Iowa Sires Stakes opener features new talent, old favorites

What Cheer, IA — The Iowa Sires Stakes opener was held Saturday (June 15) at the Keokuk County fairgrounds in What Cheer. The 15-race card featured 2-year-old and 3-year-old Iowa-sired trotters and pacers.

Experience didn’t play a role in the 2-year-old races, with the majority of wins going to first lifetime starters. SV Tymal’s Image won the first race of the day in a 2:16.3 mile. The 2-year-old trotting colt by Tymal Templar was a first time starter driven by Elvin Zimmerman of the AIMES Racing Stable. The second division of 2-year-old trotting colts picked up speed with another first time starter, Scoreoneforme, dominating the competition in a wire-to-wire 2:11.2 performance. Trained and driven by Rick Huffman, the Man Of Broadway gelding bested the field by 75 lengths. Out of the Conway Hall mare Perfect Score, Scoreoneforeme is owned by Huffman and Keith Wilson.

Battle Queen made a decisive 16-length win in her first start trotting in the fastest 2-year-old trot of the day. Owned, trained and driven by Gary Liles, the daughter of Iowa sire Yadi took the front early then increased her lead throughout her 2:10 performance.

Curtis Carey trainee Slippin The Clutch was the first 2-year-old pacer to take home an Iowa Sires Stakes win in 2019. Making his racing debut, the MIllionaire Cam colt found the winners circle in 2:06.1 with Will Roland in the bike. Slippin The Clutch is owned by Jesse Delong, Rick & CD Huffman, and Jeff Carey. Out of the Artsplace mare Sweet Otra, he was bred and raised by Alan & Randell Eden.

A draw into the second tier couldn’t hold back Ivy B Poison and driver Scott Smith. The 2-year-old filly steadily picked off the competition. She was sixth at the quarter, fifth and parked at the half, and worked her way up to second at the head of the stretch. Finding another gear, the Sneaky B Skiplalong filly sped by her final adversary to take the win in 2:10. Ivy B Poison is owned by Chris Philipp and trained by his uncle, Scott Smith.

The first division of 3-year-old pacing colts went to 2018 Iowa-registered champion Oh Toodles. The son of Relentless Yankee settled in to last enjoying cheap fractions with a half in 1:04.1 before tipping out to challenge the field. Trained and driven by Scott Smith, Oh Toodles showcased his signature sprint barreling around the last turn and snapping the competition in a 2:03 photo finish win. Oh Toodles is owned by Debbie Phillipp and Shirley Smith. The second division of 3-year-old colts went to the Huffman Stable’s 2018 Iowa Sires Stakes champion My Money Honey, finishing in 2:05 with Will Roland in the bike.

After a rocky 2-year-old season and a few ownership changes, the large and impressive Hot Pans filly Selma O’Brien made her first Iowa start in 2019. Trained and driven by Mark Mintin, the 3-year-old won wire-to-wire in the rain in the fastest pace of the day — 2:01.2. Selma O’Brien is owned by Mark Mintin, Stephanie Gould, Joseph Kilberg, and Bigshow Racing Stable. Out of the Presidential Ball mare Kelly Graham, Selma O’Brien was bred and raised by Duane Roland. The second division of 3-year-old pacers went to 2018 Iowa Sires Stakes champion Heavy Handed Hanna in 2:05. The Millionaire Cam filly was driven by Will Roland and trained by Curtis Carey.

Another 2018 champion, Ricky Be Sharp, led the entire mile to take the Iowa Sires Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts in 2:07.1. Trained and driven by Lorenza Gooch of Missouri City Texas, Ricky Be Sharp is by the late American Native and bred by Rick & Lesa Peters of Grinnell, Iowa. The other division of 3-year-old trotting colts went to Spiced Honey from the Huffman Stable. Robert Anderson drove the Honeydont Hanover gelding to victory in 2:09.

In the fastest trot of the day, 3-year-old filly CR Blaze took home a win in 2:05. Starting in post position three, the Amigo Ranger filly settled into the middle of the pack not making a move until the top of the stretch when driver Robert Anderson let her loose and she burned by the field to capture the win. CR Blaze is owned by CD & Rick Huffman.

Iowa Sires Stakes action resumes at the Keokuk County fairgrounds in two weeks on Saturday (June 29). Next week marks the first Iowa-registered meet, which will be held at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds in Oskaloosa. Post time is 12:30 p.m.

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