ER Harper Rose has been nearly perfect this season. With only one defeat in three previous starts, she had her work cut out for her in the first race at the Shelby County Fairgrounds Thursday, June 27. ER Harper Rose was going up against the undefeated Rock It Out in the first division of two-year-old filly pacers.
Rock It Out and Clifton Bell lead the way past the grandstand for the first time in the first race at the Shelby County Fairgrounds Thursday, June 27. Photo by Diane Schuler
As expected, Rock It Out and Clifton Bell went right out for the lead from post three as ER Harper Rose had little options at the start, choosing to go to the back of the pack from the second tier for trainer-driver Don Eash. The field followed along as Rock It Out set fractions of :31.0 and 1:03.0 before a second wave began to form on the outside, placing ER Harper Rose with cover on the outside.
Heading to the three-quarter mile marker Rock It Out was still holding strong on the lead and ER Harper Rose had to travel three wide to get around opponents and reach Rock It Out. The Riggins filly was able to get a half length ahead of Rock It Out, but she fought back to get the lead once again.
It was a head to head battle between ER Harper Rose and Rock It Out the entire length of the stretch. ER Harper Rose was able to get the last call at the wire, scoring the win by one-half length in 2:02.2 off a final quarter in :28.1. Rigginswind and Matt Rheinheimer rounded out the top three.
Owned by Eash Racing Stable, ER Harper Rose has three wins in four starts with her career best taken at Converse in 2:01.3. She is a second-generation colt for Don and Rosie Eash as they also raced her dam, Hoponit, who was an Indiana Sires Stakes winner of 31 races and more than $421,000 during her career. ER Harper Rose is her first and only foal.
Later in the card, the winning ways of Team Myers-Udell picked up where they left off at Converse, scoring three wins on the card, including three-year-old trotting standouts J-S Swanman and Jesse Popper. Udell also guided J-S Lady Virgin to a win in two-year-old filly pacing action.
Other double winners on the card were driver Joey Putnam and trainer Justin White and trainer-driver Jay Cross. Eash also scored another win on the 14-race card with three-year-old trotting colt Townline Blue Boy driven by Gerald Miller.