Humboldt, IA — With a spot in the upcoming championship on the line, Iowa-Registered 3-year-old horses took charge of the track at Humboldt, Iowa on Sunday (Sept. 15).

Rob Anderson guided CR Blaze to victory in 2:02. Gretchen Roland/IaHHA photo.

Race one featured the first of two divisions of 3-year-old trotting fillies. DP Rocket (Adam Hauser) scored a dominating wire-to-wire win on her home track, winning in 2:01. Rob Anderson guided CR Blaze to her third win in a row in the second division. In another gate-to-wire effort, she trotted the mile in 2:02. Both trotting fillies secured their spot on top of the points standings.

The 3-year-old pacing fillies competed in two divisions, both winners scoring new lifetime marks. The first division belonged to Jackpot Jessie. The Hot Pans filly, driven by Nick Roland, looked to add to her points total, with her new lifetime mark of 1:59.4. Chad Svendsen captured the second division in race six as Flash Me Baby crossed the wire with a new lifetime mark, pacing her mile in 2:02.1.

Driver/trainer Gary Liles drove two of his trotting geldings to pick up wins in both divisions of the 3-year-old trotting colts/geldings. Cracker Box, sitting seventh, edged out Ricky Be Sharp (Nick Roland) at the wire, trotting home in 2:04.2. Liles’ second winning drive was with Depth Charge. The 3-year-old Motorcade gelding overcame making a break at the start. Battling Spiced Honey (Chad Svendsen) through the mile, Liles charged for the lead, winning by three-quarters of a length.

Two divisions of 3-year-old pacing colts/geldings also competed on the Humboldt half. Chad Svendsen steered Bad Boy Destroyer in and out of traffic to the win, pacing in 2:04.1. The fastest division was in race eight. Frisky Pedro (Will Roland) stalked My Money Honey (Rob Anderson) the entire mile. Frisky Pedro poured on the pace in the stretch, winning by a nose in 1:58.4, a new lifetime mark.

The non-winners divisions also featured new lifetime marks. Duane Roland drove his 3-year-old trotting colt Yankee Carmel to the win in 2:10.3, while Black River Spirit with driver/trainer/owner Frank Chitwood, paced home in 2:02.4.

Iowa-Registered champions will be crowned next weekend in What Cheer, Iowa. Consolation races will be held on Saturday (Sept. 21) and the finals on Sunday (Sept. 22). Post time both days will be at 12:30 p.m. (CDT).