2017 Iowa Derby Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G3 Iowa Derby is on tap for this Friday, July 7 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. Horses three years old will be featured when they line up on Prairie Meadows dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles for the winner's share of the $250,000 purse.

A field of nine will take to the track in the Iowa Derby - race 9 on Prairie Meadows Friday schedule. Post time is 9:50 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all nine combatants for this intriguing G3 stakes.

2017 Iowa Derby Entries at Prairie Meadows

Hence

Steve Asmussen trained colt has two wins, a second and a third-place finish in his eight career starts. Last time out was a ninth in the Preakness Stakes May 20 after a pedestrian eleventh in the G1 Kentucky Derby May 6, a nice upset 3 3/4 length win in the G3 Sunland Derby March 26 and a disappointing seventh in the G3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 20. Before that he posted a maiden score on that track January 16 and a second, a third and a seventh respectively in MSW races to start his career. Hence has been just OK so far in his career and hopes to channel his Sunland Derby while snapping a two-race funk. Mike Smith is scheduled to ride from gate 6.

Petrov

Ron Moquett trained colt has a win and three runner-up finishes in seven career starts. He has failed to place in his last three starts ahead of this weekend however - a fourth last time out in the G2 Woody Stephens Stakes at Belmont Park June 19 followed a ninth in the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park April 15 and a fourth in the G2 Rebel Stakes on that track March 18. Before that was a second in the G3 Southwest Stakes February 20, two more seconds in minor stakes action this past winter and a win at first asking at Churchill Downs in November. Petrov was decent early in his career and hopes to get back on track for his first stakes win Friday. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be in the saddle from the rail.

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Impressive Edge

Dale Romans trained colt has two wins and a third-place finish in his seven career starts. He finished sixth in his first two career starts and finally broke maiden by 4 3/4 lengths January 15. He followed that with a fourth in the G2 Swale Stakes here February 4, an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream March 5, a fourth in the G1 Florida Derby April 1 on that track and an OK third in the G3 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park last time out May 13. Impressive Edge has been up and down in his career but hopes to build on an OK effort when he leaves from gate 4 with Robby Albarado guiding him.

Jerrid

Has two wins and two runner-up finishes in his six career starts for trainer Scott Young and makes his graded stakes debut Friday. Last time out was a nice 2 3/4 length win in the minor Prairie Mile Stakes on this track June 9 which followed a fifth in the minor Northern Spur Stakes April 15, a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming March 18 and a fourth in a similar race in February - all three at Oaklawn Park. Jerrid arrives off a career-best outing and hopes to make it two straight stakes scores from post 5. Ramon Vazquez gets the call.

Thirstforlife

Mark Casse trained colt has two wins and two third place finishes in seven career starts. He has placed in just one of his last four starts ahead of this weekend - a fifth in an Allowance last time out at Churchill Downs May 29 followed a seventh in the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot November 19, an Allowance score at Keeneland October 20, a fifth in the G3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs in September and a third in the G2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar in August. Thirstforlife has struggled lately but will be after a career-defining win from the outside post 9 Friday. Corey Lanerie gets the call.

McCormick

Has placed in four of five career starts for trainer Ian Wilkes - two wins and two third place finishes. He arrives on a two-race win streak - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out June 4 and a MSW May 5 - both at Churchill Downs. Before that were consecutive thirds in MSW races to start his 2017 campaign. McCormick has been trending upward and hopes to carry the momentum in his stakes debut. Julien Leparoux will be in the saddle from post 3.

Line Judge

Has placed in five of six career starts for trainer Joe Sharp - three wins, a second and a third-place finish. Last time out was a third behind Jerrid in the minor Prairie Mile here June 9 after a ninth in the $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot in November and three straight wins including the minor Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs in October and the Careless Navigator Overnight Stakes at Canterbury Park in August. Line Judge has been decent so far in his career but didn't look good in his step up in competition. Jockey Chris Landeros will try to change all of that from gate 8 Friday.

Silver Dust

Has just one win and a third-place finish in six career starts for trainer Randy Morse. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs June 4 which followed a seventh in the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park April 15, a fifth in the G2 Rebel Stakes and a fourth in the G3 Southwest Stakes February 20. He broke maiden in the race before that - at Churchill Downs in November. Silver Dust has been less-than spectacular lately but tries to change his fortunes around from gate 2. Ken Tohill rides.

Balandeen

Chris Hartman trained colt has three wins, a second and a third-place finish in 11 career starts. He arrives off a sixth in the minor Karl Boyes Memorial Stakes at Presque Isle Downs June 19, a nice win in the minor Tom Ridge Stakes on that track May 22, a sixth in the minor Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn Park April 15 and a seventh in the G3 Sunland Derby in March. His other graded stakes action resulted in a fifth in the G1 $1,000,000 Delta Downs Jackpot in November. Balandeen has placed in just one of his last four starts (that win two starts back) and will chase a first graded stakes score from post 7. David Cabrera will be in the irons.

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2017 Iowa Derby Odds & Entries

Race 9 on Prairie Meadows's Friday card with a Post Time of 10:50 PM.