BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Coming off a stakes victory over the same track last out, Florida-bred Hola Joey faces some accomplished invaders including Grade 1-winner Nakatomi in Saturday’s $100,000 Iowa Sprint for 3-year-olds and older at Prairie Meadows. The 4-year-old son of Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie trained by Gene Jacquot is among 10 entered to go six furlongs.
Hola Joey has won two of four starts this year for owner Joe D. Casey, including a two-and-and-a-half-length tally in the $50,000 Ed Skinner going six furlongs at Prairie Meadows on June 14. He started the year at Oaklawn Park where in three starts he won a $125,000 allowance race on March 28 but was off the board in the $200,000 Lake Hamilton on May 1. In his first race this year, Hola Joey was fifth in an upper tier, $80,000 optional claiming won by Tejano Twist with Iowa Sprint-contender Booth second. Booth was also second in the Lake Hamilton won by Gold Sweep.
Hola Joey definitely will have a home track advantage as he has won five of six career starts with a second at Prairie Meadows including a nearly two-length score in last year’s $50,000 Golden Circle in May.
The reliable Hola Joey has won eight of 14 lifetime with two seconds and a third while earning $387,379. He has provided an exceptional return on investment for Casey, who bought him for $3,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale. He is out of the unraced Malibu Moon mare Engaged and was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud.
A victory here would earn Ocala Stud as breeder a $4,000 Export Incentive check paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Hola Joey is 8-1 on the morning line and will be ridden by Alex Birzer from post five.
He will have a good beat on Nakatomi, who starts from his immediate inside from post four with Yedsit Hazlewood aboard for the first time.
Trained by Wesley Ward, Nakatomi makes his first start since returning from Dubai where he was fifth behind winner Dark Saffron in the Group 1 Golden Shaheen sponsored by Nakheel at Meydan Racecourse on March 28.
Among his five starts last year, Nakatomi won the Grade 2 Stoll Kennon Ogden Phoenix at Keeneland in October, was second in the Golden Shaheen in April and third in the Grade 2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at Saratoga. He finished the year coming in ninth in the Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) won by Florida-bred Bentornato.
Nakatomi is owned by Qatar Racing and Mrs. Fitriani Hay for whom he has earned $2,050,926 from seven wins, four seconds and seven thirds in 26 career races.
The 7-year-old gelded son of Firing Line is the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Saffie Joseph Jr. sends Souper Tuscan to the Altoona, Iowa track for Clint and Mark Cornett’s C2 Racing.
Set at 9-2 in the program, Souper Tuscan has won his last two including a neck victory in the $100,000 Speightstown going six furlongs at Lone Star Park on May 25 and a second level, $25,000 optional claiming racing seven furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs on April 15.
Souper Tuscan has earned $223,029 from five wins in 11 races with a second and two thirds and will break from post seven with Micah Husbands in the irons.
Rounding out the field are Booth with Mike Smith named to ride, Champlin has jockey Florent Geroux, Itsmybirthday will be guided by Ramon Vasquez, Elvin Gonzalez has the call on Surveillance, Camp Hale will carry Alfredo Triana Jr., Jet Sweep Joe will have Orlando Mojica Jr. up and Kazushi Kimura ships in to ride Speed King.
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