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Iowa Derby

Horse race

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
3 min read
Source updated July 12, 2026

The Iowa Derby is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt annually at Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa. The purse of the event is US$250,000.

01Race History

The race was first run in 1989 as an ungraded stakes race. It became a Grade III event in 2010 and lowered back to Listed in 2018.

02Records

Speed record:

  • 1:40.37 - Concord Point (2010)

Margins:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by an owner:

  • No owner has won this race more than once

03Winners

Year
 Winner
 Jockey
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
2026 J J Grey Emmanuel Esquivel Kenneth G. McPeek Shamrock Stables, MJM Racing & Magdalena Racing 1:43.17
2025 Magnitude Ben Curtis Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds 1:42.26
2024 Henro Rafael Bejarano Chris A. Hartman JD Thoroughbreds LLC & Joey Keith Davis 1:42.72
2023 2 How Did He Do That Richard Eramia Steven M. Asmussen J. Kirk & Judy Robison 1:43.57
2022 Ain’t Life Grand Elvin Gonzalez Kelly R. Von Hemel RPM Thoroughbreds 1:42.65
2021 Stilleto Boy José Ortiz Doug L. Anderson Steve Moger 1:42.64
2020 1 Acre Martin Garcia William I. Mott Claiborne Farm & Adele Dilschneider 1:42.74
2019 Top Line Growth Julian Pimentel Kelly Rubley The Elkstone Group, LLC 1:43.07
2018 High North Florent Geroux Brad H. Cox Shortleaf Stable, Inc. 1:44.35
2017 Hence Mike Smith Steven M. Asmussen Calumet Farm 1:42.84
2016 American Freedom Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Mary & Gary West 1:42.62
2015 Bent on Bourbon Javier Castellano Eddie Kenneally Bourbon Lane Stable 1:44.00
2014 Jessica's Star David Mello Michael Stidham Mark D. Breen 1:44.12
2013 Looking Cool Leandro R. Goncalves Carl A. Nafzger Jim Tafel 1:44.29
2012 Hansen Ramon Dominguez Mike Maker Dr. Hansen & Skychai Racing 1:42.01
2011 Prayer for Relief Rafael Bejarano Bob Baffert Zayat Stables 1:41.73
2010 Concord Point Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Kaleem Shah 1:40.37
2009 Duke of Mischief Eibar Coa David Fawkes Joann & Alex Lieblong, et al. 1:42.26
2008 Tiz Now Tiz Then Miguel Mena Eoin G. Harty Zabeel Racing 1:41.69
2007 Delightful Kiss Jeffrey Sanchez Pete D. Anderson Hobeau Farm 1:42.05
2006 More Than Regal Shaun Bridgmohan Steven M. Asmussen Vinery Stables 1:42.74
2005 Shamoan Jose Valdivia, Jr. Eoin G. Harty P. R. & Linda Laird 1:43.14
2004 Swingforthefences Shaun Bridgmohan Richard Violette, Jr. Klaravich Stables 1:43.31
2003 Excessivepleasure Jon Court Douglas F. O'Neill Ty & Leroy Leatherman 1:40.82
2002 Easyfromthegitgo Donnie Meche Steven M. Asmussen James Cassels & Bob Zollars 1:42.59
2001 Touch Tone Robby Albarado Ronny Werner Tom R. Durant 1:42.67
2000 Captain Steve Shane Sellers Bob Baffert Michael E. Pegram 1:42.35
1999 Grits'n Hard Toast Willie Martinez Thomas V. Smith Thomas Victor Smith & R. A. Anderson 1:42.89
1998 Swear By Dixie Sidney P. LeJeune Jr Walter M. Bindner Jr. Donald G. McClinton 1:47.39
1997 Crafty One Sidney P. LeJeune Jr Kenneth G. McPeek Roy K. & Joyce Monroe 1:43.43
1996 Raja's Omega M. Clifton Berry Clinton C. Stuart Jack & Jim Schuyler 1:43.03
1995 Prince Ariba Perry S. Whetstone Larry E. Hunt, Sr. Hunt Country Stables 1:44.60
1989 Thelastproudperson Wilson L. Brown David Wilder Essman Locke Neal 1:41.64

Notes:
1 In 2020, Letmeno finished first but was disqualified due to interference and placed second.
2 In 2023, One in Vermillion finished in a dead heat for first with How Did He Do That. One in Vermillion was disqualified for interference and placed second.

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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Iowa Derby”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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