Congratulations
to Manatt's employees Cliff Rhoads (Newton - Asphalt Crew) and
Chris Manatt (Brooklyn - Ready Mix Area Manager)! Their
horse, Delorian Falcon, a 2-year-old filly, has been virtually
unstoppable since she was purchased by Cliff and Chris, in
partnership with trainer and driver Nick Roland. They purchased
Delorian Falcon in August after their other horse,
Brooklynagain, broke a bone in her leg. Brooklynagain has since had surgery, is recovering, and should race next year.
Delorian Falcon has proven to be a great buy for these
gentlemen. In her last race, she won the Keith Hopkins pace at
Prairie Meadows in 1:58, which is faster than any other Iowa bred two-year this year.
She won 7 races this year w/ earnings over $15,000 (see
article below from ustrotting.com for details of last race).
Story from www.ustrotting.com :
DELORIAN FALCON, ARTY ARTY OVER WIN
FRESHMAN PACING CHAMPIONSHIPS AT PRAIRIE MEADOWS
ALTOONA,
IA-Delorian Falcon, a 2-year-old filly, and her male counterpart, Arty Arty Over, won Friday's freshman pacing championships at Prairie Meadows.
Delorian Falcon took flight as the meet's top 2-year-old pacing filly in the Keith Hopkins Memorial Pace in Altoona, bettering her career mark in her fourth win in a row and second victory of the Prairie Meadows season.
The race is named in honor of Keith Hopkins, immortally inducted to
the Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame in 2001 for his role as interim President of Prairie Meadows [1991-1994] and for his many years' service on the Racing Association of Central Iowa board of directors [1987-2000].
The Hopkins race and The Heartlander Pace, the night's other 2-year-old championship for colts, were each worth $6,000.
Delorian Falcon increased her lead by three and a half-lengths at the wire in front of fourth betting interest AC Amy and reinsman Brian Larson, winners of the Keith Hopkins Elimination Heat back on September 26. Delorian Falcon paced the mile in 1:58-flat, which is more than four seconds faster than the previous mark set by the daughter of Falcons Future out of the Nobleland Sam mare, Pessimistic Pat.
Finishing another three and a half-lengths back was R Town Bidder, third, with driver Brandon Simpson.
Brooklyn, Iowa residents Cliff Rhoads and Chris Manatt, the grandsons of
the late G.J. "Junie" Manatt, own Delorian Falcon in partnership with the horse's trainer and driver, Nick Roland of Grinnell.
Chris Manatt reported following the race that Delorian Falcon had been a little under the weather earlier in the meet.
"We were a little nervous," said Manatt, "but when she went to the front
at the start, we thought it was a good sign. She held everybody off
willingly."
"We were kind of scared at the top of the stretch when there were two
people challenging," added Manatt's cousin, Cliff Rhoads. "She drew off easily. It was nice."
"I don't know if she's going to race any more this year," said Manatt, "so it's a good one to end with. We're going to continue the tradition and keep buying horses."
Following Junie Manatt's death in 2000, Chris Manatt and Cliff Rhoads said they decided to continue the tradition of harness racing set by their grandfather. They named their first yearling Brooklyn Again, after Junie Manatt's horse, the namesake of the central Iowa town with a population of roughly 1,500 that became known for a road building enterprise established by the Manatt Family patriarch.
The two men have also decided to keep their grandfather's tradition of
using the name 'Brooklyn' with each horse they own in the future.
"He was the type of guy that would talk to anybody," said a reminiscent
Chris Manatt. "Everywhere we went, he knew people. He'd talk to everybody
and he had friends everywhere. Everyone has a 'Junie' story.
"He was one of the most easygoing guys," added Rhoads. "I think that's why he got so much respect from so many."
|
