by Gretchen Springer, IaHHA Executive Secretary

Bedford, IA –- On May 31, 2014 Roland N Rock left his stable in Grinnell, Iowa, and made the three-hour trip to Bedford for his first race. He had drawn post position six, which meant he would have to start in the second tier in a field of green 2-year-olds on the county fair dirt track. His win in 2:10.4 was the first of 14 that year, culminating with a winning performance in the American National in October.

Roland N Rock returned to the Taylor County fairgrounds today (June 9) a more experienced and much more decorated horse. The 6-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover out of Hank’s Chip, a Cambest mare, has 60 wins and over $600,000 in winnings to his name. He is still owned by Duane and Connie Roland, the same couple that raised him as a foal and developed him throughout his career.

Gretchen Springer photo

Roland N Rock with his owners Duane and Connie Roland after a new record in Iowa action on Saturday.

Roland N Rock drew post position four in Saturday’s (June 9) Iowa Pace for older horses. Trainer/driver Duane Roland floated the gelding off the gate and settled into third behind a speed dual taking Juxta Antz Pantz and Rocky’s stablemate Marced Magic to the quarter in :28. Roland N Rock tipped out to take the lead at the half, passing the grandstand for the first time in :58.

From there he increased his lead, gapping from the field in 1:27 at the three-quarters. Continuing to build on his impressive resume, Roland N Rock cruised across the wire in a track-record-breaking 1:57.3 making him three-for-three in his starts on the Iowa Circuit this year.

There were a total of eight races at Bedford on Saturday. Slim Gem, a Manofmanymissions 5-year-old gelding, came back from an early break to take the Iowa Trot for older horses in 2:02.2 for trainer/driver Royal Roland. Slim Gem is owned by Royal and his wife Barbara, as well as Dale Hein.

Aaron Mitchell came up from Texas this week and won the first start of his Iowa season with Readyset Go N Spi in 2:22.1. The 2-year-old trotter is owned, trained and driven by Mitchell and is by the Iowa sire Broadway or Bust. The second division of green trotters went to Eighty’s Mercedes, an Ohio-sired filly by Clocked at Eighty, in 2:19.4. She made her first start with trainer Joel McDanel in the bike and is owned by Set the Pace Racing, LLC.

Frisky Pedro, a gelding trained and driven by Curtis Carey, came on with a late burst of speed to snap off a win in 2:13 in the 2-year-old pace. Frisky Pedro is owned and raised by Jeff Carey out of the Iowa stallion Millionaire Cam.

Three-year-old trotter Duffie’s Eclipse found her feet with Royal Roland in the bike taking her first win in three starts in 2:13. The Iowa-sired Macduffie filly is trained and owned by Thomas and Kathy Shipley.

Just B Talking, a full brother to 2017 Iowa Champion Alright Guy, earned his first win in two starts in 2:02.4 with Rob Anderson in the driver’s seat. The 3-year-old Sneaky B Skipalong gelding is owned by Rick and CD Huffman and Larry Mather. The second division of 3-year-old pacers went to the Yankee Cruiser gelding Cash Vaughan, who broke his maiden in 2:08.2 with Adam Hauser in the bike for owner John Hendricks.

Iowa racing action resumes Thursday (June 14) at the Wapello County Fairgrounds in Eldon, Iowa. Post time is 6 p.m.