Iowa Horses Preferred
By Tara Spach — Social Media Coordinator IaHHA
The condition sheet for the first race at Yonkers Raceway, Monday (11/11), should have read “Iowa horses preferred” as three graduates drew into the race. With Jumping Jillybean on the rail, Always B Hanny in the three hole and Heavy Handed Hanna beside her in post position four, it was almost like being back home in Iowa. Jumping Jillybean (Jim Marohn, Jr.) sprinted out of the gate to take the lead. At the half, Fear No Evil (Jason Bartlett) took over with Heavy Handed Hanna (Eric Goodell) tracking the new leader. As the horses crossed the line, Heavy Handed Hanna placed second, Jumping Jillybean fourth and Always B Hanny grabbed a check with a fifth place finish.
Minnie Vinnie pulled off a big win at Dayton Raceway on Tuesday (11/12). Leaving from post position ten, Minnie Vinnie (John De Long) got away sixth. Despite being parked most of his trip, the Millionaire Cam gelding gained ground over the field. Pacing the mile in 1:55.0, Minnie Vinnie returned to the winner’s circle victorious, for owners Jesse De Long, Thomas Carey and Rick Huffman.
That same afternoon at The Meadows, two Iowa graduates hit the board for their connections. Ruby Rose (Jim Pantaleano) placed third in race three. Driver Jim Pantaleano also guided Selma O’Brien to third in race ten. Both mares paced their respective races in 1:57.4.
After Iowa driver, Jason Ludwig, wished good luck to “Lucy’s” connections on Facebook, Wx Dontworryboutit promptly won for driver Aaron Merriman on Wednesday (11/13) at The Meadows. Getting away third as the gate folded, Merriman pulled at the half, sending Wx Dontworryboutit straight to the top in race eight. Pacing home in 29.4, Wx Dontworryboutit completed the mile in 1:57.0 with the win for owners Brady Jensen and Stephanie O’Connell. Another Iowa filly competed in the same race. I’ll Deal A Queen (Jim Pantaleano) finished fifth for her connections.
Red Neck Sioux (Jim Pantaleano) and Dakota Ole (Dave Palone) also competed on Wednesday at The Meadows. In race three, Red Neck Sioux got away second from the five hole and held off competitors to finish second, trotting in 2:00.4. Dakota Ole had a rough trip in race four. Leaving from post position four, Dakota Ole settled into third, but was shuffled back to seventh at the three quarter pole. Flying down the stretch, Dakota Ole was shut out by a head at the wire. Pacing his last quarter in 27.2, Dakota Ole secured second place, his mile paced in 1:53.4.
Friday (11/15) racing for Iowa grads started off at The Meadows. Trotters lined up in race seven, with Pond Jumper in post position two. Getting away third, Pond Jumper (Brady Brown) followed along. With a last quarter in 29.1, Pond Jumper got up to get second, trotting his mile in 1:56.2.
Race eleven featured a full field of ten pacers. Leaving from the four hole, My Money Honey (Mike Wilder) also got away third. Wilder didn’t waste any time though, pulling My Money Honey past the quarter to take the lead at the half. Holding off the late chargers, My Money Honey put his nose across the line first, pacing in 1:54.0
Over to the west coast, in the Fillies and Mares Open III at Cal-Expo, Bunkerhill Jill (Philip Knox) hit the board with a second place performance, her mile paced in 1:54.3. Diamonds Are Trump (Nick Roland) drew the four hole in race six. Spotting the field by thirteen lengths at the start, Diamonds Are Trump steadily caught up with the leaders, pacing her mile in 1:59.4, to get up for second place.
It was all Flash Me Baby (Nick Roland) in race seven. Pushing the starting gate out of the way, Flash Me Baby was in complete control the entire mile. Fractions of 28.2, 59.1, 1:29.1, Flash Me Baby paced her last quarter in 28.1, the mile in 1:57.2, bringing home the win for owner/breeders Rick Huffman and Larry Mather.
A pair of wins kicked off Saturday (11/16) racing at Cal-Expo. Scramble Camp may have drawn the seven hole in race one, but the Weight Lifter gelding dominated the Open III Trot. Driver Nick Roland charged the gate and didn’t look back. Scramble Camp timed the mile in 30.0, 1:00.0, 1:29.0, winning by a head in 1:58.3 for owner Jeralene Roland.
Marced Magic (Lemoyne Svendsen) got the second win for Iowa grads on Saturday’s card. Getting away fourth from post position two, in race five, Marced Magic waited to pull past the half. Racing second over, Marced Magic got the lead at the top of the stretch. Crossing the wire in 1:54.2, Marced Magic picked up the win by a length.
Race nine saw Zachariah’s Honor (Lemoyne Svendsen) hit the board. Pacing his mile in 1:55.4, last quarter in 29.1, Zacharaiah’s Honor finished third for his connections.
Category: NEWS
