ALTOONA, Iowa – Zeki will try to match the feat of his Jon Arnett-trained stablemate Cainam by winning a second straight running of the $75,000 Cyclones Handicap on Saturday at Prairie Meadows. The 8-year-old Cainam, who won the Cyclones in 2011 and 2012, is among Zeki’s six opponents in the stakes, which is for Iowa-bred 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles.
Later on the card, Sumting Wong is the even-money favorite on the track’s morning line for the $75,000 Hawkeyes Handicap for statebred fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles.
The Cyclones Handicap (race 6) has a scheduled post time of 8:44 p.m. Central and the Hawkeyes (race 8) goes at 9:37 p.m.
Cyclones Handicap
KEY CONTENDERS
ZEKI (Last 3 Beyers: 80-64-72)
◗ In his two starts this year, Zeki has finished sixth in the John Wayne, won by Cainam, and second by a neck in a statebred allowance sprint here.
◗ He is 5 for 7 at a route distance.
◗ He has tactical speed.
CAINAM (Last 3 Beyers: 79-75-68)
◗ Deep closer has rebounded from winless 2014 campaign with a pair of sprint wins, including the John Wayne.
◗ All 13 of his wins have come here.
◗ Jockey Terry Thompson has won on 21 percent of his local mounts for Arnett in 2014-15.
OH MY GRAVY (Last 3 Beyers: 64-66-70)
◗ Performs best at Prairie Meadows, with 3 wins and 4 seconds in 12 starts here.
◗ Kelly Von Hemel trainee gets jockey Glenn Corbett back. Corbett has won 23 percent of the time for Von Hemel here in 2014-15.
Hawkeyes Handicap
KEY CONTENDERS
SUMTING WONG (Last 3 Beyers: 80-71-66)
◗ Sumting Wong comes into the Hawkeyes Handicap off a 1 3/4-length victory in the Mamie Eisenhower here on May 9.
◗ Trained by Doug Anderson, Sumting Wong is 2 for 3 at a route distance.
◗ Co-leading jockey Alex Birzer gets the return call.
RALLYDOWNTHEALLEY (Last 3 Beyers: 67-60-59)
◗ Rallydownthealley is trained by Federico Villafranco for leading owner Danny Caldwell.
◗ The 5-year old Flower Alley mare will be ridden by Ramon Vazquez, who has won with 34 percent of his mounts for Villafranco here in 2014-15.
I TOUR (Last 3 Beyers: 63-67-28)
◗ Makes return to Iowa-bred stakes company after a second and a third in open-company allowance races.
◗ Could prove dangerous if unchallenged on the lead under jockey David Cardoso.
Business booming
With the midpoint of the 67-date Thoroughbred meet approaching, Prairie Meadows reports significant gains in handle compared to last year.
Through 30 programs, the track’s all-sources handle is up 13 percent and ontrack handle is up 10 percent.
With defending riding titlist David Mello sidelined by a hip injury he sustained early in the meet, Alex Birzer, Shane Laviolette, and Alex Canchari sit atop the standings, each with 33 wins.