Winning by leaps and bounds

 

 

Tara Spach – Social Media Coordinator

IaHHA

Leap year is always good, who doesn’t love an extra day in the year for harness racing?!  It was a big week for Iowa Grads as Dance Traveler started the winning trend on Monday (2/24) at The Meadows.  Starting from the five-hole in race nine, Dance Traveler (Tony Hall) left quickly to take the lead, parking Mister Mcskinny (Mike Wilder) to the quarter pole.  Letting Mister Mcskinny cross over, Dance Traveler sat in his back until the top of the stretch.  In a speed duel to the wire with Western Whiz Kid (Dan Charlino), Dance Traveler stuck a head in front to pick up the win, pacing in 1:56.4. last quarter 29.4.

Earlier in race five, DP Rocket trotted out of post position seven to get parked second.  Able to find the rail, DP Rocket (Dan Rawlings) tracked the leader to place second, his mile in 1:57.0, last quarter 29.4.

It was all Iowa horses at The Meadows on Tuesday (2/25).  In race nine, Jackpot Jessie (Jerry Kehm) drew the four-hole, while Wx Dontworryboutit (Dave Palone) had the eight-hole.  As the gate folded, Wx Dontworryboutit sprinted out, taking the lead at the quarter in 28.0.  Protecting his spot on the rail, Wx Dontworryboutit let Mccheetah (Dan Rawlings) take over the lead.  Jackpot Jessie sat patiently sixth, pulling to the outside as they reached the half, working her way to be parked second past the three-quarter pole.  When the horses turned for home, Wx Donworryboutit and Jackpot Jessie took command of the stretch, each one battling for the lead.  As the wire approached, Wx Dontworryboutit, pacing her last quarter in 29.0, stretched her neck out for the win in 1:56.4.  Jackpot Jessie was right there to place second, her mile also in 1:56.4, last quarter in 29.1.

In race ten, Heavy Handed Hanna (Jerry Kehm) was asked to leave hard from the eight-hole.  First quarter in 28.4, half in 1:00.0, Heavy Handed Hanna kept Movie Maven (Bryce Brocklehurst) parked out at the three-quarters, in 1:29.0.  With a head separating the two, Heavy Handed Hanna hit the board second, her mile in 1:58.1.

Lo All America put in another exciting performance in race eleven.  With Jeremy Indof in the bike, Lo All America got the pocket trip behind Vodka Soda (Dan Rawlings).   In another close race, Lo All America fought to take the win, trotting in 1:58.2, last quarter in 30.0.

At Dover Downs, it was all Pond Jumper in the opener.  With the familiar green and gold colors of Tim Tetrick in the sulky, Pond Jumper jumped to take command as the started said go.  Cutting the mile in 28.3, 57.1, 1:26.0, Pond Jumper didn’t look back as he crossed the wire.  Returning victorious to the winner’s circle in consecutive starts, Pond Jumper trotted to the win in 1:55.4, last quarter in 29.4.

Back to The Meadows on Wednesday (2/26), Always B Hanny started the card for Iowa grads in race two.  Sitting third the entire mile, Always B Hanny (Mike Wilder) showed effort as she paced her last quarter in 29.1 to place second, her mile in 1:54.4.

In the closer, another pair of Iowa horses competed in race thirteen.  All Taylor Made (Jeremy Indof) started from the six-hole and Al-mar Humdinger (Brady Brown) in post position seven.  Iowa horses were on a mission as the gate folded.  All Taylor Made drove straight to the top, with Al-mar Humdinger getting the pocket trip.  Cutting the fractions in 29.0, 1:00.1 and 1:29.3, All Taylor Made trotted her last quarter in 29.3 for the win, mile in 1:59.1.  Al-mar Humdinger cruised into second, trotting her mile in 1:59.2.

A huge shout out to the connections of Snobbytown, as she dominated the Filly and Mare Open Handicap, the $40,000 Distaff Derby, in race eleven at Yonkers Raceway on Friday (2/28).  With a feature article written by Frank Drucker, Snobbytown (George Brennon) made the front page of USTA’s website.  Putting in a stellar performance, Snobbytown and Brennon cut the mile in 27.3, 56.4, 1:25.0 to pick up the win in 1:53.3.

Later in California, Bunkerhill Jill raced hard at Cal-Expo.  Not going to settle for getting away third, Lemoyne Svendsen asked his filly to take the lead as they approached the half.  Pacing around the final turn, Bunkerhill Jill held on for second, her mile in 1:57.0.

Saturday (2/29) was another good night for Iowa grads at Cal-Expo.  After being parked sixth at the three-quarter pole in race one Red N Hotallover paced a last quarter in 28.4 to get up for third for driver Nick Roland.  Zachariah’s Honor (John Roberts) also secured a third place finish in race eleven, pacing his mile in a blistering 1:54.0, last quarter in 27.3.

The race of the night for Iowa horses was in race nine.  With a poor position draw of the nine hole, Bertha Vanation could see them all for the majority of the race.  Pulling to the outside past the half to sit eighth, driver Nick Roland sent Bertha Vanation on a mission to find the wire.  Flying down the stretch, Bertha Vanation paced her last quarter in a quick 27.1 to pick up the win, her mile in 1:55.2.

Category: NEWS