Iowa Grads shine at Cal-Expo
By Tara Spach
Social Media Coordinator
IaHHA
As harness racing started up the New Year, Cal-Expo was the track to race. On Friday (1/3) Scramble Camp drew into a six-horse field, The Open Trot, going a distance totaling one and a half miles. While Scramble Camp and Nick Roland didn’t hit the tote board, they finished a respectable fourth, trotting the distance in 2:58.4 with the first four horses only a length apart.
Diamonds Are Trump (Nick Roland) and Queen of Marcs (James Kennedy) drew into race seven. After getting away fifth at the quarter, Queen of Marcs led the to the top of the lane. Diamonds Are Trump tracked the field, quickly gaining ground. While eventual winner Casey N Grinegan (Jacob Cutting) flew down the stretch to cross the wire, Diamonds Are Trump held on for second, pacing her mile in 1:57.2. Queen of Marcs picked up a fifth place check, pacing in 1:58.0.
Marced Magic had a long way to go when he left the gate in race nine. Wearing the pink saddle pad, Dean Magee drove Marced Magic to ninth from the seven hole. Shuffled back to tenth at the half, Marced Magic pulled off the rail, trying to catch the leaders. With a third place finish, Marced Magic paced his mile in 1:53.0, a blistering last quarter of 27.0.
In race ten, Flash Me Baby (Luke Plano) drew the rail and fellow Iowa graduate, Lakota Law, drew the two hole. Flash Me Baby jumped up to take the lead. Cutting the fractions in 28.1, 57.1, 1:25.0, Flash Me Baby took the win in 1:56.0 for owners Rick Huffman and Larry Mather. Lakota Law was caught in traffic but managed to secure a fifth place check, pacing in 1:56.2.
A pair of wins for Iowa grads topped Saturday (1/4) night at Cal-Expo. In race six, Red N Hotallover (John Roberts) was pushed hard out of the seven hole for the lead, while Bertha Vanation (Nick Roland) got away seventh from the four hole. Taking the field to the half in 57.3, Red N Hotallover couldn’t maintain the pace. Bertha Vanation was on a mission, sitting behind Paloma Ruiz (Jacob Cutting). Letting Paloma Ruiz take her around the last turn, Bertha Vanation battled Lluli (Jacob Fox) down the stretch. Claiming victory as they crossed the line, Bertha Vanation paced the mile in 1:56.3.
Another pair of Iowa horses also drew in together in race eight. My Muddy Buddy (Dean Magee) left from the two hole and Fred And Roz had the seven. My Muddy Buddy sat in the pocket behind Rey N A Ruckus (Philip Knox). Pulling past the half, My Muddy Buddy was unable to take command, sitting parked second until the three quarter pole. Fred And Roz (Lemoyne Svendsen), after getting away sixth, sat patiently until past the half. Making his move, Svendsen pulled Fred And Roz, quickly going from fourth to second as the rounded the turn for home. With the wire quickly approaching, Fred And Roz put a head in front. Returning triumphant to the winner’s circle for owners Keevyn Kilburg, Joseph Kilburg, Stephanie Gould and Mark Mintun, Fred And Roz paced the mile in 1:55.0, last quarter in 27.4.
On Sunday (1/5) at Northfield Park, Lynn Bin Con Kin put in a strong effort in the opener. Sitting fourth from the two hole, Lynn Bin Con Kin (Tim Deaton) sat in traffic until the top of the lane. Pacing the fastest last quarter in the race, Lynn Bin Con Kin got up for third, her mile in 1:59.1
Announced Monday (1/6), owner of Iowa graduate Jimmy Freight, Adriano Sorella, has been selected to receive USHWA President’s Award, to be honored at the annual Dan Patch Awards banquet this February.
As a reminder, the IaHHA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet is scheduled for January 18th. Information is available on our website. We hope to see everybody there!
Category: NEWS
