Duke of Mischief , sent off at 13-1 in the June 26 Iowa Derby (VIDEO) at Prairie Meadows, took the lead on the turn and rolled to a five-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. Terrain, the even-money favorite, was pulled up after being steadied at the five-eighths marker and was vanned off.
Duke of Mischief, a Florida-bred son of Graeme Hall bred by Marilyn McMaster, came into the $250,000 Iowa Derby off a one-mile allowance victory at Calder May 30. Trained by David Fawkes, the chestnut colt had made two previous stakes attempts, finishing second in the Dayton Andrews Dodge Sophomore Stakes on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs in April and running seventh in the Lord Juban stakes on the turf at Calder.
At Prairie Meadows, Duke of Mischief settled in fifth position early while saving ground under Eibar Coa as Red Lead set the early fractions of :24.41 and :49.13. On the far turn Coa angled his mount off the the rail, and they surged to the lead, kicked clear, and drew off to hit the wire in 1:42.26. They got their final sixteenth in a crisp :06.04. Finishing second was Zayat Stables’ Soul Warrior, another 13-1 runner. Red Lead, a 22-1 shot, held for third
Out of the Red Courage mare My Lady Amelia, Duke of Mischief is owned by Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, McMaster, and CLS Racing.
The winner returned $29.20, $10.20, and $5.40. Soul Warrior paid $12 and $10.60 while completing a $245.40 exacta (7-3). Red Lead paid $9.80 to show.
Moonport, the 5-2 second choice in the Iowa Derby, finished fourth and was followed by Proceed Bee, His Greatness, Uno Mas, and Conchacer. There has been no update on Adele Dilschneider’s Terrain.
Duke of Mischief now has three wins from six starts and the $150,000 first prize boosts his career earnings to $203,925. As a weanling, he went through the auction ring at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s October fall mixed sale and was bought back for $35,000.
Earlier on Prairie Meadows’ three-stakes card that also included the Iowa Oaks (gr. III), Lady Chace scored her first stakes victory in the $100,000 Saylorville Stakes (VIDEO). The six-furlong event was for older fillies and mares.
Lady Chace, a 4-year-old daughter of Tiznow – Squall Cry, by Carson City, stalked the early pace set by Miranda Diane, forged to the front in the stretch and was all out to fend off Nadeshiko by a head at the wire. The winning time was 1:08.92.
Bred by Bluegrass Farm and John and Harriet Mack, Lady Chace is owned by Gold Square and is trained by Steve Margolis. She now has a 5-2-2 slate from 15 starts and has earned $223,125. In 2009 she has placed in four other added-money events, most recently a third-place effort (finished second and was disqualified) in the Winning Colors Stakes (gr. III) May 25 at Churchill Downs.
The 3-1 second choice in the Saylorville, Lady Chace paid $8.80, $5.60, $4.40. Nadeshiko paid $14 and $9.40. P. S. U. Grad finished third, returning $4. The 2-3 exacta paid $91. Completing the order of finish was Nursery Rhyme, Adhsilver, Miranda Diane, Sly Storm (5-2 favorite), and Theycallmeladyluck.