Tipsheet: 2026 Iowa Derby

A talented field of nine will run 1 1/16 miles on the Prairie Meadows main oval in Saturday’s $250,000 Iowa Derby. 

Iowa Derby Picks

• #1 The Hell We Did
• #5 Desert Gate
• #7 Bricklin

Iowa Derby Wagers

• $20 win and place #1 The Hell We Did
• $2 trifecta key 1 with 5,7 with all

Iowa Derby Contenders

#1 THE HELL WE DID (9-2): Lexington (G3) runner-up was outrun in the Preakness (G1) in his last offering and comes in fresh with a good draw on the rail for Fincher. The top pick faces a more reasonable assignment in the heat, and the stalker could get a nice trip with a lot of pace in the field, too. He will relish the cutback in distance beneath Ramkon Vazquez. 

#2 CRUPPER (8-1): Von Hemel trainee also exits a try in the Preakness and is more sensibly placed here. The Candy Ride colt has shown improvement since having blinkers added and will be forwardly placed from the break in his local debut under Rajiv Maragh. 

#3 MAXIMUM EFFORT (10-1): Asmussen pupil is still a maiden and was last seen finishing a non-threatening third in the Texas Derby at Lone Star. The dark-bay son of Maxfield would be a surprise in his first graded run beneath Mike Smith. 

#4 J J GREY (4-1): McPeek charge earned a 98 Brisnet Speed rating on the oval in taking the local prep for this and has to be considered while making his second run on the graded stakes ranks. The gray son of Street Boss has won his last three races on the dirt and will never be far back with Manny Esquivel in the irons. 

#5 DESERT GATE (9-5): Morning-line choice and horse to beat is a Grade 3 hero with a pair of Grade 1 placings, making his third run off the layoff. The chestnut son of Omaha Beach burned money when fourth in the deep Ohio Derby (G3) most recently, but is a fine fit in this one and will be formidable with something close to his best. Florent Geroux will ask the colt for speed from the break. 

#6 OUTMATCH (20-1): Iowa-bred son of Volatile was a dominant allowance winner sprinting here last time and will make his second run going a route of ground on the huge class hike. The local hopeful has closed well in one-turn tilts, but this is a demanding move, and others seem more likely. 

#7 BRICKLIN (6-1): Dark bay son of Nyquist was last seen checking in fourth in the Long Branch S. at Monmouth and will add pace to the race, if not more, for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The Kentucky-bred colt has good ability and appears to be training in fine fashion leading into this local debut. The $450,000 purchase will get a nice trip just off the pace with Kimura in for the ride. 

#8 CANNED HEAT (12-1): Oberlander pupil has run a pair of nice ones on the course in advance of Saturday and might be an exotics piece third time off the short absence. The Candy Ride sophomore has both tactical speed and a nice turn of foot, and he could also improve in his second run over a route of ground, too. Alex Birzer will be in the stirrups. 

#9 CHAD ALLAN (12-1): Exotics contender from the barn of Robert Young was fifth in the Ohio Derby last time but did run second in a pair of stakes tilts preceding that performance. The bay son of Union Rags has elevated his game since running long, and if the pace is hot and contested in this spot, then the homebred could be in with a chance late at a big number under Triana.