Awesome Gem tops Cornhusker; Astrology heads Iowa Derby

The Craig Dollase trainee received a manageable 120-pound impost in the

Cornhusker and will spot at least four pounds to each of his opponents as the

highweight. An earner of more than $2.5 million, Awesome Gem registered a strong 107

BRIS Speed rating last time and will retain the services of Robby Albarado.

Four-time stakes winner STACHYS (Candy Ride [Arg]) exits a convincing 1

3/4-length win in the May 28 Jim Rasmussen Memorial S., the local prep for the

Cornhusker, and the hard-trying gelding will look to carry that momentum forward

on Saturday. Trained by Michael Bieher, the four-year-old opened 2011 with three

straight stakes placings, including seconds in the Maxxam Gold Cup and Fifth

Season S., before recording a fourth in the Oaklawn H. (G2) two starts back.

Stachys will keep Derek Bell in the saddle.

SHADOWBDANCING (Montbrook) is the defending champion, winning last year's

Cornhusker by a length at 10-1 odds, and figures to show speed from the start

under new jockey Jesus Castanon. The Terrell Gore-trained six-year-old weakened

to third after setting the pace in the Jim Rasmussen last time. BLACK HILLS

(Judge T C) will attempt to rebound from a disappointing sixth as the favorite

in the 1 1/16-mile Jim Rasmussen and the added ground should help his chances.

The seven-year-old gelding is four-for-six at nine furlongs, winning the April

17 Sunland Park H. by a five-length margin most recently, and Jake Barton will

keep the mount for conditioner Bart Hone.

Other runners include HEADACHE (Tapit), a 7 1/2-length allowance/optional

claiming winner at Churchill Downs last out for Mike Maker; IT HAPPENED AGAIN

(Proud Citizen), winner of the Razorback H. (G3) earlier this season and fourth

in the Jim Rasmussen most recently for Steve Asmussen; SCHRAMSBERG (Storm Cat),

an easy winner of this year's John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3); and FAST ALEX

(Afleet Alex), who has been freshened off a fourth in the March 26 New Orleans

H. (G2).

MARCO'S FLING (Marco Bay) and IRISH LION (Lion Hearted), the respective

second- and third-place finishers in the Ohio Derby, are also entered, and

trainer Bob Baffert will send out PRAYER TO RELIEF (Jump Start). Runner-up in

the Real Quiet S. last November, the dark bay colt will make his second start of

the year following a good-looking allowance victory at Hollywood Park on May 29.

Unbeaten CHOSEN MIRACLE (Ghostzapper) will make his stakes debut off a pair of

convincing wins at Arlington Park and Hawthorne, and SHERIFF COGBURN

(Vindication), a 9 1/4-length romper in last year's Prairie Meadows Juvenile

Mile, will make his third appearance of the season following a pair of local

stakes-placings in the Prairie Mile and Golden Circle.

The $200,000

Iowa

Oaks (G3) kicks off the stakes action with a group of six three-year-olds fillies

at 1 1/16 miles, and DAISY DEVINE (Kafwain) will take some beating. Winner of

the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) two back, the Andrew McKeever runner will receive

significant class relief off a seventh in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). James Graham

will guide the classy filly.

HEARTS ON FIRE (Lion Heart), who exits a pair of runner-up efforts in the

Panthers S. and Instant Racing S., and recent Churchill allowance winner LITTLE

MISS HOLLY (Maria's Mon) are also entered.