June 29, 2015
The Grade III Iowa Derby at PRM on Saturday afternoon really was a crap shoot with all seven entrants having eyes on the $250.000 prize but Lincoln made the biggest late move of all and with a sweeping rush, took down his third straight win since being claimed and gelded by owner Serenity Stables. With stakes winners littered through his pedigree on both the sire and the dam side, he was fully capable of handling the 1 1/16 mile distance and got the dream trip outside, which he turned into his biggest payday and a powerful 98-speed rating that sets him up for the biggest races of the season at MNR and SAR.
Steel Fox (2.90) and Jack The Flipper (7.25) broke best at the start of the Iowa Derby and took their positions at the front heading into the first turn while Luckee (10.55) dropped inside from his outside post to secure a ground saving trip. While Steel Fox was able to get down to the rail in front, Jack The Flipper had a tougher time after being hung out by Roxys Triple Crown (6.60) but the compact field marched around the bend with only four-lengths separating all seven. An opening split of 23.79 ensured a decent pace for the 8.5-furlongs with Steel Fox a length and a half clear of the field and as a wall of three lined up behind him, Roxys Triple Crown took up the mantle while wide as favourite Lil Old Louie (*1.00) inched through on the rail in hopes of a clear shot. Everyone sat chilly passing a half-mile in 47.52 and surprisingly, Jack The Flipper emerged as the clearest shot at the leader from between rivals and into the far turn, the entire field seemed to angle out for their run behind the well-meant frontrunner. A quarter-mile out and Steel Fox was done, giving up the lead to Jack The Flipper with Lil Oid Louie getting the golden trip and Fatal Dream (61.20) crying for room and through six-furlongs in 1:11.30, it was anyone’s race with the widest trip of all eventually coming up perfectly. At the head of the lane, it was a seven-deep cavalry charge with Jack The Flipper a clear and decisive leader but in the shadow of the wire, it was Lincoln (12.15) who who came rocketing forward from his wide trip to get all the money, hunting down his rival for a head decision, with another length back to a hard-luck Fatal Dream in third. Luckee (10.55) got a wide trip throughout and salvaged fourth while Roxys Triple Crown and Lil Old Louie failed to quicken when it counted, only beating Steel Fox home with that early leader failed to stay the trip for his top connections.
Bred to handle the distance, and given a chance to mature as a three-year-old, Lincoln has come into his own since being gelded and now, sports three straight wins including this score in the Grade III Iowa Derby with each of them a little more impressive than the last. The Grade II WV Derby, Grade II Dandy and Grade I Haskell all seem like viable options for this improving colt with that race at MNR looking like the best bet for him to stretch his legs against slightly tougher but still reachable rivals.
Congratulations goes out to owner Serenity Stables and their three-year-old gelding Lincoln, a solid off-the-pace winner of the Grade III Iowa Derby at PRM!
Prediction Steel Fox / Lincoln / Roxys Triple Crown
Winner Lincoln
Three-year-old bay gelding
Waiver Wire-Swarleys Girl (Swarley)
Owner Serenity Stables
Time 23.79, 47.52, 1:11.30, 1:41.85
Overall
Lincoln 12.15 wide trip, angled clear, up in time
Jack The Flipper 7.25 between rivals, drove home, caught late
Fatal Dream 61.20 stuck behind rivals, room too late
Luckee 10.55 late on scene
Roxys Triple Crown 6.60 three-wide, no late momentum
Lil Old Louie *1.00 inside run, evened out
Steel Fox 2.90 set pace, weakened in stretch
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade III
