Though hardly a stranger to the Prairie Meadows winner’s circle, World
Thoroughbred Racing’s WAYZATA BAY (Roar) found himself, at 38-1, the least
fancied runner in a field of seven in the $295,000
Prairie Meadows Cornhusker H. (G2) on Saturday night. Despite stumbling at
the start, Wayzata Bay was well positioned in third for the opening half-mile,
made a sweeping three-wide move around the far turn, and decisively pulled away
to register a 3 1/2-length score under Israel Ocampo. Wayzata Bay, who covered 1
1/8 miles over a fast track in 1:48 2/5, paid $78.80, $16.80 and $6 and topped
the exotics of $476.40 (exacta) and $1,308 (3-5-4 trifecta).
The scratch of likely pacesetter Fairbanks (Giant’s Causeway) paved the way
for Encaustic (Broad Brush) and Temporary Saint (Awesome Again) to duel early,
with the former maintaining a head advantage through splits of :23 4/5 and :47
2/5. As Encaustic began to tire from his early exertion, Wayzata Bay commenced
his bold move from third and was within a head of Temporary Saint as that rival
hit the three-quarter mark in 1:11 3/5. Through the stretch, Wayzata Bay was in
full control as he knocked out a mile in 1:35 4/5 and extended his lead to the
wire. Sumac (Crafty Prospector), the second longest shot at 21-1, rallied from
near the back to claim second by a length over the 2-1 Temporary Saint. Sumac
returned $18.40 and $5.20 while Temporary Saint rewarded his backers with $3.80. Zanjero
(Cherokee Run), the 6-5 choice, offered no bid and finished fourth, and was
followed under the line by Prom Shoes (Include), Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris)
and Encaustic.
Wayzata Bay was making his eighth career trip to the Prairie Meadows winner’s
circle, and his 11th overall. A six-time stakes winner prior to the Cornhusker,
Wayzata Bay had struggled in previous graded outings, including a fifth-place
effort in the 2007 Cornhusker. His most recent triumph had occurred in the
Challenger S. at Tampa Bay Downs on March 8, and he later finished second in
both the Bosselman/Gus Fonner S. and Jim Rasmussen Memorial S. prior to
upsetting the Cornhusker. Trained by Judi Hicklin, Wayzata Bay improved his
career record to 42-11-8-3 with earnings of $570,748.
Bred in Kentucky by Good Genes Farm, Wayzata Bay is the first foal from the
winning Personal Flag mare Beauty Is, who has also produced Kimber Lily, an
unraced two-year-old filly by Sunday Break (Jpn), and an unnamed yearling filly by
Johannesburg.