Minnesota Freshman Award winners named

Minnesota Harness Racing Inc. is announcing the 2024 divisional award winners this week, starting with the freshman trotters and pacers.

The announcements are being made ahead of the MHRI annual meeting and Awards Banquet on Saturday (February 22) at Running Aces Casino, Hotel and Racetrack.

𝐒𝐇𝐒 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐞 is the freshman trotting filly Champion. She is a daughter of Southwind Flash and was bred by Harlan Nolt and is owned by the partnership of Jay De Long and Terry Knothe and trained by Justin Anfinson.

SHS Southern Pride had three wins from 9 starts at Running Aces, including a career best 2:01.1 victory on Night of Champions with regular driver Rick Magee in the bike. Her earnings at Aces were $67,280.

She was unbeaten in 4 starts in the month of September and she completed the year with an overall total of six wins from 16 starts and total earnings of $88,330.

𝐒𝐇𝐒 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐌𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐦𝐚 is the freshman trotting filly Runner-Up. She is also a daughter of Southwind Flash and was also bred by Harlan Nolt and is owned by Larry Jenson and trained by Brady Jenson.

SHS Miss My Mama was a close third on Night of Champions and she won three races at Running Aces from 7 starts, earning $36,187. She took her freshman mark of 2:02.3 on August 20 while completing a three-race win streak that started on July 30.

𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐧 captured the crown as the freshman male Champion trotter for owner and breeder Jeralene Roland and trainer Dan Roland. He is a son of Quality Kemp.

Peanutbutterfalcon racked up 6 wins at Running Aces and seven overall wins in 2024, taking his freshman mark in a close finish on Night of Champions in 2:01.3 with regular driver Jeff Hunt on board. His impressive freshman campaign resulted in earnings of $80,295 at Aces and $83,775 overall.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐜𝐞 is the freshman male trotting Runner-Up. He is a son of Ice Machine and was bred by Nelson Shirk and is owned in partnership by Dave Dobbelmann and Triple Q Stables and trained by Edwin Quevedo.

International Ice dominated the division early in the season and posted 4 wins from seven starts while racing exclusively at Running Aces. He took his freshman mark of 2:00.4 on July 16 with his regular pilot Mooney Svendsen in the sulky and he was a hard-charging and close second on Night of Champions. He had seasonal earnings of $57,600.

𝐒𝐤𝐨𝐨𝐜𝐡’𝐬 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 is the freshman pacing filly division Champion. She is a daughter of Karpathian Kid and is owned by her breeder, Ron Rettig-Zucchi and trained by Lino Pacheco.

Skooch’s Valentine was a winner on Night of Champions in 1:59 and she took her freshman mark in 1:57.4 on September 3. Both of her wins came with driver Luke Plano. She raced exclusively at Running Aces and closed out her season with a summary of 13-2-1-5 and earnings of $58,139.

𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨 𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐧 is the freshman pacing filly Runner-Up. She is a daughter of Easy Again and was bred by her owner Jay De Long and is trained by Justin Anfinson.

Delco Kathleen posted four wins from 11 starts at Running Aces, including a sharp 1:56.3 mark on July 30. She earned $48,985 at Aces and closed out her season with an overall total of 8 wins and total earnings (including the fairs) of $59,714.

𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐧 𝐁𝐲 is the freshman male pacing division Champion. He is a son of Karpathian Kid and was bred by Wolfswinkel Pacers. He is owned by the partnership of Brett Ballinger and Darren Taylor and is also trained by Brett Ballinger.

Swinging On By was a sharp winner on Night of Champions in 1:57.1 and took his freshman mark of 1:56.3 on September 10. Dean Magee was his regular pilot and they teamed up for a total of six wins from 10 starts at Running Aces, with earnings of $87,825.

𝐓𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞 is the freshman male pacing Runner-Up. He is also a son of Karpathian Kid and was bred by Ron Rettig-Zucchi and Jessie Pacheco and is owned by Ron Rettig-Zucchi and trained by Lino Pacheco.

Tutto Bene raced exclusively at Running Aces and was third on Night of Champions. He won 3 races and took a mark of 1:57 on August 27 with regular driver Todd Warren in tow. He closed out a solid freshman campaign with a summary of 12-3-3-4 and earnings of $44,420.

Stay tuned as we will continue to spotlight the 2024 divisional award winners all week.

As per tradition, the overall 2024 Minnesota Harness Racing Horse of the Year will be voted on by those in attendance at the Banquet.

by Darin Gagne, for Minnesota Harness Racing, Inc.