Pacers close last day of Keokuk County Fair

What Cheer, IA — Nine fields of 3-year-old and aged harness racing pacers competed on Sunday (July 12), the final day of the Keokuk County Fair.

 

The card began with two divisions of 3-year-old pacing colts and two divisions of 3-year-old pacing fillies vying for the State Representative David Maxwell blanket.

 

Top 3-year-old gelding Slippin The Clutch won the first colt race. Drawing to the outside in post position five, Slippin The Clutch was hung out until the quarter when he was able to take the front and grab the rail. Will Roland drove the son of Iowa sire Millionaire Cam to a 1:57.2 victory for owners Jay Delong, Jeff Carey, and Rick & CD Huffman. Trained by Curtis Carey, Slippin The Clutch has five wins in five starts in 2020.

 

The second division of pacing colts went to CD Huffman and Larry Mather's 3-year-old colt Always Hotspeed. Pacing a 2:02.1 mile with Chad Svendson in the bike, the son of Real Desire is trained by Joel McDanel.

 

The fastest division of 3-year-old pacing fillies went to Rob Anderson's Jennie Ann. The Lettherockbegin filly led gate-to-wire in a speedy 1:59.3 mile. This was Jennie Ann's third win this year, and her second fastest mile following a 1:58.3 performance at West Liberty a few weeks ago.

 

Shining Jewels made it two in a row taking the other division of 3-year-old pacing fillies after a win in Humboldt last week. The daughter of Real Desire knocked two seconds off last week's win clocking a 2:00.2 mile. Trained by Elvin Zimmerman, Shining Jewels was driven by Samuel Zimmerman and owned by Aimes Racing.

 

The feature race of the day was the Aged Iowa-Registered Pace for colts and geldings. Two of Iowa's top horses, Minnie VInnie and Roland N Rock, both drew first tier post positions setting up a battle for the boys. Eight-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding Roland N Rock took advantage of post position two to capture the early lead. The 5-year-old son of Millionaire Cam, Minnie Vinnie, dropped into the two hole coming into the first turn and didn't challenge until the half. The two raced wheel to wheel with Duane Roland driving Roland N Rock on the inside and Will Roland piloting Minnie Vinnie in hot pursuit. Minnie Vinnie inched ahead into the final turn and brought it home down the stretch to win in 1:59.

 

The mare division of the Aged Iowa-Registered Pace went to Edmund Krapp's filly Red N Hotallover. The daughter of Ryan N Hanover paced a 1:59.1 mile with James Gould taking the reins. Red N Hotallover has won four of her last five starts.

 

A colt and a filly division of 3-year-old non-winners of $3,000 in 2020 pacers followed. Trained and driven by Mark Mintun, Robert Lem's Yankee Skyscaper gelding Yankee On The Move shaved four seconds off his personal best earning a new lifetime mark of 2:00.4. Duane and Connie Roland's Sportsmaster filly Sporty Fox made her way to the winner's circle for the first time this year in a 2:06 mile with Cory Larson driving.

 

The final race of the last day of the Keokuk County Fair was for non-winners of $2,500 or maiden pacers. Somewherebeautiful entered with $2,300 on her card and drew the rail with Duane Roland driving. Winning in a flawless gate-to-wire performance, the 3-year-old Somebeachsomewhere filly finished in 2:01.3 for owners Duane and Roger Roland.

 

Iowa racing action resumes next Saturday (July 18) and Sunday (July 19) with the second round of the Iowa Sires Stakes contested at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. Post time is 12:30pm.