Ima Juggernaut undefeated, Hotrod Richard for the win
Will Roland parades Hotrod Richard before his winning finale
Tough as nails Ima Juggernaut remains undefeated in Iowa
Photos by Iowa Harness Horse Association
–from the Iowa Harness Horse Association
Humboldt, IA – Iowa’s best 3-year-old trotters took to the track on the final day of racing in the 2018 season.
The top Iowa-Registered horses competed in the Iowa Fairs Racing Championships on Sunday (September 23). The fields were comprised of the top five Iowa-Registered divisional points earners of 2018 with points accumulated over nine races in Iowa throughout the summer.
The Glenn & Lorraine Jenson Memorial Trot for 3-year-old fillies was Ima Juggernaut’s to lose. The Lou’s Legacy filly is the only horse of the 395 Iowa-Registered 2 and 3-year-olds of any gait or sex that came into Sunday’s final undefeated in Iowa-Registered company. Trained by Mark Mintun, Ima Juggernaut was last year’s 2017 Trotting Filly Champion and will repeat the title in 2018.
Three of the five top Iowa-Registered trotting fillies are by Lou’s Legacy. The small yet powerful fillies have have made a name for the Illinois stud in Iowa racing circles. Joining Ima Juggernaut were Can’t Match This and Princess Legacy. The other entries were both by Iowa sires – Lo All America by American Native and Windy Sue by Southwind Elian.
Mintun drove Ima Juggernaut in another wire-to-wire win, leading the pack to the quarter in 29, the half in 59.1, the three-quarters in 1:29.1, and jogging home in 2:02. She was never challenged, finishing over four lengths ahead of Lo All America and third place finisher Princess Legacy.
Ima Juggernaut is out of the Pegasus Spur mare Shinin Pearl and bred by Dr. Patrick Graham. Her win increased her 2018 earnings to $33,150 and she went eleven for eleven in her Iowa starts for owners Mintun and Stephanie Gould.
The $12,000 Terwilliger Family Trot for 3-year-old colts and geldings included only two horses that posted wins in Iowa-Registered company in 2018. The only time either Scramble Camp or Hotrod Richard finished anything but first was when the other won the race.
Both coming off wins in separate divisions last week, Scramble Camp in 2:03 and Hotrod Richard in 2:03.2, the crowd was ready for a battle. Hotrod Richard drew the rail and Scramble Camp drew the outside in the five horse field. Pond Jumper, SVF Cash Deposit and Some More Prince separated the season leaders.
Will Roland let Hotrod Richard take advantage of his post position and sped off the gate hugging the rail. A parked Scramble Camp worked his way up to second at the quarter and was on the move, only a nose off the lead at the half in 1:01.3. Hotrod Richard felt the pressure and turned up the heat hitting the three-quarter pole in 1:30.4 with Scramble Camp still parked to the outside.
Again showcasing his grit, Hotrod Richard pulled away and led by one and a half lengths into the head of the stretch with horses fanned three wide behind him. Grinding to the finish, Hotrod Richard held off a late charge by Pond Jumper to win by a neck in 2:02. Some More Prince got up for third.
Hotrod Richard is by American Native out of Red Brandy, a Branded mare, and was bred and raised by Gail Morris. The win increased his lifetime earnings to $50,415 for owners Rick & CD Huffman, Larry Mather and Jeri Roland.
Category: NEWS, RACE RESULTS
