Iowa Oaks (Prairie Meadows)

The Iowa Oaks is a Listed American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old fillies, over a distance of $1 1/16$ miles on the dirt held annually in early July at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa. The event currently carries a purse of $225,000.

History
The race was inaugurated in 1989 at a distance of 1 mile in was run in late April.

However, the event was idle for five years from 1990 to 1994. When the track administration resumed the event it was known as the Heartland Oaks and it was extended to the current distance of $1 1/16$ miles and scheduled in July. In 1995 the racetrack added slot machines and the venue was able to increase stakes thus attracting better quality horses. In 1998 the administration of the track reverted the name of the event back to the Iowa Derby.

In 2004 the event was upgraded to Grade III.

In 2020, the purse for the race was reduced, along with the purses for the Cornhusker Handicap and Iowa Derby, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2024 the event was downgraded by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to Listed status.

Records
Speed record:
 * $1 1/16$ miles – 1:41.64 –  Wildwood Royal  (2003)

Margins: Most wins by a jockey:
 * $1 1/16$ lengths – Unbridled Elaine (2001)
 * 2 – Ricardo Santana Jr. (2018, 2019)
 * 2 – Rafael Bejarano  (2006, 2007)
 * 2 – Robert Dean Williams  (1997, 1998)

Most wins by a trainer:
 * 4 – Steven M. Asmussen (1997, 2009, 2018, 2019)

Most wins by an owner:
 * 2 – Claiborne Farm (2000, 2013)
 * 2 – Winchell Thoroughbreds (1997, 2009)