Necker Island slipped through a narrow opening along the rail and powered to a three-quarter length victory in the $100,000 Iowa Sprint Stakes at Prairie Meadows on Friday, 5 July.
The seven-year-old horse by Hard Spun was only making his second start of the year but showed no signs of rust when powering home to tally his fourth career Stakes victory. The venerable chestnut has now finished in the money in 21 of his 41 career starts and banked over $1.1 million.
Necker Island broke smartly and was settled off the pace in fourth, saving ground along the inside rail as Count de Monet led the field through the early stages of the race. Jaxon Traveler sat just off the leader in second, with Confidence Game in third. Necker Island began making up ground on the far turn, then slipped through an opening along the rail at the three-sixteenths pole and took the lead. He had plenty left in the tank to hold off the late bid of Jaxon Traveler, crossing the wire to win by three-parts of a length.
Necker Island was bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings. He is out of the Mr. Greeley mare, Jenny’s Rocket, a full sister to Stakes winner Greeley’s Rocket and a half to multiple Stakes winner, Laurie’s Rocket, and to Rainier (Medaglia d’Oro), dam of the talented three-year-old, Prince of Monaco (G1 Del Mar Futurity, 2nd G1 Woody Stephens S.).
In addition to Necker Island, Hard Spun is also the sire of 2024 Stakes winners Sparkle Blue, winner of the G2 Hillsborough Stakes; Good Lord Lorrie (Woodhaven Stakes); Informed Patriot (Bath House Row Stakes); Kupuna (Evangeline Mile) and Drum Roll Please (Jerome Stakes).
