Stilletto Boy set the pace, dug his heels in, and kicked home to win the $250,000 Iowa Derby by 4 ½ lengths Friday night at Prairie Meadows.

The result was not widely expected. Stilletto Boy was a 16-1 shot in the Iowa Derby, while runner-up Flash of Mischief, who stalked from second the entire trip, completed a $202.60 ($2) exacta at win odds of 12-1. Nova Rags, tepidly favored at 9-5, raced wide and never fired, beating only Rightandjust, who faded badly off a moderate pace. Super Stock, second choice at 2-1 and the 2021 Arkansas Derby winner, was 7 ½ lengths better than Nova Rags, but also failed to muster much of a rally, coming home a nec behind third-place Gagetown. Gagetown was wrangled to the back of the field, pulled for his head down the backstretch, made a move around the far turn, but could make no headway in a 1 1/16-mile race dominated by the front-runners.

Fernando de la Cruz was named to ride Stilletto Boy but it was Jose Ortiz who sat on his back in the Iowa Derby, the two setting an even, comfortable pace, but not going all that slow, the half-mile split coming up 47.73. Stilletto Boy went his third quarter mile in 24.64, took a three-length lead to the furlong grounds, and continued to widen his advantage to the finish. He stopped the timer in 1:42.64 while racing over a fast main track and paid $35.40 to win.

Stilletto Boy, trained for a partnership that includes his breeders, John and Iveta Kerber, by Doug Anderson, who also has an ownership share, Stilletto Boy wintered at Oaklawn Park, and after a couple creditable sprint tries improved when switched to route racing. Second to the capable Mr. Wireless, he won a two-turn maiden April 17 in Arkansas, but in Prairie’s local Iowa Derby prep, the June 4 Prairie Mile, Stilletto Boy faced from a stalking position and proved no factor. On the lead, the colt looks like a different horse, and he easily turned in a career-best showing Friday evening.

Stilletto Boy is by Shackleford out of Rosie’s Ransom, by Marquetry.

Proxy, Bourbon Thunder, and Snow House were scratched.