Itsonlymoneyhoney, Lucky Playmate upset in 3YO Iowa Trots

 

 

 

–from Gretchen Roland for the Iowa Harness Horsemen’s Association

 

Humboldt, IA — The top ten 3-year-old trotters finished the 2020 Iowa season at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds in Iowa-Registered Championship races held on Sunday (Sep 27).

 

The HAY’s Standardbred Dr. Ken Harris DVM Memorial Trot included the top 3-year-old colts of the Iowa fair circuit.  Poker Play drew post position one, followed by First Gunner, Exhibition Day, SV Tymal’s Image and Itsonlymoneyhoney in post position five.  Iowa limits it’s finals’ fields to five so no horse starts from the second tier.  Crowd favorite First Gunner, who raced on the pace as a 2-year-old, led the season with 14 wins in 18 starts and 2020 earnings of $36,096.  He was the only competitor coming off a win.

 

First Gunner shot off the gate followed by Exhibition Day and Poker Play.  In the point of the first turn, First Gunner made an uncharacteristic break followed by a break by Poker Play.  Exhibition Day took the lead and led stablemate Itsonlymoneyhoney and SV Tymals Image to the quarter in 31.4.  Driver Dan Roland and Itsonlymoneyhoney moved to the front and led at the half in 1:03.1 with SV Tymals Image moving up to second challenging on the outside. Itsonlymoneyhoney held strong passing the three-quarter pole in 1:33.3 with SV Tymals Image still parked for second. As they turned into the home stretch, only four lengths covered the field with Itsonlymoneyhoney having the slight advantage.  The trotters powered home with Itsonlymoneyhoney holding off SV Tylmals Image in a 2:05 mile.  First Gunner finished third, but was placed fifth due to the earlier break.  Exhibition Day was fourth, placed third.

 

Itsonlymoneyhoney is trained by Dan Roland and owned by It’s Only Money Stable of Grinnell, Iowa.  The 3-year-old gelding was bred by Willis Borntrager.  Itsonlymoneyhoney is by Banker Volo out of the Cash Hall mare Steuben Hey Jude.

 

The Pete and Freda Mouw Memorial Trot was Battle Queen’s to lose.  Gary Liles’ 3-year-old filly dominated the 2020 Iowa fair circuit with the fastest mark (2:01), the highest earnings ($25,800) and the most wins (9 in 10 starts).  Battle Queen also had the rail advantage, drawing post position one.  CR Valentine drew the two, followed by stablemate Lucky Playmate, Sometimes You Dont, and Passion In Paris on the outside.

 

Battle Queen powered off the gate, with CR Valentine contesting until settling in the pocket as they passed the quarter in :31.  Lucky Playmate and Passion In Paris followed in third and fourth with Sometimes You Dont trailing the field. Battle Queen passed the half in 1:03 with the field single file in pursuit.  As they turned into the backstretch CR Valentine tipped out from second and Passion In Paris from fourth.  The field passed the three-quarter pole two-by-two in 1:33.1.  At the head of the stretch Passion In Paris fanned to the outside and Lucky Playmate moved to the passing lane. With Battle Queen and CR Valentine in the center, the four fillies battled head-to-head charging to the wire. Driver Chad Svendsen and Lucky Playmate had never left the rail, and his patience paid off when Lucky Playmate made a last second surge to take the race in 2:02.4.

 

Lucky Playmate is trained by Rick Huffman and owned by Rick & CD Huffman of Sigourney, Iowa and Larry Mather of Webster, Iowa.  The 3-year-old champion was bred by Winbak Farm out of the Pine Chip mare Almond Chip.  Lucky Playmate is by Lucky Chucky, who stood in New York the year she was conceived.  Lucky Chucky has stood in New York, Pennsylvania and currently stands in Ohio.  He’s sired 228 starts with over $10.3 million in earnings.

 

Sunday’s card concludes the 2020 Iowa racing season. Iowa racing will resume in May 2021.

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