Red Route 1 goes to Prairie Meadows for Cornhuskers

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ homebred horses Red Line No. 1 ran below expectations when fourth at odds of 2-1 in a slow-paced Pimlico Special (G3) on May 17 Pimlico Race Track.

However, a month and a half later, his effort looks better than race day, boosted by the comeback performances of the 1st and 2nd place finishers in the race. Pyrenees And King . They recently completed another exacta, this time with Kingsbarns finishing first, in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) on June 29 at Churchill Downs.

Pimlico Special’s obvious strength—as well as Red Route One’s accomplishments and $1.6 million in sponsorship—will likely make him the 10-way favorite on July 6 in the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (G3) at PrairieHe was one of three winners of the 1 1/8 mile race, the others being Display winner of the 2023 Withers Stakes (G3) and winner of the 2023 Clark Stakes (G2) Brand . The latter is cross-entered into the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Indianapolis Horseshoe.

Cristian Torres, who rode Red Route One to victory in the West Virginia Derby (G3) last summer, has been reunited on the back of his 4-year-old colt. Gunman for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Red Route One has a maximum weight of 120 pounds.

Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds also began their rising careers. Unloading Another purebred son of Gun Runner, whose conventional front-running style will provide speed and complement Red Route One’s rear-running style. Walter De La Cruz is on Unload.

A winner in four of his 20 starts, Red Route One most recently scored in late March at Horse Racing Tracks & Slots Fair Grounds as he rallied to defeat Tap Ononastar in a fast New Orleans Classic (G2). Between that start and the Pimlico Special, he finished third in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) behind Skippylongstocking who played in Stephen Foster.

Gary and Mary West are domestic horses. Display a 2 1/4 length winner in the optional stakes race on May 11 at Churchill Downsis a top contender for Red Route One. In addition to winning at Withers last year, the Brad Cox trainee has run a number of top races in defeat, such as finishing second in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and tied for fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Red Route One also ran in two legs of the Triple Crown, taking fourth place in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and eighth place in the Belmont.

Just a Touch Heads Iowa Derby

The Cornhuskers will host a four-race tournament Saturday night at Prairie Meadows, including the $100,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes, the $225,000 Iowa Oaks and the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

Just one touch Runner-up in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and Gotham Stakes (G3) before finishing last in this year’s Kentucky Derby, topping the 11-horse Iowa Derby.

Cox is trained Shove appears a lower priced favorite The Sparkling Charm at the Iowa Oaks if Impel’s connections do not choose to run in her place in the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3), also run on Saturday.