by the Iowa Harness Horse Association

Oskaloosa, IA — Inexperience was the name of the game at Oskaloosa on Saturday (June 23) with 47 of the 67 starters trying to break their maidens, many seeing the starting gate for the first time.

There were four divisions of 2-year-old trotters. LousSolataire, an Illinois-bred Lou’s Legacy filly, led the fastest group in 2:07.1 winning easily for owner/trainer/driver Steven Renard. Ricky Be Sharp took the next fastest division in his first start after arriving from Texas for trainer/driver Lorenza Gooch. The Iowa-sired American Native gelding crossed the wire in 2:12.4.

Two more Iowa-sired trotting 2-year-olds earned top spots in their first lifetime starts. Baby Weight who is owned, trained and driven by Dan Roland won in 2:14.4. The Weight Lifter filly was raised by Roland and his wife Jeri. Joel McDanel trained and drove the chesnut Wilson Wyoming colt Big Red Wilson to the winners circle for owner Harv Sandbulte in 2:16.

My Money Honey won the fastest division of 2-year-old pacers in a sweeping stretch run in 2:05.2. The Iowa-sired Sneaky B Skipalong colt is owned by Rick Huffman and Kayveonna Johnson. The Scott Smith Stable took the remaining two divisions of 2-year-old pacers with two first time starters. Oh Toodles, an Iowa-sired Relentless Yankee colt won in 2:10.3 with Scott Smith manning the reins. Sista Lucy, a Sneaky B Skipalong filly, won the final division in 2:12 with Adam Hauser driving. Both are owned by Debbie Philipp and Shirley Smith.

Marc Mellow Man racked up his third win in three starts in 2018 taking the first division of the non-winners of $2,500 lifetime pace in 2:05.1. The roan 3-year-old son of Marced Card is owned by Duane and Connie Roland. The second division went to Sues Tommy Gun, a 3-year-old first time starter. The gray Hot Pans gelding paced in 2:09.2 for trainer/driver Duane Roland and owner Thomas Thompson.

Roland N Rock continued his winning ways for Duane & Connie Roland taking the Iowa Pace for older horses in 2:00.3. The Rocknroll Hanover gelding is four-for-four in his 2018 Iowa starts. Free-For-All pacer R Bazingga added another win to the Roland Stable coming home in 2:03.3. The 3-year-old pacer is a Real Artist gelding owned by Roger Roland.

Iowa racing action resumes tomorrow with a 12:30 p.m. post time. This will be the last day of overnight racing before Iowa Sires Stakes kicks off their first meet on June 30.