March coming in like a “Rocket”

 

 

By Tara Spach

Social Media Coordinator

IaHHA

March starts off strong for Iowa Graduates as DP Rocket pulls off the win at The Meadows on Monday (3/2).  Despite having the nine-hole, driver Dan Rawlings asked his horse to leave like a rocket to take the lead as race four started.  When Papi Hanover (Dave Palone) pulled up alongside, DP Rocket didn’t relinquish her spot on the rail, keeping Papi Hanover parked until past the half.  Sitting in Palone’s back, DP Rocket waited until the stretch to sprint for the wire.  Battling Slated To Win (Tony Hall), DP Rocket put a head in front, victorious in 1:57.0, last quarter 29.3.

Jackpot Jessie also put in a good mile at The Meadows.  After getting away sixth from the six-hole, Jackpot Jessie (Tony Hall) sat sixth for half the mile.  Pulling with cover, Jackpot Jessie steadily made her way up the pack to finish third, her mile in 1:55.1.

Over at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Frisky Pedro (Geo. Napolitano, Jr) drew post position four in race ten.  When the gate folded, Frisky Pedro got away second and maintained this position for the mile.  Placing second, Frisky Pedro paced his mile in 1:55.1, last quarter 29.1.

Back to The Meadows on Tuesday (3/3), Heavy Handed Hanna drew the two hole, with Jerry Kehm in the bike.  Leading at the quarter, Heavy Handed Hanna kept Strawberry Daquiri (Wilbur Yoder) parked as she tried to take the lead.   As Strawberry Daquiri crossed over, Heavy Handed Hanna was third on the rail as horses passed the three-quarter pole.  At the top of the stretch, it was a three-horse battle with Ideal Woman (Jim Pantaleano), Bean M W (Tony Hall) and Heavy Handed Hanna all separated by a head.  As horses approached the finish line, Heavy Handed Hanna held on for third, her mile in 1:59.4.

Another Iowa horse grabbed a third place on Wednesday (3/4) at The Meadows.  Al-mar Humdinger (Brady Brown) left from the three-hole in the opener.  Sitting third the entire race, Al-mar Humdinger hit the board third, trotting her mile in 1:59.2.

On Friday (3/6), Bertha Vanation had a tough trip in race six at Cal-Expo.  Ducking from the three-hole,  Bertha Vanation (Nick Roland) got away fifth in the six-horse field.  Tracking the field, Roland waited until past the half to pull, sitting third as the reached the three-quarters.  Racing hard, Bertha Vanation put in a gallant effort as they approached the wire.  Beaten by a head, Bertha Vanation paced her mile in 1:53.1, last quarter 28.2 for a second place finish.

With a similar drive in race nine, My Muddy Buddy (Nick Roland) also raced from behind.  After sitting seventh most of the mile, My Muddy Buddy sprinted his last quarter in 28.3 to pick up third, his mile in 1:54.2, beaten out for it all by a head.

Saturday (3/7) was a good day for Iowa horses.  Starting the evening at Hawthorne, Scramble Camp drew post position four in race two.  Letting the inside horses jockey for position, Scramble Camp (Juan Franco) settled into fourth.  As the field trotted past the half in 58.2, Scramble Camp made his move on the outside.  Trotting down the lane with a last quarter in 29.1, Scramble Camp picked up second place, his mile in 1:58.0 for owner Jeralene Roland.

On the west coast, stablemates Flash Me Baby and Red N Hotallover drew in together at Cal-Expo, race four.  Hampered by the seven-hole, Red N Hotallover (Nick Roland) sat in that position while Flash Me Baby (James Kennedy) left from the four-hole to sit second. While Hagginatthebeach (Luke Plano) made a run at the lead, Flash Me Baby waited until she faded to pull and take over.  With a commanding lead, Flash Me Baby was in complete control as she crossed the wire.  Returning to the winner’s circle for owners Rick Huffman and Larry Mather, Flash Me Baby paced her mile in 1:56.4, last quarter in 29.2.  Picking up a third place finish, Red N Hotallover, her mile in 1:58.3 for owner Edmund Krapp.

Marc Mellow Man hit the track in race six.  With Braxten Boyd holding the lines, Marc Mellow Man cruised out of the five-hole to take position in the middle of the pack.  Sitting patiently until the stretch, Marc Mellow Man pulled to the outside.  With a last quarter brush in 28.0, Marc Mellow Man crossed the wire ahead of the rest by three lengths, pacing the mile in 1:57.3.

 

 

 

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