Iowa Stakes 2011 at Prairie Meadows: Astrology to compete under Mike Smith, Awesome Gem favourite
Stonestreet Stables are keeping their fingers crossed, as their three year old colt, Astrology, makes his way to this weekend's Iowa Festival of Racing.
The Preakness Stakes third place finisher is looking for his first win in 2011, as he makes his way to the Iowa Stakes. Iowa Stakes is to be held on June 24, 2011 and will be a part of the infamous Iowa Derby.
The Iowa Derby has a purse of about 250,000 and is held at the Prairie Meadows racetrack in Altoona, Iowa.
This news was confirmed by Scott Blasi, assistant to Astrology’s trainer, Steven Asmussen. Scott Blasi is of the view that the Iowa Derby serves as a bridge between the Preakness Stakes and the Jim Dandy Stakes.
The Jim Dandy Stakes is to take place on July 30, 2011 at the Saratoga race course. The main goal for Astrology this year is to make a start in the July 31 Haskell Invitational at the Monmouth Park.
The Haskell Invitational Stakes is a Grade 1 event, which auspices a possible frictional duel, between Shackleford, and, Astrology.
Astrology got sick in the beginning of the year and henceforth could not participate in the Kentucky Derby.
The bay colt comes from a cosmic parentage, his sire A.P. Indy scored wins in prominent races, such as the Grade 1 Breeder’s Cup Classic, the Grade1 Belmont Stakes, and, the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. A.P. Indy is also regarded as a two time leading sire. The sire of A.P. Indy is Seattle Slew, who was a Triple Crown Champion and it would be no less to say that he was a sire of sires.
Astrology’s mother, Quiet Eclipse, might have had a lone win in her career but she has been great as a broodmare. This may be because of the fact that her own sire, Quiet American, was a successful race horse. Quiet America’s most prominent wins include the Grade 1 NYRA Mile Handicap and the Grade 3 San Diego Handicap.
Astrology, owned by George Bolton and the Stonestreet Stables of the late Jess Jackson last year got hold of a stakes win in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes. The race was held on October 3, 2010. He was second in the Grade 2 Jerome Stakes, which took place on April 23, 2011.
Astrology is to have jockey services from Mike Smith, who has been his jockey after he replaced Julien Leparoux, and, Garrett Gomez. Astrology will be competing against the Cornhusker Handicap favourite, Awesome Gem.
Awesome Gem’s career trajectory is full of tumultuous wins, which also include him winning the 300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap. The Grade 3 event was held on May 30, 2011. Another prominent contender for the race is Celeb’s Posse.
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