Oh Toodles and DP Rocket bring on the heat at Humboldt

 

–from Gretchen Roland, Iowa Harness Horse Association

 

Humboldt, Iowa — Twenty-five fields of 2 and 3-year-olds competed at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds on Wednesday and Thursday (July 4 and 5).  This was the first Iowa-Registered meet of 2019 after a rainout at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds at Oskaloosa in June pushed back the start of the season by two weeks.

 

Three-year-old Oh Toodles took the first division of pacing colts with trainer Scott Smith in the bike.  He shot off the starting gait to take the lead into the first turn. Though the field behind him was repeatedly shuffling for position, none were fast enough to challenge the top gelding.  Oh Toodles distanced himself from the hustle with a 29.4 last quarter in an impressive stretch run finishing in 1:59.4, a new lifetime mark. The Iowa-sired Oh Toodles is owned, bred and raised by Debbie Philipp and Shirley Smith. The second division went to Fred and Roz, trained and driven by Mark Mintun, in 2:03.3.

 

The 3-year-old trotting filly DP Rocket put out an impressive 2:00.4 mile on her home track at Humboldt for a new lifetime mark.  After a rocky start to the year with a sixth place finish in a 2:09.4 mile on June 1, the Adam Hauser trainee has found her stride finishing no less than second in all her subsequent starts.  The filly put out a stunning 28.4 third quarter then cruised home in 30.0, over ten lengths ahead of the nearest competitor. Owned by Fred Wagner, DP Rocket is by the Iowa sire All In Tad, a son of Conway Hall.  The first division of 3-year-old trotting fillies went to Tom and Kathy Shipley’s 2018 champion Bankn-On-Emily in 2:03.3.

 

Three-year-old pacer Always B Hanny made her first return to Iowa since winning the 2018 Iowa Championship Final last fall.  Trained by Justin Anfinson and driven by Adam Hauser, the Always A Virgin filly won in a wire-to-wire 2:01.2 performance holding off a late charge by Heavy Handed Hanna in a speedy 29.0 last quarter. Always B Hanny is owned by Kevin Banks.  The second division of 3-year-old pacing fillies went to first time starter Jumping Jillybean in 2:01.3, a daughter of Panpacificflight trained and driven by Nick Roland.

 

Trotter Ricky Be Sharp took another win in his class staying perfect in Iowa company this year.  Owned and trained by Lorenza Gooch, the 3-year-old American Native gelding took the early lead with Nick Roland in the bike.  The pair pulled away from the field with a final quarter of 29.0 taking the mile in 2:02, a new lifetime mark for the son of American Native. The other divisions of 3-year-old trotting colts went to Spiced Honey in 2:05.3 and Al-Mar Winstar in 2:08.1.

 

Freshman pacers put out some impressive performances.  With multiple lead changes amongst the 2-year-old pacing colts throughout the mile, the Curtis Carey trained Alright Frankie took the top when it counted crossing the wire in 2:02.1 with leading driver Will Roland in the bike.  From the first crop of Iowa sire In Over My Head, Alright Frankie is owned by Jesse, Austin, and Kaitlyn Delong. The second division went in 2:04 to Waco Sassy Kid from the Lorenza Gooch stable.

 

After a 2:01.1 qualifying mile at Running Aces last week, 2-year-old pacing filly It’s Pacific Time was ready for her first go at Iowa-Registered company.  Trained by Joel McDanel and driven by Adam Hauser, It’s Pacific Time topped a field of eight in 2:03.1, charging home in 29.1. The daughter of Minnesota sire It’s That Time is owned by John Hendricks. Owned, trained and driven by Rob Anderson, the other division of 2-year-old pacing fillies went to Jennie Ann in 2:03.4.

 

Lucky Playmate won the fastest 2-year-old filly trot in 2:08.3.  Trained and driven by Rick Huffman, the daughter of Lucky Chucky trotted home in 30.1, holding off a late charge by stablemate Britches And Beauty  Lucky Playmate is owned by Rick & CD Huffman and Larry Mather. Going three-for-three, Gary Liles’ filly Battle Queen took the other division in 2:09 in a decisive 38-length win.

 

Another Huffman Stable 2-year-old, Scoreoneforme, took the fastest 2-year-old trot of the meet.  Coming off of two consecutive Iowa Sires Stakes victories, the Man of Broadway gelding continues to drop time with wins in 2:11.4, 2:09.4 and now 2:08.  Scoreoneforme is owned by Rick Huffman and Keith Wilson. Broadway Boomer lit up the second division of 2-year-old trotting colts with a 2:11.4 July fourth win.

 

Iowa racing action resumes at the Keokuk County Fair next week on July 12, 13 and 14.  Post time is 12:30 each day.

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