What Cheer, IA — Iowa’s best 2-year-old filly talent competed in two championship races that finished the 2019 racing season at the Keokuk County Fairgrounds on Monday (Sept. 23).  The five best freshman trotters went to the gate in the Katherine Carey Memorial 2-year-old Iowa-Registered Filly Trot championship, with three of the five hailing from the Rick Huffman Stable. Britches And Booty drew the rail, followed by Battle Queen, CR Valentine, Sometimes You Dont and Lucky Playmate on the outside in post position five.

Battle Queen reigns victorious in the 2-year-old Iowa-Registered Filly Trot championship for owner/trainer/driver Gary Liles. Gretchen Roland photo.

With 11 wins in 12 starts and one second to Lucky Playmate, it was Battle Queen’s race to lose. Owned, trained and driven by Gary Liles, the dominant daughter of Yadi holds the fastest 2-year-old filly trotting mile in Iowa in 2019 – 2:03.4 at Humboldt on Aug. 24.

The Huffman Stable trio followed in wins with CR Valentine (Amigo Ranger-JL Jan) at four, Lucky Playmate (Lucky Chucky – Almond Chip) at three and Britches And Booty (Manofmanymissions-Mouvelle) at one.

Battle Queen powered to the front to take the lead with the Huffman Stables Britches And Booty, CR Valentine and Lucky Playmate filing in second, third and fourth. The field reached the quarter in :32.1, a length separating each. Battle Queen continued to lead at the half in 1:04.3, and the three-quarters in 1:33.2.

Battle Queen cruised out of the final turn into the stretch where Chad Svenson tipped out Lucky Playmate who charged down the stretch reaching Battle Queen at the wire for a photo finish. Though a valiant effort by Lucky Playmate, Battle Queen reigned victorious taking the trot in 2:05.3 by a nose.

In the Judy Liles Memorial 2-year-old Iowa-Registered Filly Pace championship, the five top Iowa freshman pacing fillies took to the gait with the inside three separated by two points in the overall 2019 standings. With 10 points to the winner, the outcome of this race would determine the 2019 2-year-old Iowa Pacing Filly Champion.

Rob Anderson’s Jennie Ann (Lettherockbegin-TJ Sizzle N Sage) had the rail (67 points), followed by Ivy B Poison (Sneaky B Skipalong-AC Alma) in the two (68 points) and Its Pactific Time (It’s That Time-Pacific Fling) in the three (66 points). Shining Jewels (Real Desire-Southwind Jewel) and Lucy In The Sky (Hot Pans-Lawless Lucy) rounded out the field.

Jennie Ann and Its Pacific Time battled off the gate into the backstretch when Chad Svenson and Its Pacific Time cleared to take the lead. She passed the quarter in 29.2 followed by Jennie Ann and Ivy B Poison.

Passing the half in 1:01.1, Svenson kept Its Pacific Time focused on the top while Ivy B Poison pulled to challenge the leaders. Ivy B Poison gained ground until matching Its Pacific Time as the pair passed the three-quarters in 1:30.3.
Its Pacific Time pulled ahead in the final turn and sailed home in a 2:01 wire-to-wire performance, the fastest 2-year-old filly pacing mile of 2019.

Its Pacific Time was raised and bred by owner John Hendricks. From the first crop of the Minnesota sire It’s That Time, Its Pacific Time is out of the Cam’s Card Shark mare Pacific Fling. The filly finished the season with eight wins in 13 starts and the 2019 2-year-old pacing filly title for trainer Joel McDanel.