Toby Keith Bets on the Badge for Sherriff Cogburn in Iowa Derby

You can be sure country megastar Toby Keith will be hooting and hollering for his own "American Ride," as his own Sherriff Cogburn races in the 2011 Iowa Derby on June 25. Will the cowboy music icon bet the ranch on his prized colt?

Trained by Don Von Hemel and starting from the second post position under jockey Tanner Riggs, Sherriff Cogburn (Vindication x Sweet Nanette by You and I) is owned by Toby Keith's Dream Walkin' Stables.

Keith's equine racing outfit, a 260-acre spread named for his 1997 studio album, specializes in Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse racers. Located in Paul's Valley, Oklahoma, Dream Walkin' Stables is home to more than 100 racers and approximately 60 broodmares.

Toby Keith is a country music hall of famer best known for such songs as "American Soldier," "Beer for My Horses" (with Willie Nelson), "Should've Been a Cowboy" and "Who's Your Daddy." The 50-year-old Oklahoma native has been involved in the horse racing business as both owner and breeder since 1996.

In November 2010, Toby Keith performed at the Breeders' Cup Winners Circle Celebration before in Louisville, attending the world championship races at Churchill Downs the following day.

Keith's most well-known racehorses to date have included Cactus Ridge, Creekmore and Sebastian County.

Can Sherriff Cogburn beat favored Astrology to win the 2011 Iowa Derby?

With jockey Mike Smith aboard, Astrology may be tough to beat in the Iowa Derby. The colt has finished in the top three in his past few races, including the Preakness Stakes.

Running on Saturday, June 25, at Iowa's Prairie Meadows Racetrack, the $250,000 Iowa Derby offers a full field of eight three-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses. Iowa Derby contenders for 2011 include Astrology, Caleb's Posse, Chosen Miracle, DreaminoftheWin, Irish Lion, Marco's Fling, Prayer for Relief and Sherriff Cogburn.

The Grade III Iowa Derby runs 1 1/16 miles on the main dirt track at Prairie Meadows, located in Altoona, Iowa.

Ask Toby Keith, however, and he may say there is a new Sherriff in town. His Sherriff Cogburn missed the Triple Crown races this year, but may pull off a win in the Buckeye State on June 25.

If his horse flies fastest in the Iowa Derby, Keith already has his Winner's Circle speech ready: "How do you like me now?"

Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of experience and a globally-minded Midwestern perspective to a host of equestrian and other topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor. Her own horses include a Thoroughbred that raced at Arlington, Calder, Gulfstream and other popular tracks.