Horses vie for Iowa Memorial honors
Family presents the Mike Smith Memorial to top Aged Pacer Roland N Rock and the Roland Stable. Photo by Iowa Harness Horse Association
–from the Iowa Harness Horse Association
What Cheer, IA – Iowa racing returned to the Keokuk County Fairgrounds with thirteen races and four memorial trophies.
The Bob Stapp Memorial for 2-year-old trotting colts went to Ricky Be Sharp. Despite two early breaks Lorenza Gooch’s American Native gelding snapped back on the trot to take the top crossing the wire in 2:06.1, a tick off the Iowa season’s best for 2-year-old trotting colts, 2:06, set by competitor Al-Mar Winstar the last time the two faced off at What Cheer on July 13.
Minnesota import SB Head of State went the fastest time for 2-year-old trotting fillies to win the Katherine Carey Memorial. Trained by Ulf Holm-Johansen and driven by Jesse Yoder, the Tom Ridge filly broke stride her first time down the back stretch and was shuffled back in the field. Taking three-quarters of a mile to recoup lost ground, SB Head of State caught the leaders sweeping out three wide at the head of the stretch to take command for the win in 2:08.
The James & Shirley Eden Memorial went to the fastest 2-year-old pace of four divisions, two for colts and two for fillies. Leading Iowa-Registered pacing colt Oh Toddles faced off against Iowa-sired champion My Money Honey in the first race of the card. Coming off of four wins Oh Toodles increased his total to five in a row setting the time to beat at 2:03 for trainer/driver Scott Smith and owners Debbie Philipp and Shirley Smith.
The 2-year-old pacing fillies were up to the challenge. Competing for the first time in a month, top fillies Heavy Handed Hanna and Snobbytown battled for the lead in a field of seven. Will Roland and Heavy Handed Hanna took the front early, with a parked Snobby town taking over at the half. The two were head-to-head at the top of the stretch and battled to the finish with Heavy Handed Hanna catching the wire in 2:02 to win the James & Shirley Eden Memorial for trainer Curtis Carey and owners Jesse Delong, Lindsay Reuckert and Jeff Carey.
Aged pacers completed for the Mike Smith Memorial with Roland N Rock continuing his dominance in Iowa. Five aged pacers challenged the crowd favorite, but the 6-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding proved himself again as the best clocking in the fastest mile of the day in 1:58.1. Roland N Rock is owned by Duane and Connie Roland.
In a surprise performance in the B-Class, Van Otterloo Stable’s filly Vyin For Attention captivated the crowd with a 2:01 mile. In only her third start, Will Roland piloted the Well Said filly in the fastest 2-year-old pace of the day. Dropping over seven seconds from her last start, a 2:08.1 win, Vyin For Attention now boasts the fastest 2-year-old filly pace of the year.
Iowa racing action resumes tomorrow, September 2, with 3-year-olds and aged Iowa trotters taking to the track at What Cheer. Post time is 12:30pm.
Category: NEWS, RACE RESULTS
