What Cheer, IA — As the Iowa harness racing season opened on Sunday (May 29) at What Cheer, excitement filled the air. As the fans looked on in the stands and on Facebook live, 2-year-olds competed in their first starts, with 3-year-olds looking to start their mission for this season’s championships, with older horses competing in the Free-for-Alls.

Last year’s 2-year-old pacing filly season’s leader, Huntress, took to the track in race two. The bay Huntsville filly, trained by Joel McDanel, drew the six hole with Adam Hauser sitting in the bike.

As the gate folded, Huntress drifted into fifth as they raced to the quarter-pole. Pulling to the outside, Huntress tracked the leaders, Lil Char (Justin Gould) and Keepin My Distance (James Gould). Letting the Gould brothers duke it out, Huntress waited until they reached the stretch.

Finding room on the outside, Huntress charged down the lane, pacing her last quarter in :29.2. With her first victory of the season in the bag, Huntress returned to the winner’s circle for owner John Hendricks, pacing in 2:02.

In race three, Merly, trained and driven by Adam Hauser, trotted smartly from the rail to take the lead. Cutting the mile in :31.3, 1:04.2 and 1:36.2, Merely was still up on the field by a length as they raced around the last turn. As the wire drew near, No Mo Fashion (Will Roland) pulled alongside in a battle for the finish. As the trotters crossed the line, Merly captured the win by a nose for owner Fred Wagner, her mile in 2:07.2.

Crowd favorites returned to compete in two divisions of the Free-for-All Pace.

In race six, Glorynhonorforever (Jason Ludwig) quickly took command from the two-hole, parking It’s Pacific Time (Adam Hauser) on the outside, with Its A Marcs World tracking behind. As they reached the half, It’s Pacific Time grabbed the rail, with Its A Marcs World up by a quarter-length, still parked.

Nat A Cam (Will Roland) snuck up from behind to take control as they passed the three-quarter pole, forcing It’s Pacific Time to look for racing room on the outside. When the horses reached the lane, It’s Pacific Time retook the lead and crossed the line for the win, pacing in 2:00.1, picking up another win on the card for owner John Hendricks.

In the last division of the Free-for-All Pace, it was all Waco Sassy Kid with Chad Svendson having the driving assignment. Cutting the mile from the three-hole, Waco Sassy Kid set the pace in :30.4, 1:02.3 and 1:32. In the stretch drive, Waco Sassy Kid crossed the line in 2:02.2, last quarter in :30.2, winning for owner/trainer Lorenza Gooch.

Iowa harness racing returns on Saturday (June 4) at West Liberty, Iowa. Post time is 12:30 p.m.