from the Iowa Harness Horse Association

Humboldt, IA — The top Iowa-registered 2-year-old trotters competed in the Iowa Fairs Racing Championships on Sunday (Sept. 23).The fields were comprised of the top five Iowa-registered divisional points earners of 2018 with points accumulated over eight races in Iowa throughout the summer.

The card began with the 2-year-old trotting colts competing in $12,000 Lyle Bunson Memorial Trot. In each of the two weeks prior, points leader Ricky Be Sharp had set new divisional speed records for the 2-year-old colt trot, trotting in 2:05.4 at What Cheer and then 2:04.2 at his home track in Humboldt.

It was a rough start to the race with three early breaks. The inside horse Spiced Honey made a break behind the gate, Depth Charge made a break in the first turn and Ricky Be Sharp broke at the head of the backstretch. The two horses that remained flat, JR’s Broady and Al-May Winstar reached the quarter in :32. Ricky Be Sharp, with Lorenza Gooch in the bike, caught the early leaders at the head of the stretch and tipped out to put up a challenge the first time past the grandstand. JR’s Broadway reached the half in 1:04.3 with Ricky Be Sharp parked to the outside.

JR’S Broadway fended off the top gelding’s advances until the three-quarter pole when Ricky Be Sharp took the lead by a head in 1:35. Sailing around the final turn, Ricky Be Sharp cleared to the front and sped down the homestretch crossing the wire in 2:06. JR’s Broadway was second and Al-Mar Winstar was third.

Improving his record to nine wins in 13 starts, Ricky Be Sharp increased his 2018 Iowa earnings to $30,374 for trainer and lessee Lorenza Gooch. The Iowa-sired American Native trotting gelding is out of Cosmetize, a Valley Victor mare, and was bred and raised by Rick & Lesa Peters of R&L Fast Pace Farms in Grinnell, Iowa.

The $12,000 Dick & Charlyn McDanel Memorial Trot featured 2-year-old trotting fillies. The top two points-earning fillies, Bankn-on-emily and Sb Head of State, drew the inside. Both had won four of eight Iowa-registered races over the summer, but neither had finished first in the last two weeks. Drawing post position three was late bloomer CR Blaze. She had out-trotted both fillies in the past two weeks posting wins in 2:06, then 2:03.2. Rounding out the field were Key Lime Martini and All Taylor Made.

The three top fillies trotted stride-for-stride off the gate into the first turn. At the head of the backside Bankn-on-emily and driver Royal Roland pushed to the front, clearing Sb Head of State and CR Blaze. Bankn-on-emily reached the quarter in :30.3, with CR Blaze clearing Sb Head of State for second. The three passed the half nose-to-tail in 1:02.3, when Sb Head of State tipped out and charged to challenge the leader. Bankn-on-emliy reached the three-quarters in 1:32.2 with Sb Head of State parked by her side.

Still leading at the head of the stretch, Bankn-on-emily found another gear. With her head low and her legs flying, the powerful filly trotted home in 2:03.4, matching her lifetime mark. CR Blaze got up the inside for second and Sb Head of State finished third.

Bankn-on-emily improved her record to nine wins in 13 starts and increased her earnings to $29,680, all earned in Iowa fair racing. She is owned and trained by Thomas and Kathy Shipley of Kahoka, Mo. Bankn-on-emily is by the Iowa trotting sire Macduffie, a son of Angus Hall, and out of the Ken Warkentin mare Emily Lavictoire.