​The weekend’s slate of regional Derbies Oaks winds its way through Indiana and Iowa, with the twist of last year’s Kentucky Oaks winner returning to action in Iowa. Globally, Godolphin, under Sheik Mohammed, and trainer Charlie Appleby opened the season with their customary strong start at Newmarket’s July festival.
In Iowa, Classic Texas Derby winner Desert Gate headlines a field of nine for Saturday’s $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows. The Omaha Beach colt, trained by Bob Baffert, followed his Texas victory with a fading, fourth-place finish in the Ohio Derby—run over 1 1/8 miles, a quarter-mile longer than Saturday’s race. Desert Gate was also entered in the $300,000 Grade III Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indiana on Saturday, but is expected to scratch in favor of Iowa, leaving the Indiana heat fairly wide open. Our Moneyman, Out of the Woods, Creole Chrome, and Leading Change are all receiving support on the morning line.
Desert Gate, who won the 2025 Best Pal at Del Mar, is the favorite for Friday’s Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows. A photo shows him winning that Del Mar event, courtesy of Benoit Photography and the Del Mar Turf Club.
Leading Change, a Gun Runner colt trained by Brad Cox for Wathnan Racing, appears intriguing as he makes just his second start. The $800,000 yearling purchase erupted to win his debut by 6 1/2 lengths on June 7 at Churchill Downs.
Navajo Warrior has climbed the class ladder for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. over the past year, culminating in a Grade III Pimlico Special victory in his most recent start. He’ll test himself again in Saturday’s $300,000 Grade III Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap, a wide-open renewal with a storied past. The roll of winners includes Breeders’ Cup Classic champions Black Tie Affair and Knicks Go.
Bendoog, a 7-year-old son of Gun Runner, impressed in Dubai in 2023 for trainer Bhupat Seemar. After finishing sixth in that year’s World Cup, he came to the United States under trainer Bill Mott and has proven a solid performer, but carries a touch of “second-itis” that could be cured in Saturday’s $100,000 Michael B. Schaefer Memorial at Horseshoe Indiana.
Distaff Queen, a Quality Road filly trained by Brad Cox, is the morning-line favorite for Friday’s $100,000 Indiana Oaks at Horseshoe Indiana, though her momentum has faltered since winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks in March.
Mizumi, a Justify filly from the Bob Baffert barn, enters Friday’s $225,000 Iowa Oaks as the favorite, boasting two wins from as many starts, including the Grade III Summertime Oaks last month at Santa Anita. Still, none of the other five entrants can be dismissed easily.
Brad Cox sends 2025 Kentucky Oaks winner Good Cheer to Iowa as the odds-on favorite in Friday’s $100,000 Iowa Distaff at Prairie Meadows. That choice carries risk, since the Medaglia d’Oro filly did not win again last year in three starts and is making her 4-year-old debut well down the class ladder, complicating SEO and betting dynamics.