Pair of wins for Wilda McDanel
By Tara Spach
Social Media Coordinator
IaHHA
Weddle by Weddle started the week strong for Iowa grads on Monday (1/6) at Monticello Raceway. Leaving from the rail, Weddle By Weddle (Gregory Merton) got away third in race eight. Tracking behind Myeyesadoreya N (Jim Devaux), Weddle by Weddle didn’t make a move until the half. With Bestgirlfriendever (Jim Taggart Jr) also pulling to the outside, it was a three-wide battle between horses. As the wire drew near, Weddle By Weddle continued to gain ground, capturing the win in 2:00.3 for owner Wilda McDanel.
On Tuesday (1/7), at The Meadows, CR Blaze (Brady Brown) finished third in race eight, trotting her mile in 1:58.4. Brown also had the assignment on DP Rocket in race ten. After leading the mile, DP Rocket was overtaken by Mabel Simmons (Tony Hall) holding on to finish second, mile in 1:58.4.
In race eleven, Jackpot Jessie drew the four hole, Wx Dontworryboutit the six hole, and Ruby Rose was scratched. Jackpot Jessie (Jerry Kehm) paced off the gate second, while Wx Dontworryboutit (Brady Jenson) fell in line sixth. Sitting in the pocket, Jackpot Jessie waited to move past the half. Taking over the lead, Jackpot Jessie drove towards the line but was overtaken by Rusty Decor (Mike Wilder) to finish second by a head, pacing her mile in 1:57.0. Wx Dontworryboutit was shuffled back to last but put in a last quarter of 29.2 to pick up fifth place.
Over at Miami Valley Raceway, Marc Mellow Man drew the rail in race three. As the gate folded, Marc Mellow Man (Jeremy Smith) got away second, but didn’t sit for long. Pulling to take the lead, Marc Mellow Man got caught in a four-horse battle for the wire. Marc Mellow Man held on for third, pacing in 1:57.4.
Back to The Meadows on Wednesday (1/8), Bankn-On-Emily started race thirteen from the three hole. Trotting in sixth until the half, Bankn-On-Emily (Tony Hall) made her way up to second. Sitting one-two behind I Saw You Blink (Bryce Brocklehurst), Bankn-On-Emily trotted her way to second place, her mile in 2:00.1.
Wilda McDanel grabbed another win with one of her horses on Thursday (1/9) at Monticello Raceway. Rockme Socks Off left quickly from the four hole for second behind the favorite, River Runs Deep (Jim Taggart Jr.). As River Runs Deep cut the mile, Rockme Socks Off was full of pace, nose to helmet. Rounding the last turn, Rockme Socks Off darted off the rail to challenge. With the wire approaching, Rockme Socks Off took the win by a nose, pacing in 1:58.0, last quarter in 29.2.
Friday (1/10) was busy for Iowa grads as they made appearances at The Meadows, Yonkers Raceway and Cal-Expo. At The Meadows, My Money Honey (Dan Rawlings) started in race three with the three hole. Getting parked to the quarter, My Money Honey finally found the rail at the half and let Captain Hill (Mike Wilder) go to the front. As the competitors crossed the finish line, My Money Honey held on for third, pacing his mile in 1:54.4, last quarter in 28.3.
An unfortunate draw placed Snobbytown in the eight hole for race ten at Yonkers Raceway. With Joe Bongiorno in the bike, Snobbytown could see them all as she left the gate. Sitting at the back of the pack the entire mile, Snobbytown found another gear as she hit the stretch. Finishing third, Snobbytown paced the fasted last quarter in the race, 27.4, pacing her mile in an impressive 1:53.2, beaten out of first by a mere length.
It wasn’t “California Dreaming” but “California Racing” as every Iowa horse entered at Cal-Expo picked up a check. From the rail in race one, trainer/driver Nick Roland drove Red N Hotallover up into the pocket, letting Paddy Murphy (Luke Plano) take the front. Getting a perfect trip, Roland pulled Red N Hotallover past the half, taking over the lead as they rounded the last turn. Beaten out of first place by a length, Red N Hotallover held on for third, pacing her mile in 1:56.3 for owner Edward Krapp.
Lakota Law and Roland competed in race two. Pacing in 1:55.4, Lakota Law crossed the wire in fourth, last quarter in 28.4.
Queen Of Marcs (James Kennedy) and Diamonds Are Trump (Nick Roland) drew in together in race four. While Queen Of Marcs had the inside position, Diamonds Are Trump beat her out of the gate to sit second. Queen Of Marcs floated into fourth from the rail, content to race in the middle of the pack. As the eventual race winner, Hagginatthebeach (Luke Plano) sprinted to take over at the three-quarter pole, Queen Of Marcs and Diamonds Are Trump fought to finish third and fourth, respectively. Queen Of Marcs paced in 1:57.2, Diamonds Are Trump in 1:58.0.
Stablemates Bertha Vanation and Flash Me Baby, competed in the finale, race twelve. As the gate folded, Lluli (Jacob Fox) quickly crossed over from the five hole to take the lead. Not satisfied with a pocket trip, Flash Me Baby (Luke Plano) made the move to take over before the quarter. Cutting the fractions in 29.1, 58.4, 1:27.2, Flash Me Baby was the one to catch as they came to the stretch. Bertha Vanation (Nick Roland) worked her way from fifth to second and the battle ensued. Stride for stride, the Iowa fillies looked for the wire but Bertha Vanation poured it on, taking the win in 1:56.1, last quarter in 28.1. Lluli snuck up for second, while Flash Me Baby hit the board third, for owners Rick Huffman and Larry Mather, pacing in 1:56.2.
On Saturday (1/11), Marced Magic got the four hole in his draw for post position in The Open Pace, at Cal-Expo. Getting away third, Marced Magic (Dean Magee) steadily marched through the field to finish second, his mile in 1:52.3, last quarter in 27.4.
In race seven, My Muddy Buddy (Luke Plano) timed the gate perfectly to take up fourth on the rail, parking Cenalta Dragster (Braxten Boyd) third. As Reys N A Rukus (Phillip Knox) cut the mile and Budgie Smuggler (James Kennedy) sat second, My Muddy Buddy stayed the course, not giving up position. Letting the leaders burn up the fractions, 27.0, 55.3, 1:25.0, My Muddy Buddy decided it was time to go when Budgie Smuggler pulled past the three-quarter pole. With a sling shot move, My Muddy Buddy poured it on and denied all challengers as he charged down the stretch. It was all My Muddy Buddy as he crossed the line for the win, pacing in 1:54.3.
Don’t forget, the Iowa Harness Horseman’s Association Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, January 18th. The agenda is posted on our website, we hope to see everybody there!
Category: NEWS
