Cornishman drove to a length win over pacesetter Woodcourt in the $50,000 Jim and Sandra Rasmussen on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows.
It was another 6 1/4 lengths back in third to Happy Strike.
The 1 1/16-mile Rasmussen was one of two overnight stakes on the card, with J J Grey winning the $50,000 Prairie Mile for 3-year-olds. The races served as the local preps for the respective Grade 3, $300,000 Cornhusker and $250,000 Iowa Derby that share a card on July 11.
Cornishman ($4.40) won last year’s Cornhusker with a closing rush, but in the Rasmussen he sat just off Woodcourt through an opening quarter in 24.44 seconds and a half-mile in 48.73. The eventual winner engaged the leader after six furlongs in 1:12.29 and proceeded to cover the distance in 1:42.36.
The track was downgraded to sloppy for the Rasmussen.
Elvin Gonzalez was aboard Cornishman for trainer Dan McFarlane. Cornishman earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93.
Cornishman is a son of Curlin who went over $500,000 in earnings with his win Saturday. He races for Joseph Schumer.
Cornishman came into the Rasmussen off a win in the $100,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park. Overall, he is 7 for 25 for earnings of $503,878.
Prairie Mile
J J Grey put up a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 99 when he tracked the pace and went on to a 3 ¾ length win over Canned Heat in the Prairie Mile. He came into the race off a win over first-level allowance rivals at Oaklawn.
J J Grey ($2.20) on Saturday sat just off Cardinal Cushing through an opening quarter in 23.31 seconds and a half-mile in 46.61 before moving to the fore through six furlongs in 1:11.22. J J Grey went on to cover the mile contested on a track rated “wet fast” in 1:35.26.
Glenn Corbett was aboard the winner for trainer Kenny McPeek.
J J Grey is a son of Street Boss who races for the partnership of Shamrock Stables, MJM Racing and Magdalena Racing. He is now 4 for 9 for earnings of $197,888.
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