Iowa legislator match races steal the show

Friday (7/12) kicked off a big three-day weekend of harness racing excitement at the Keokuk County Fair, Iowa held at What Cheer.  With carnival rides, foam party, cornhole tournament and other exciting fair activities, the crowd gathered each day at the track to cheer on their favorite horses and drivers.

Driver/trainer Adam Hauser wowed the stands on Friday with a driving quadruple.  In race two, Hauser took Wind Witch wire to wire in the Iowa-Registered two-year-old trotting filliest, staying perfect in five starts.

In similar fashion, Iowa King Kyle cut the fractions with Hauser in race three, in the colt/gelding division of Iowa-Registered trot. Holding off Golden Rail Bro (Elvin Zimmerman) at the line, Iowa King Kyle grabbed his second win in a row, trotting in 2:10 flat.

Race six featured Iowa-Registered Three-Year-Old and Older trotters colt/gelding division.  When the gate folded, Hauser sent Luka straight to the top and did not look back.  Unchallenged to the finish, Luka picked up the win, trotting in 2:02.4.

Hauser’s quadruple came in the following race, the filly/mare division of Iowa-Registered Three-Year-Old and Older trotters.  With the assignment on Omaha Storm Chaser from the rail, Hauser dropped her into the pocket behind SV Soxy’s Girl (Royal Roland) as the race started.  When Lucy Jewel (James Gould) pulled past the half to challenge, Omaha Storm Chaser found room to take the top as they turned for home.  Trotting down the lane in full command, it was all Omaha Storm Chaser as she took the win, trotting in 2:05.1,

On Saturday, Cattlelac Luke (Chad Svendsen) looked to continue his winning streak.  Competing in race eight, the Iowa-Registered Three-Year-Old Trot, colt/gelding division, Cattlelac Luke had the four-hole.  Getting away third, Cattlelac Luke sat until the half.  Making a move to the outside, Cattlelac Luke quickly took control and led the field to the top of the lane.   With more in the tank, Cattlelac Luke opened up by over sixteen lengths for his fifth win in a row, trotting in 2:01.0.

Svendsen continued on Sunday (7/14) to rack up the wins.  Starting his streak in race three, Iowa-Registered Three-Year-Old Pacing colt/gelding division.  With charge from the rail, Svendsen sent Hot Cam on a mission.  Pacing home in 29.4, Hot Cam picked up his fourth straight win and new lifetime mark in 1:59.4.

In race four, the filly division of Iowa-Registered Three-Year-Old Pace, Svendsen guided Stashin Cache out of the five-hole.  Fourth at the quarter, Stashin Cache pulled coming to the half, to challenge on the outside.  Double-parked at the three-quarter, Stashin Cache took over the lead.  Battling Rollin In The Sand (Will Roland) as they raced towards the finish line, Stashin Cache pulled from her reserves, pacing in 2:01.4, grabbing her second win in a row.

Race six featured Iowa-Registered Three-Year-Old and Older mare division.  Driving Red N Hotallover, Svendsen took her straight to the lead.  Setting the pace and crossing the line, Red N Hotallover captured not only the victory but her 24th lifetime win.

In similar fashion, Svendsen drove Ride Free in the last race.  Straight to the top, Ride Free had to hold on as Tullmore Dew (Adam Hauser) made a bid for the wire.  In the photo, Ride Free held on for his second lifetime win.

With all of the hot racing excitement, Iowa Legislators wowed the crowd in two match races held for charity on Saturday.  In the first match race, Iowa House Representative, District 26, Austin Harris raced for the C13 Foundation “Serving Our Nation’s Wounded Heros” competed against Iowa House Representative, District 92, Heather Hora who raced for the Give Foundation “Golf for Injured Veterans Everywhere”.  Will Roland sat with Representative Harris as he had the assignment on Flirtinwithjimmie and Curtis Carey helped guide Representative Hora driving Call Me Sneaky.

In the half-mile dash, Representative Harris sent Flirtinwithjimmie to the front, but Representative Hora had Call Me Sneaky in gear.  With the crowd cheering them on, Representative Harris drew ahead and crossed the line for the win.

The second charity match race featured Iowa Senator Dawn Driscoll, from District 46, racing for the Oxford American Legion Post #537 and Iowa House Representative, District 37,  Barb Kniff-McCulia who raced for the Pella Community Food Shelf “Neighbors Blessing Neighbors”.  Senator Driscoll was assisted by James Gould on Little Char, while Duane Roland and Representative Kniff-McCulia raced Rockymountainlu’au.

Both legislators were up for the challenge as the race started.  Head-to-head, both horses raced toward the finish line.  With urging from Senator Driscoll, Little Char surged ahead for the win as they reached the wire with Representative Kniff-McCulia and Rockymountainlu’au finishing a close second.

Iowa harness racing resumes on Wednesday (7/17) at Bloomfield, IA. Post time for Bloomfield is at 6:00 pm CST.

by Tara Spach, for the Iowa Harness Horsemen