2016 Iowa Derby Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The Grade 3 Iowa Derby goes down this Friday, July 1 from Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack & Hotel in Altoona, Iowa. Horses three years old will take to Prairie Meadows dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles for the winner's share of the $250,000 purse.

A field of eight have been confirmed for the Iowa Derby - race 9 on Prairie Meadows Friday card. Post time is 9:21 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all eight combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

2016 Iowa Derby Race Preview at Prairie Meadows

Texas Chrome 2-1 - JR Caldwell trained colt has been impressive so far in his nine race career - five wins and three third place finishes including wins in his first three career starts (two stakes). He finished a decent third last time out in his graded stakes debut - the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs June 18 after a nice win in the minor Texas Stallion Stakes at Lone Star in May and a third in the minor Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park in April. He also won the minor Governor's Cup Stakes at Zia Park in October. Texas Chrome has been competitive so far and tries for his first graded stakes win from post 3 Friday. Iram Vargas Diego has the mount on the morning line favorite.

American Freedom 5-2 - has won two of three career starts for trainer Bob Baffert - the minor LARC Sir Barton Stakes last time out at Pimlico May 21 and his debut at Santa Anita in April. His only other start was of the graded stakes variety and it resulted in a sixth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs May 7 - a result that he hopes was the exception, not the rule. American Freedom looks for his first graded stakes score Friday in OK form - as the second betting choice from gate 4.

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Synchrony 4-1 - has two wins, a second and two third place finishes in six career starts for trainer Donnie Von Hemel. Last time out was an OK third in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland April 16 after a sixth in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 15, a third in the minor Smarty Jones Stakes on that track in January and consecutive wins - the best of which being an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs in November. Synchrony has been decent so far and will be after his first stakes win Friday from post 5. Shaun Bridgmohan has been tabbed to ride the third choice from post 5.

Lookin for a Kiss 8-1 - Michael Tomlinson trained colt has a win and a second place finish in four career starts. He won his debut but hasn't been great in his stakes starts however. Last time out was a fifth in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs May 7 which followed a seventh in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April. Lookin for a Kiss hopes to place in stakes company for the first time Friday and leaves from the rail with Ramon Vazquez in the saddle.

Hint of Roses 10-1 - Michael Maker trained colt has a win, a second and two third place finishes in eight career starts. He makes his stakes debut Friday having placed in his last four starts overall - a maiden score last time out followed a third, a second and another third respectively in MSW races. Hint of Roses has improved every time out and hopes to keep that trend going from the outside gate 8. Florent Geroux will get the call.

Colonel Dan 12-1 - will makes his stakes debut Friday for trainer Wesley Hawley having posted a win and a third place finish in five career starts - all MSW races. Last time out was that maiden score - at Churchill Downs May 29 after off-the-board finishes in his previous three. Colonel Dan takes an enormous step up in competition Friday in OK form. Miguel Mena has the mount from post 7.

Catfish Creek 15-1 - has placed in all four career starts for trainer Scott Young - two wins, a second and a third place finish. Last time out was a runner-up in the minor Prairie Mile Stakes here June 10 - a local prep for this race which followed a win in his stakes debut - the minor Will Rogers Handicap May 7, a maiden score in December and a third in his debut in November. Catfish Creek has been a factor in every career start and hopes to continue that trend from gate 2 Friday at an intriguing 15-1 on the morning line. Belen Quininoz gets the call.

The Rouge Diesel 30-1 - has 13 career starts already for trainer John Hall with just one win, one second and two third place finishes. He makes his stakes debut Friday having failed to place in his last four starts - the last being Allowance races on this track. He hasn't been great lately and will be after his first podium finish since a Starter Optional Claiming score in April when he leaves from gate 6 with Ken Tohill guiding him.

2016 Iowa Derby Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Prairie Meadows's Friday card with a Post Time of 10:21 PM.