Red Route 1 heads to Prairie Meadows for Cornhusker

Winchell’s Thoroughbred Red Route 1 ran below expectations when finishing fourth at 2-1 in a slow-paced Pimlico Special (G3) on May 17 at Pimlico Racecourse.

A month and a half later, however, his efforts look better than on race day, boosted by the comeback performances of the first and second place finishers, Pyrenees And The Royal Barns 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.

The apparent strength of Pimlico Special, along with Red Route One’s accomplishments and $1.6 million in capital, will likely make him the favorite among 10 contenders July 6 in the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (G3) at MeadowsHe is one of three graded race winners in the 1 1/8 mile contest, the others being Hit show who won the 2023 Withers Stakes (G3) and the winner of the 2023 Clark Stakes (G2) Trademark . The latter is entered in the $100,000 Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Indianapolis Horseshoe.

Cristian Torres, who rode Red Route One to win the West Virginia Derby (G3) last summer, is reunited aboard the 4-year-old son Arms trafficker for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Red Route One supports a maximum weight of 120 pounds.

Thoroughbreds Asmussen and Winchell are also at the origin of the new generation Unload another son of Gun Runner whose usual racing style should provide pace and complement the late manners of Red Route One. Walter De La Cruz is aboard Unload.

Winner of four of his 20 starts, Red Route One most recently scored in late March at Racetracks and slot machines at the exhibition center when he rallied to conquer Touchuponastar in a fast-paced New Orleans Classic (G2). Between that start and the Pimlico Special, he was third in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) behind Skippybrunstocking which was shown in the Stephen Foster movie.

Gary and Mary West’s Breeding Hit show winner of an optional allowance claiming race by 2 1/4 lengths on May 11 at Churchill Downslooms as Red Route One’s main challenger. In addition to winning the Withers last year, the Brad Cox trainee has lost several high-profile races, including 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 competed in two legs of the Triple Crown, finishing fourth in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and eighth in the Belmont.

Just a Touch wins Iowa Derby

The Cornhusker anchors a four-stakes card Saturday night at Prairie Meadows that also includes the $100,000 Prairie Gold Juvenile Stakes, the $225,000 Iowa Oaks and the $250,000 Iowa Derby.

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

The Cox-trained Push seems to be a low-cost favorite compared to Shimmering allure in the Iowa Oaks if Impel’s relatives do not choose to run her instead in the $200,000 Indiana Oaks (G3), also Saturday.