumting Wong’s running style and making the case for her stronger.
