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Astrology will be the one to beat in the $250,000, Grade 3 Iowa Derby following his good third in the Preakness. Winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in his juvenile finale, the Asmussen charge entered 2011 as a top prospect for the Kentucky Derby, but his sophomore campaign got off to a belated start with a third in the March 27 Sunland Derby. His connections made a wise decision to bypass the Kentucky Derby and point toward the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, using a runner-up in the April 23 Jerome as a prep, and Astrology rallied up the rail to be a huge threat turning for home at Pimlico. The bay colt weakened only slightly in the final furlongs, finishing only 1 3/4 lengths back of the winning Shackleford.

Astrology is a candidate for further improvement and Mike Smith will be in to ride the likely heavy favorite in the 1 1/16-mile tilt.

Caleb's Posse is his main rival in the eight-horse field. Winner of the Smarty Jones earlier this year, the Donnie Von Hemel pupil recorded a second in the Rebel Stakes before a disappointing 12th in the Arkansas Derby, but he bounced back nicely in the Ohio Derby last time, recording a stylish 1 3/4-length victory at Thistledown. Regular rider Eusebio Razo Jr. has the mount.

Marco's Fling and Irish Lion, the respective second- and third-place finishers in the Ohio Derby, are also entered, and trainer Bob Baffert will send out Prayer to Relief. Runner-up in the Real Quiet Stakes 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 will make his stakes debut off a pair of convincing wins at Arlington Park and Hawthorne, and Sheriff Cogburn, 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, Grade 3 Iowa Oaks kicks off the stakes action with a group of six three-year-olds fillies at 1 1/16 miles, and Daisy Devine will take some beating. Winner of the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks two back, the Andrew McKeever runner will receive significant class relief off a seventh in the Kentucky Oaks. James Graham will guide the classy filly.

Heart on Fire, who exits a pair of runner-up efforts in the Panthers Stakes and Instant Racing Stakes, and recent Churchill allowance winner Little Miss Holly are also entered.

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