Iowa Oaks J

AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Ten three-year-old fillies will line up to contest the $200,000 Iowa Oaks
(G3) at Prairie Meadows on Friday evening. We’re going to tab SKY MOM (Maria’s
Mon) for the win on this day. Conditioned by Steve Asmussen, the bay lass has
been a steady performer throughout her career for her connections, bagging five
wins from 13 outings, including a fine win in the lucrative Sunland Park Oaks three
starts prior. The consistent filly is a little void of early foot but should get
a swift tempo at which to run, and she’s won her only try over this trip, so
we see no reason to look elsewhere. Asmussen’s number one, Shaun Bridgmohan,
takes the call, which only adds to the appeal.

RASIERRA (Kafwain) took the Panthers S. over this track in wire-to-wire fashion last out for
Ray Tracy Jr., and the talented bay could go off favored in this tilt. The filly had
a string of four consecutive seconds, including three stakes, broken when unplaced in the Kentucky
Oaks (G1), but she has rebounded well and could be even better due to her being
in that race. The outside draw could actually be advantageous to the
Kentucky-bred with good tactical speed, and she is the only entrant in here with
a win over the track, having done so twice. Shane Laviolette will be in the
irons.

STORM MESA (Sky Mesa) has blossomed in a big way since transferring to the
barn of Bret Calhoun, winning or placing in all six tries, including a dominant
13 1/2-length tally in the Cinemine S. most recently. The dark bay miss posted a
massive 114 BRIS Speed figure in her latest try, and no one in this group could
come close to that in here. The filly could run on or close to the lead, and if
she comes close to duplicating her best effort, she’ll be tough to handle.

Bourbonette Oaks (G3) queen MAREN’S MEADOW (Meadowlake) was outclassed in the
Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) most recently but is eligible for a rebound in this
affair for Larry Jones. The Canadian-bred lass has faced top competition
throughout her career with respectable results and hails from a top barn, so
we’ll give the bay an exotics chance under Terry Thompson. DAY OF VICTORY
(Victory Gallop) is another gimmicks threat in here, and could be the best
closer of all for Bob Holthus. The late-running dark bay was a clear second
in the Panthers and should appreciate the added ground in this one under
Calvin Borel. We’re not sure if the Kentucky-bred could win a match race with a
handful of these, but she should surely show good late energy and could be in
the mix at the end with a strong early tempo.

Fantasy S. (G2) runner-up ALINA (Came Home) has disappointed us in a pair of
Grade 3 events at Churchill most recently, but the Asmussen trainee is an
obvious threat in this spot. An 18 3/4-length winner of the Green Oaks in her
first try for Asmussen, the Kentucky-bred has been a respectable fourth in her
last pair and ranks third in this field in BRIS Prime Power (138), so we’ll consider this yet another
one who could challenge late beneath Luis Quinonez. We never doubt the
decisions by trainer Tom Proctor, so with that alone we’ll include TIGHT
PRECISION (Pure Precision) in many of our plays. The Florida-bred sophomore has
been pretty solid in her last trio of events, placing third in a pair of stakes
prior to dominating allowance/optional claiming foes over Arlington’s Polytrack in preparation
for this. The dark bay has a solid closing kick and should be in the hunt late under
Miguel Mena.

TIMELY REFLECTION (Yankee Victor) was a distant third in the Panthers in
her first try for trainer Wilson Brown, and the filly is well drawn on the rail in this
one. The bay Kentucky-bred has the right running style for this race and should
endure a good trip while saving ground along the inside, so her chances at the top
three are viable if a wicked pace ensues. The late-blooming HARTIGAN (Include)
has won two straight for the high-percentage Richard Small, including a facile
score in the off-the-turf Pearl Necklace S. at Pimlico last out. The chestnut
has been unplaced just once in nine career tries, and although she’s a bit
slower than the top ones in here, her consistency and solid connections should
be respected.

MISS MISSILE (Golden Missile) romped in the Chantilly S. versus much softer
for Charles Smith, and looks like a pace threat only in our estimation.