What Cheer, IA — With the long season of racing to accumulate points behind them, Iowa harness racing leaders looked to compete for the title of champion at What Cheer on Sunday (Sept. 19).

In the opener, Toast The Host (Mark Mintun) trotted on the track to start from the three hole. In perfect form, Toast The Host left quickly to take the lead. Trotting around the track in :30.1, :59.4 and 1:29.3, Toast The Host spied the finish line as she rounded the last turn. With a last quarter in :30.4, the My MVP filly crossed the wire ahead of the field by ten lengths. With glasses raised, Toast The Host celebrated winning the Junie Manatt Memorial for 2-year-old filly trotters.

The Mike Smith Memorial for 2-year-old male trotters started with Battle King (Gary Liles) taking charge as he left from the rail in race two. But Fox River Luke (Royal Roland) had other plans as he quickly gained the lead as they trotted to the half. Maintaining the lead, Fox River Luke trotted his last quarter in :31. Capturing the win, Fox River Luke also picked up a new lifetime mark of 2:05.1.

Hunting for her crown, Huntress drew the two-hole in race three, the Katherine Carey Memorial 2-year-old filly pace. As the gate folded, Huntress burst forward to the front. Cutting the mile in :30.2, 1:01.1 and 1:31, Huntress was in full command at the top of the stretch. Sprinting home in :29, Huntress lowered her lifetime mark to 2:00.

The last group of 2-year-olds paraded on the track in race four, the Jim and Shirley Eden Memorial colt pace. At the start, CR Dudley (Chad Svendsen) led He’s Special (Mark Mintun) and Lucky To Be Sweet (Will Roland) to the quarter in a blistering :27.4. Sitting parked, He’s Special looked for the rail, taking the lead at the half in :58, but Lucky To Be Sweet had ideas about the lead as well. Taking over as they paced to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3, Lucky To Be Sweet was up by a half-length. Looking for the finish line, Lucky To Be Sweet crossed over as victor in 1:59.4, a new lifetime mark.

With her usual game plan, Operation Shipley (Royal Roland) trotted to the front and didn’t look back in race five, the Willard Ludtke Memorial for sophomore filly trotters. With quarters in :31.1, 1:02.1 and 1:32.2, it was all Operation Shipley as she turned for home. Winning in 2:02.2, Operation Shipley successfully celebrated her tenth win this year.

In race six, the Jim Coulter Memorial sophomore colt trot, Paris And Company (Rob Anderson) trotted to the quarter in :30.3. From the pocket, Officerincommand commanded the lead at the half, trotting in 1:02.4. But another competitor had eyes on the front as I’m Another Wilson (Adam Hauser) made the third lead change at the three-quarters. Watching the action up front, Searching For You (Chad Svendsen) let the leaders battle it out and bided his time for the stretch. From 4-1/2 lengths back at the three-quarter pole, Searching For You was second by a half-length as they raced around the last turn. Searching For You found his fifth season’s win, trotting in 2:03.

Almost Karen was completely sure about her chances in race seven, the Bob and Marilyn Stapp Memorial for sophomore filly pacers. With Will Roland in the bike, Almost Karen pushed the gate out of her way, taking control of the fractions. Pacing in :29, 1:01 and 1:32.1, Almost Karen held off a hard charging Charchar (Mark Mintun) as she crossed the line in 2:00, with a wicked last quarter in :27.4, celebrating her fifth season’s win.

Trying to shut the door on the competition, Imoutthedoor (Chad Svendsen), looking for the lead, was parked to the quarter in :27 by Marc In The Box (Royal Roland) in race eight. Marc In The Box took over and was up by a length, crossing the halfway point in :56. Charging hard down the backside, Imoutthedoor retook the lead at the three-quarters in a hot 1:26.2. As RD Skippy (Adam Hauser) made a move from fifth to second, Imoutthedoor did not relent the lead and paced to the wire, winning the Dwight Liles Memorial sophomore colt pace in 1:58.3.

The last two races on the card featured 4-year-old and older pacers and Will Roland found the winner’s circle in both races. Race nine saw Minnie Vinnie capture the Red and Vesta Carey Memorial, his ninth win this year, and Nat A Cam scored the win in race 10, the Judy Liles Memorial, also her ninth season’s win.

Iowa harness racing concludes the season next Saturday (Sept. 25) at Humboldt. Iowa sired horses will be in the spotlight with post time scheduled for 12:30 p.m. (CDT).