Excessivepleasure Sets Track Record in Iowa Derby

Excessivepleasure, ridden by Jon Court, upset 1-2 favorite Champali with a gate-to-wire track-record romp in the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows Saturday night.

The California-bred gelding by In Excess covered the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds in 1:40.82 while posting a 2 3/4-length victory over Saint Liam, ridden by Craig Perret. Absent Friend, with Ray Sibille aboard, was 4 1/2 lengths farther back in third.

Champali, with Cornelio Velasquez riding, was fourth in the six-horse field, beaten by 8 1/4 lengths, after chasing the pace while wide into the stretch and fading.

Excessivepleasure established the lead while racing outside of Iams Bound around the first turn, opened up on the field in the backstretch, shook off a mild bid by Saint Liam and maintained a sizeable advantage to the finish.

Owned by Ty and Leroy Leatherman and trained by Doug O'Neill, Excessivepleasure earned $150,000 for the win, his fourth in eight starts. Winner of the rich WinStar Derby at Sunland in March, he also has three seconds for career earnings of $642,502.

Cypress Farms 1991 and Vessels Stallion Farm LLC bred the winner.

Excessivepleasure, the third choice, paid $13.60, $4.40 and $8.20. Saint Liam returned $3.60 and $8.20. Absent Friend's show price: $15.80. The $2 exacta was worth $61.20.

(Chart, Equibase)