Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider's Size captured her first stakes and third win overall in four starts with a handy upset victory in the $200,000 Iowa Oaks (gr. III) at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino the evening of June 28 (VIDEO).
Size, ridden by Junior Alvarado for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, had the early lead for about three-eighths of a mile, dropped back to third at one point, and re-rallied in the stretch in the 1 1/16-mile event for 3-year-old fillies. Size, a Kentucky homebred by First Samurai out of the Pulpit mare Extent, held off the late run of adjudged 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) winner Ria Antonia, who had raced in grade I stakes—including the Preakness—in her last three starts.
Breaking from post 5 in the nine-filly field, Size was in front through an opening-quarter mile in :23.44 on a track rated sloppy. She then gave way to Dream Spinner, who also left well from the outside post. Jareth Loveberry allowed Dream Spinner to open her advantage through a half-mile in :46.69, well ahead of Size, Awesome Jill, and Sugar Shock, who was factor early but gradually fell back and was eased.
Dream Spinner held the lead through six furlongs in 1:10.84, but by the time the filly hit the one-mile mark in 1:36.73, Size had gained ground on the outside and eventually passed the front-runner, who ended up third. Ria Antonia rallied well on the far outside to finish about 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner in second in an improved effort.
Tiz Windy rallied late for fourth. The final time was 1:43.64.
Size returned $28, $7.60, and $6.40 across the board, while Ria Antonia paid $3.60 and $3.20. Dream Spinner paid $4.80 to show. The $1 exacta paid $58.40 and the $1 trifecta $629.10.
In her previous three starts, Size had a maiden victory at Gulfstream Park, an allowance win at Aqueduct Racetrack, and a second-place finish behind Red Velvet in the Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont Park. The Iowa Oaks was her first start beyond six furlongs.
