by Mary Lou Coady, publicity director, Prairie Meadows

Altoona, IA — Eight new lifetime marks, of 71 registered so far this season, dominated Sunday’s (Oct. 8) harness matinee at Prairie Meadows as the meet winds down to three days remaining.

Sunday’s new lifetime marks (bracketed) appear below.

The first race winner, Leadmetothetruth (1:58.3), sat the pocket to the eighth pole and made his move to get up by a half-length in front of Sixty Six Hundred. Harry Haught trains and drives the pacer for Thomas Throgmorton of Carbondale, Illinois.

Holly Hill Vibrant (2:00.1) registered his second lifetime pacing win for Illinois residents Orville Rursch and Gary Williams. Kim Hamilton assigned driver Nick Roland for his first of two wins on Sunday.

Miss Warrior (1:58), in post position five, was parked out in fifth place to the half-mile and rushed up to win by a neck in front of Chals Grand Slam. Craig Banks trains and drives Miss Warrior, a 6-year-old pacing mare by Warrior For Peace, for Brian Anfinson of Kenyon, Minnesota. Equine Opal was also a close third.

Overheated (2:01) demolished his previous pacing mark in the tenth as three parts of a length separated him from the remaining order of finish led by Mac’s High Hopes and Whata Santana. Phillip Knox drove Overheated, a 3-year-old bay gelding by Hot Pans, out of a Meadow Skipper mare, for trainer Larry Coleman and owners Roger and Cary Sturtz of Humboldt, Iowa. The $2 win, place, and show returned $39.80, $44.00 and $14.00.

Victoria Hanover equaled her best pacing mark, 1:57.2, in her fourth victory this year, which gave Brandon Simpson his first of two wins on Sunday. Dirk Simpson trains the 3-year-old daughter of Rustler Hanover, which he owns in partnership with Peter Karras of Sherman, Illinois.

The team of Karras and Simpson scored a second win on the card with Queen Victoria K (2:01.1), a 3-year-old bay filly. She won her third race this year after she took advantage of several breaks made by Wasz’s Pro, Boston Pops and Princess Jade. By 3-3/4 lengths, she submitted Sunday’s fastest trotting time.

Madges Big T (1:58.3) swallowed real estate in the first half-mile and then she came rushing to win the pacing condition by 1-3/4 lengths for Rick and C.D. Huffman and Martha Walker. Rick Huffman trains and drives. He’s a Hottie dropped back from the lead in the stretch to finish second. Pacific Fonzie advanced from fifth parked out to third.

Kevin Nanke’s charge Grant’s Day (1:58.4) stalked Fox Valley Tempest, that one withdrawing to third at the wire. Adam Hauser drove for trainer Brad Ashby. RD Krook was parked out second at the half-mile. He battled with pacers Grant’s Day and Fox Valley Tempest to hold on for second.

No Money Fun (2:02) led all the way in his first trotting win of the year by three lengths. The 4-year-old son of Bedrock Bobby produced four victories in 2005 for breeders and owners Gail and Michael Conte of Yorktown, Iowa. Nick Roland rode the sulky.

The 5-year-old mare Pilgrims Thyme scored her third straight pacing victory for Robert Thomas of Charleston, Illinois. Trainer Craig Banks held the reins in 1:56.1 for the double.

Four pacers went to victory lane from the one path on Sunday and the fifth lane assignment produced three wins on the 10-race card. Three betting favorites seized victory, while two longshots prevailed at 10-1 odds or greater.

Racing continues on Thursday, October 12, at 6:30 p.m. with three nights remaining.