Iowa Derby 2014 Contenders & Odds

Dave Bond | OTB Writer

Las Vegas, NV - Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa will be the scene of the Grade 3 Iowa Derby on Saturday, June 28. A group of three year olds will take to Prairie Meadows main track and go 1 1/16 miles searching for the winner's share of the $250,000 purse.

The Iowa Derby has attracted a field of nine three year olds to go in race 8 on Prairie Meadows Saturday card. Post time is 9:43 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all nine combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

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2014 Iowa Derby Race Favorite Entries

Vicar's in Trouble - Michael Maker trainee was last seen running a disappointing nineteenth in the Kentucky Derby. Before that he had three wins and two third place finishes in five career starts including graded stakes wins in two of his four starts. He won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 29 after a third in the Risen Star and another win in the Grade 3 Lecomte back in January. Except for one bad outing nearly two months ago Vicar's in Trouble has been very good and is unquestionably the one to beat. Cornelio Velasques gets the mount on the 3-1 morning line favorite from gate 8.

Embellishing Bob - won the Grade 3 Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs April 26 for trainer Steve Margolis after a win, a second and a third place finish in three MSW races at Fair Grounds to start his career. Last time out he failed to place for the first time - a seventh in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park June 7. He has won two of his last three starts and hopes to erase the memory of a career worst performance last time out. Brian Joseph Hernandez gets the call from the rail aboard the 7-2 morning line second choice.

Iowa Derby 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Six Spot - Steve Asmussen trainee started his career with a second place finish and two wins but has taken a small step back in his last two starts. Last time out was a third in the minor Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico May 17 after a fourth in the minor Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 12. Six Spot looks for his first stakes win Saturday with Ricardo Santana guiding him from post at 5-1 odds.

Jessica's Star - Michael Stidham trained gelding is coming off a nice win in his stakes debut - the minor Prairie Mile Stakes on this track May 31 after an Allowance Optional Claiming score and a second in an Allowance in April. He has never finished worse than second in five career starts and will line up in post 6 at an intriguing 6-1 odds with David Mello aboard.

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Charge Now - legendary trainer Bill Mott sends out Charge Now who has just three career starts with two wins and a second place finish. He races in stakes company for the first time Saturday after an Allowance score at Belmont Park May 30 and after breaking maiden in his second career start - at Gulfstream March 29. He has been competitive every time out - more is expected Saturday as Junior Alvarado takes the reins from post 5 at 8-1 odds.

Russellin - has just four career starts and has been good in all - two wins and two second place finishes. Last time out was a respectable second in his stakes debut - the minor Golden Circle Stakes on this track May 2 after a pair of wins - including an Allowance at Oaklawn Park in April. Ken Tohill will be aboard for Russelin's graded stakes debut from gate 3 at 10-1 odds.

I Got It All -has three wins and a second place finish in five career starts and enters on a two race win streak - both minor stakes. Last time out was the Springfield Stakes at Arlington May 31 and before that was the Lady of Lincoln Stakes at Hawthorne in April - his only off the board finish coming in his debut. I Got It All has been competitive every time out and could emerge Saturday. Emanuel Cosme will be in the saddle of the 10-1 co-sixth choice from gate 7.

Tairneach - rode a three race win streak (his only three career wins) into his stakes debut which resulted in a second in the minor Prairie Mile Stakes on this track May 31. Tairneach has finished first or second in his last six starts overall and has hit the board in all but one of his nine career starts. He steps into graded stakes company for the first time Saturday at 12-1 odds with Jareth Loveberry aboard from the outside post.

Smack Smack - has eight career starts with four wins and three second place finishes. Last time out was a third place finish in the minor Prairie Mile Stakes on this track May 31 after his only off-the-board finish - an Allowance Optional Claiming also on this track May 11. He won three of his first four starts including the minor Prairie Meadows Juvenile Mile Stakes and the minor Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes on this very track as well. He is a local favorite who could contend Saturday. Jack Barton gets the call from post 4 at 12-1.


2014 Iowa Derby Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Prairie Meadows's Saturday card with a Post Time of 9:43 PM.

Entry Horse Jockey Trainer ML Odds
1 Embellishing Bob B. Hernandez, Jr. S. Margolis
7-2
2 Russellin K. Tohill C. Hartman
10-1
3 Six Spot R. Santana, Jr. S. Asmussen
5-1
4 Smack Smack J. Barton D. Von Hemel
12-1
5 Charge Now J. Alvarado W. Mott
8-1
6 Jessica's Star D. Mello M. Stidham
6-1
7 I Got It All E. Cosme T. Swearingen
10-1
8 Vicar's in Trouble C. Velasquez M. Maker
3-1
9 Tairneach J. Loveberry M. McKenzie
12-1