from the Iowa Harness Horse Association

Humboldt, IA — Three-year-old trotters and pacers competed under ominous skies on July 4 at Humboldt in the first of 10 Iowa-registered meets in 2018. Sophomore trotters raced for the Glenn and Lorraine Jenson Memorial blanket while pacers vied for the Mark and Ethel Insko Memorial Award.

Coming off a second place finish to Scramble Camp in the Iowa Sires Stakes last weekend, Hotrod Richard found his groove in a field of seven trotting colts leading from wire-to-wire. The American Native gelding won in 2:03.2 with Rob Anderson in the bike for owners Rick and CD Huffman, Larry Mather and Jeri Roland.

Another American Native offspring took one of the two filly divisions of trotters. Lo All America, with driver Brett Erickson, drew the sixth position in her field, starting from the second tier, and was parked for more than half of the mile. The pair cleared at the three-quarters and came home in :30, winning the race in 2:06.4 for owner Lorenza Gooch.

Chrissy Mathews photo

Ima Juggernaut won the Glenn and Lorraine Jenson Memorial.

Top trotter Ima Juggernaut won in a field of fillies in 2:02.2, securing the Glenn and Lorraine Jenson Memorial on her home track. The returning champion has experience leading the pack, and Mark Mintun piloted the Lou’s Legacy filly to an early lead. Ima Juggernaut is owned by Mintun and Stephanie Gould.

Minnie Vinnie came into Wednesday’s race off a win in the Iowa Sires Stakes Pace last weekend. The Millionaire Cam gelding was a crowd favorite and didn’t disappoint. Driver Will Roland and Minnie Vinnie cruised out of the five hole to take the early lead in a first quarter of :29.4. The pair took a half-mile breather before coming home in :28.3, earning a finish time of 2:00.3 to win the Mark and Ethel Insko Memorial. Minnie Vinnie is owned by Jeff Carey, Jesse Delong, Rick Huffman, and Larry Mather.

The second field of pacing colts went to Just B Talking and Rob Anderson in 2:02.3. The 3-year-old pacing gelding is by the Iowa sire Sneaky B Skipalong, trained by Rick Huffman, and owned by Rick and CD Huffman and Larry Mather.

Two fields of pacing fillies were in the hunt for the Mark and Ethel Insko Memorial as well. Sneakydontfailme took the first division of fillies. Mark Mintun drove the Sneaky B Skipalong filly in her first lifetime win, maneuvering around some on-track obstacles, to take the race in 2:02.4. Sneakydontfailme is owned by Mintun and Stephanie and Justin Gould.

Minnesota import Bunkerhill Jill took a break from Running Aces to compete in her first Iowa race of 2018. The Sand Shooter filly got off the gate fifth with Mark Mintun in the bike. Steadily gaining ground throughout, Bunkerhill Jill snapped 2017 champion I’m On A Terror at the wire, winning in 2:01. Bunkerhill Jill is owned by Gene Miller.

Iowa-registered racing resumes on Saturday (July 7) at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds with 13 fields of 2-year-olds beginning their 2018 campaigns.