by Lindsay Sponheim, IaHHA Executive Secretary

The Iowa Harness Racing Circuit opened up the 2015 season with three great days of racing on May 25 at What Cheer, May 30 at Humboldt, and June 7 at Bedford. Ole man weather tried his hardest to keep the races from occurring, but despite being postponed a couple of times all three race cards were completed.

Iowa horsemen were excited about starting their 2015 season off with a bang by entering over 90 horses at both What Cheer and Humboldt and over 70 horses at Bedford.

Over thirty 2-year-olds made their first lifetime starts over the three race cards and charted some impressive times for the Iowa Circuit. Ballerat Boomerang made an impressive first three starts to his racing career capturing three wins and setting a mark of 2:08.3 at Humboldt. The 2-year-old pacing gelding is owned by Duane and Connie Roland. His win didn’t come easy at Humboldt beating out Sun Belle Sadie by a nose. With Mark Mintun in the driver’s seat, this 2-year-old Curtis Carey trained pacing filly made an impressive first start at What Cheer setting a mark of 2:08 to win the fourth race of the day. Mintun also owns the filly along with Jeff Carey and Rick Schrock. Steven Renard steered his 2-year-old trotting filly Surviver Di to three straight trips to the winner’s circle beating out her competition by lengths each time and taking a mark of 2:11.2 at Humboldt.

The undefeated 2-year-old Roland N Rock started off his 3-year-old season the same way by capturing two straight wins at What Cheer and Humboldt in 1:59.2 and 2:00 respectively. Nick Roland’s Queen Of Denial stayed right on Roland N Rock’s back through most of the race, but couldn’t quite keep the 3-year-old pacing colt from pulling away in the stretch at What Cheer to finish in second in 2:00.1. Adam Hauser trained and driven 3-year-old pacing filly Lady Cy started the season off well for her owner Roger Sturtz by racking up wins at both What Cheer in 2:04.0 and Bedford in 2:12.0.

In the Free For All and Aged trot it was all Dan Roland’s Lipstickandshadow who seized three wins in three starts. The 8-year-old mare, owned by Jeri Roland, left the field behind winning by lengths and posting a 2015 mark of 2:01.3 at What Cheer. Curtis Carey trained Snacker Backer was a close second to Nick Roland’s Hotmones, who won in 1:59.0, at What Cheer, but came back with a vengeance to capture wins at Humboldt and Bedford both in 2:01.3.

Bedford racing saw one of Iowa’s newest drivers receiving his first career driving win as well. Brady Jenson won the first race of his career in race four of the Bedford race card with DD’s Tiger, a 7-year-old trotting gelding. DD’s tiger is owned by Brady’s father Larry Jenson and trained by his older brother Brandon Jenson.

Iowa harness racing continues on Saturday, June 13 & Sunday, June 14 at Oskaloosa, and Wednesday, June 17 & Thursday, June 18 at Eldon. If you are in the Iowa area on these dates come on out and join us for some great Iowa harness racing. As always join us on Facebook at Iowa Harness Horseman’s Association and check out our website at www.iowaharnessracing.com!