Iowa-registered champions crowned

Iowa Registered harness racing freshmen and sophomore trotters and pacers competed on Sunday (10/2) for bragging rights.  The top five season points earners for each division competed for the title of champion, going for $18,000 in purses.

The first race featured two-year-old trotting colts/geldings.  With Nick Roland in the bike, Major’s Song (Major Athens) let Lucky Twenty Two (Chad Svendson) cut the mile, while drafting in second.  Reaching the top of the stretch, Major’s Song went head-to-head with the leader, overtaking him at the wire to win by a head.  Greeted in the winner’s circle by owners Rick Huffman, Caroll Huffman and Larry Mather, Major’s Song’s mile was trotted in 2:03.3, a new lifetime mark.

Fan favorite, She Pirate (Spectator K), was looking for another win, as she took to the track in race two for two-year-old trotting fillies.  Will Roland had the assignment and sent She Pirate straight to the top as the gate folded.  Up by three at the quarter-pole, She Pirate led the field around the track in 29.1, 59.2 and to the three-quarters in 1:29 flat.  As she turned for home, She Pirate drew off from all challengers to cross the line in 2:00.1, a personal best.  Winning thirteen out of sixteen starts, She Pirate brought home the booty for owner Rian Sherman.

Looking to remain perfect on the season, two-year-old pacing gelding, Chicken N Dice (Millionaire Cam) drew the five hole in race three.  Not to be deterred, Will Roland eased Chicken N Dice out from the gate as the field charged forth.  Moving past the quarter, Chicken N Dice raced on the outside, parked until the three-quarter-pole.  Clearing, as he rounded the last turn,  Chicken N Dice battled a determined Marc Box Twenty (Duane Roland) racing for the wire.  In the photo finish, the championship belonged to Chicken N Dice, winning by a head in 2:03.3.  A perfect thirteen wins for thirteen starts were celebrated by his connections, Thomas Carey and Jesse De Long.

In race four, two-year-old pacing fillies had their turn to name a champion.  As they approached the gate, Roland N Rita (American Ideal, Duane Roland) was on a mission from the four-hole.  With a quick brush, Roland N Rita gained the lead.  Cutting the fractions in 28.1, 59.1 and 1:30.1, Roland N Rita maintained a two length lead as she paced down the lane.  Crossing the finish line in 2:01.1, Roger Roland’s Roland N Rita captured the crown and tenth lifetime victory.

Sophomore trotting colts/geldings competed in race five.  True to his racing style, No Mo Fashion (Crescent Fashion, Mark Mintun) sprinted for the lead from the three-hole.  Quarters in 31.2, 1:03.2 and 1:34 flat, No Mo Fashion was not looking back as he hit the stretch.  As Battle King (Gary Liles) joined the fight for the wire, No Mo Fashion looked good for the photo, claiming the win.  As owners Set The Pace Racing LLC and Joel McDanel cheered, No Mo Fashion returned to the winner’s circle, his mile in 2:03.3 and sixth win of the year.

Merly (Major Athens, Adam Hauser) had the three-hole in race six for three-year-old trotting fillies.  Hauser wasted no time in leading the competitors to the quarter in 30.4.  Reaching the half in 1:02.3, then the three-quarter-pole in 1:32.4, Merly held a slight lead over DP Cantabs Girl.  As both fillies trotted towards the finish, Merly held on by a neck.  Her tenth win, trotting in 2:03.2 secured her champion status for owner Fred Wagner.

Three-year-old pacing colts/geldings had their turn in race seven.  Sitting in the three-hole, Hangman Mcgee (Matty Mcgee, Brett Erickson) got away fifth, as the starter said go.  Still fifth as they passed the half, Hangman Mcgee pulled a power move to vie for the front.  Double parked as he raced to the three-quarters, Hangman Mcgee was in full gear, clearing to take the lead.  Putting the petal to the metal, Hangman Mcgee was up by over eight lengths as he approached the line.  The crowd’s cheers could be heard all the way to owner Terry Lattin’s home state of Texas as Hangman Mcgee picked up the championship, pacing in 1:59.1 and his eighth win this year.

Forcing Between Yo (Special Forces) competed next in race eight for three-year-old pacing fillies.  As Chad Svendson held the lines, Forcing Between Yo got away fifth from the five-hole and was content to follow until the half.  Pulling behind cover, Forcing Between Yo was parked fourth as the field hit the three-quarters.  Third at the top of the lane, Forcing Between Yo was asked for a little more and she found it.  Pacing home in 30.3, Forcing Between Yo forced her way up for the win.  With her mile in 1:59.2, owner Lorenza Gooch had a Texas sized smile on his face in the winner’s circle as he celebrated Forcing Between Yo’s new lifetime mark.

Celebrations will be held at the Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet, scheduled for Saturday, November 19th at the Best Western Regency in Marshalltown, Iowa.  Time and agenda to be announced.

For complete race results, click here.

by Tara Spach, for the IaHHA