from the Iowa Harness Horse Association

What Cheer, IA -–- Iowa’s racing season opened at What Cheer with eight fields braving the Memorial Day heat on Monday (May 28). Summer came early with record breaking temperatures — a heat index of 101F — while thunder rumbled throughout the day.

Two divisions of 2-year-old trotters made their Iowa racing debuts. Dr. Steven Renard’s filly Loussolataire shipped in from Illinois off of three starts at Hawthorne over the past four weeks. That experience gave her an edge in a field of first time starters. Trained and driven by Renard, the Lou’s Legacy filly won easily, crossing the wire in 2:06.3.

The second division of 2-year-old trotters had four starters seeing the gate for the first time. Kick Away, a Weight Lifter colt trained and driven by Dan Roland, bested the competition in 2:07.4. The Iowa sired colt is owned by Dan and his wife Jeri.

Tappin Outamessage scored a win in the only division of 2-year-old pacers, a field of four first time starters. Trained and driven by Will Roland, the Ohio bred gelding from the first crop of Western Vintage paced wire-to-wire in 2:07.2. Tappin Outamessage is owned by Gretchen Springer.

Competition heated up when 3-year-old pacers hit the track. Mamie Marc edged out Sing N Sandi at the wire in the first division in 2:07.3. Trained and driven by Rob Anderson, the Iowa sired Marced Card filly is owned by Anderson and Connie Roland.

Marc Mellow Man, another 3-year-old by Marced Card, took the second division in 2:04.3 with trainer Duane Roland in the bike. The pacing colt is owned and bred by Duane and Connie Roland of Grinnell, Iowa.

Photo courtesy of the IHHA

Scramble Camp and Dan Roland head to the winner’s circle following the 3-year-old trotter’s 2:00.3 Iowa racing debut.

Dan Roland made a second stop in the winner’s circle after an impressive trip by 3-year-old trotter Scramble Camp. Coming off a win at Running Aces eight days ago, the Weight Lifter gelding trounced the competition, including last year’s Iowa champion Hotrod Richard, in a blistering 2:00.3. Scramble Camp is owned by Dan and Jeri Roland and Robert Davis.

Two scratches left a field of three to compete for the Free For All Trot. All three — Airman Batten, Lous Game N Match, and Slim Gem — had seen the winner’s circle multiple times in Iowa during the 2017 season. Trained and driven by Royal Roland, Slim Gem returned in the best form, trotting to victory in 2:02.3. The Manofmanymissions 5-year-old gelding is owned by Royal and Barbara Roland.

The final race of the day, the Free For All Pace, was Roland N Rock’s to lose. The crowd favorite drew the four hole and no one was going to let him get off the gate easily. Duane Roland piloted the 6-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding three-wide before capturing the lead at the quarter pole. After the rocky start Roland N Rock didn’t disappoint, widening his lead with every step. Roland N Rock defeated the competition in 1:57.2.

Iowa harness racing action resumes next Saturday (June 2) at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds. Post time is 12:30 p.m.