Iowa Sire Stakes heat up Humboldt half

Iowa Sire Stakes harness racing action took place this weekend at Humboldt, Iowa. Saturday (7/18) featured Iowa-sired two-year-old, pacers and trotters. With nine races on the harness racing card, multiple first lifetime wins, as well as multiple driving wins, were featured on the afternoon.

In the first division of the two-year-old filly pace, Portray An Image, with owner, trainer, driver Cory Larson holding the lines, left the gate and didn't look back. Cutting the mile in 31.1, 1:04.3, 1:35.2, the Western Trademark filly paced her way to the finish line in 2:06.1. Last quarter in 30.4, Portray An Image struck an image for the photographer as she stood in the winner's circle with her first lifetime win.

The feature race on the card took place in race two, The Larry Coleman Memorial Two-Year-Old Filly Trot. Leased, trained and driven by Lorenza Gooch, Final Quote trotted her way out of the three-hole to take the lead in 31.3. As she rounded the track in 1:03.4. 1:35.0, Final Quote turned for the wire. Trotting home in 31.4, the Nf Quotable filly picked up her first lifetime win in 2:06.4, winning by over seven lengths.

Not to be outdone with wire to wire wins, Duane Roland followed suit with his two-year-old pacing colt, Freddie Faves in race three. As the gate folded, Freddie Faves shot out for the lead in race three. Pacing in 30.3, 1:04.0, 1:34.0, Roland asked his colt for a little more, crossing the wire in 2:05.0, also a first lifetime win over the rest of the field.

Two-year-old trotting colts took the track in race four. With the strategy, "if you're the best, make them catch you", driver Adam Hauser guided I'm Another Wilson out of the two-hole to the top. The chestnut Wilson Wyoming gelding set the fractions in 31.3, 1:02.2, 1:33.2 and trotted to a new lifetime mark of 2:05.4.

Looking for her fourth win on the season, Curvyhipsnredlips drew post position two in the second division of two-year-old filly pacers. Driver Will Roland followed the previous race strategies and left the gate, looking to lead the pack. As the Millionaire Cam filly paced the half, cutting the mile in 31.0, 1:04.3, 1:35.4, she drove down the lane for the win in 2:05.2.

Given the drive for trainer Mark Mintun, Adam Hauser was looking for his second driving win as he sat behind DP Radiant Striker. When the starter said go, Hauser had his hands full to bring the trotting colt back on gait, after breaking stride. As the colt settled into the race, Hauser made a move past the half to take command. Trotting a last quarter in 32.2, DP Radiant Striker cruised across the line for his first lifetime win in 2:08.0 in the second division of two-year-old trotters.

With a driving double on his mind, Cory Larson and Western Waltz had to start from the five-hole in the second division of two-year-old pacers. Getting away fifth, Larson worked his way through the field to take over past the half. As Wester Waltz crossed the finish line in 2:03.3, the Western Trademark picked up his third win on the season and Larson drove to a driving double.

With the non-winners divisions of two-year-old pacers and trotters rounding out the card, Adam Hauser drove pacing filly, Keepin Calvin B to victory in race eight and also picked up a win in race nine, with trotter, Swaggen to Court, capturing a total of four driving wins on the day.

Three-year-old Iowa Sired horses took center stage on Sunday (7/19). The eight race card started the day with filly trotters. CR Valentine took the track with three consecutive wins, looking for her fourth in the opener. Driver Rob Anderson left with CR Valentine and handily took the win, cutting the mile in 33.0, 1:06.0, 1:36.2 and 2:06.1.

Race two featured three-year-old colt pacers. Not handicapped by drawing the five-hole, Slippin The Clutch shot from behind the gate, with Will Roland in the bike. Setting the fractions in 30.1, 1:03.2 and 1:32.4, Slippin The Clutch was in full command as he crossed the finish line in 2:02.3 for a sixth win in a row.

First Gunner was looking for another win in race three, the first division of three-year-old colt trotters. At the start, Royal Roland made a move to the front, in 32.4. Trotting to the half in 1:06.4, the three-quarters in 1:37.3, First Gunner was gunning for the wire. Returning victorious to the winner's circle, First Gunner trotted his mile in 2:07.3 for an amazing- seventh consecutive win.

The first division of three-year-old pacing fillies took to the track in race four. Owner, trainer, driver Rob Anderson drove Jennie Ann to her fourth win on the season. Cutting the mile in 30.1, 1:01.0, 1:30.4, Jennie Ann put in a last quarter of 29.2. Winning in 2:00.1, the Lettherockbegin filly clocked the fastest mile on the day, giving Anderson a driving double.

The second division of three-year-old colt trotters saw another gate to wire win in race five. Lucky La Boot, with owner, trainer, driver Gary Liles holding the lines, trotted a brisk mile to hold off challenger Wind Wizzard (Will Roland). With his second win on the 2020 season, Lucky La Boot trotted in 2:09.0 for a new lifetime mark.

In race six, four fillies competed in the second division of three-year-old pacers. Glorynhonorforever (Royal Roland) left from the gate to take the lead. Black River Willow, with driver Jason Telfer, got away second, but was shuffled back to fourth as they past the three-quarters. Making ground on the leader, Black River Willow flew down the stretch, battling for the lead. Picking up a first lifetime win, Black River Willow paced her mile in 2:04.3, winning by a head.

Races seven and eight featured three-year-old trotting and pacing non-winners. Driver Gary Liles and filly, Foxy Bright Star, crossed the line for the win in race seven, giving Liles his driving double. Will Roland pick up a driving double in the finale, when Almostamillionaire picked his first win of the season.

Racing in Iowa resumes for a two- day card at Oskaloosa, Iowa on Sunday (7/26) and Monday (7/27).

By Tara Spach

Social Media Coordinator