By Ben Massam
The buzz about Gary and Mary West's American Freedom (Pulpit) has been present since his debut, and the bay has an opportunity to take the next step towards delivering on his seemingly massive potential with a try in the GIII Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows Friday night. American Freedom has been installed as the 5-2 morning line second choice behind recent GIII Matt Winn S. third Texas Chrome (Grasshopper), but it seems likely that he will go postward as a heavy favorite.
Acquired for $500,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, American Freedom turned some heads with a convincing debut score going seven furlongs at Santa Anita Apr. 9, and trainer Bob Baffert fueled the hype with ensuing talk that the colt could be a contender for the GI Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in late July. He subsequently disappointed when sixth as the 7-5 favorite in Churchill's GIII Pat Day Mile May 7, but recently bounced back with a gritty one-length victory in the listed Sir Barton S. at Pimlico May 21–an effort that was flattered when fourth-place finisher Donegal Moon (Malibu Moon) came back to win the GIII Pegasus S. June 19.
American Freedom returned to California following that effort and has registered three consecutive six-furlong drills at Santa Anita. Baffert has won the Iowa Derby three times previously, most recently with Prayer for Relief (Jump Start) in 2011.
American Freedom's sternest test could come from Texas Chrome, who chased GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) home to complete the trifecta in the June 18 Matt Winn. The Texas-bred, a four-time stakes winner, has only finished off the board once in nine starts.
Trainer Donnie Von Hemel sends out the impeccably bred Synchrony (Tapit) off a two-month layoff. The chestnut, third in both the Jan. 18 Smarty Jones S. and the Apr. 16 GIII Lexington S., tends to lag in the early stages and figures to need a lively pace up front to deliver his best effort. A son of GSW & GISP Brownie Points (Forest Wildcat)–who won the Iowa Distaff S. here in 2007–he adds blinkers for this try and has the benefit of two local workouts in the past month.
Ramsey Farm homebred Hint of Roses (Tapit) was entered for the May 7 GI Kentucky Derby as a maiden on the also-eligible list, and although he did not draw in to that prestigious event, he recently broke his maiden over 10 furlongs at Churchill Downs May 30. Cutting back to 1 1/16 miles for Friday night's test, the Mike Maker trainee figures to do his best running late with jockey Florent Geroux aboard.
Michael J. Bruder's Lookin for a Kiss (Lookin At Lucky) is the only other entrant in the Iowa Derby with previous experience at the graded stakes level, having finished seventh after contesting a hot pace in the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. Apr. 9 and an even fifth–just ahead of American Freedom–in the Pat Day Mile. The chestnut has worked steadily at Churchill Downs in recent weeks and could make use of his early speed from the inside post position.
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