A field of 10 will be sent postward in the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino this Friday (August 13). A solid group of stakes winners has been assembled for the 28th installment of Hoosier Park’s premier harness racing event.
The 2021 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes will highlight the 15-race program, which also features an all-star undercard and total purse money pushing the $650,000 mark. First post is 6:30 p.m., and the Dan Patch is slotted in Race 13.
Fresh off his win against Grand Circuit rivals on Saturday in the Sam McKee Memorial, Catch The Fire comes into the 2021 Dan Patch as the slight 3-1 morning line choice. The four-year-old son of Captaintreacherous - Dream Out Loud has won four of his last five starts for trainer Todd Luther and Ohio-based owners LLC Black Magic Racing and CT Stables. Scott Zeron will drive Catch The Fire, who starts from post four.
The main rivals for Catch The Fire come in the form of a Burke Brigade trio featuring half-mile track world champion This Is The Plan (PP3, Yannick Gingras, 7/2), mile track world champion Cattlewash (PP5, David Miller, 9/2) along with the speedy millionaire Backstreet Shadow (PP10, Tim Tetrick, 4/1).
Recent Woodbine Mohawk Park preferred pace winner Sintra headlines the Canadian contingent, with the eight-year-old son of Mach Three - Dancin Barefoot drawing the rail for driver Jody Jamieson, trainer David Menary and owners Michael Guerriero, Kelly Waxman, Nunzio Vena and Frank Cirillo of Ontario.
The 2021 Dan Patch field, in post position order with named driver and trainer appears below. Note that Post 10 starts from the trailing tier.
1 - Sintra - Jody Jamieson - David Menary - 10/1
2 - Workin Ona Mystery - Todd McCarthy - Brian Brown - 12/1
3 - This Is The Plan - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 7/2
4 - Catch The Fire - Scott Zeron - Todd Luther - 3/1
5 - Cattlewash - David Miller - Ron Burke - 9/2
6 - Little Rocket Man - John DeLong - Missy Essig - 20/1
7 - Brassy Hanover - Brian Sears - Jeff Cullipher - 8/1
8 - No Lou Zing - Dexter Dunn - Nancy Takter - 15/1
9 - Tellmeaboutit - Mike Oosting - Alvin Miller - 30-1
10 - Backstreet Shadow - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke - 4/1
The race will be part of a special weekend tagged as “Dan Patch Festival Weekend”. Hoosier Park will showcase some of the most notable names in harness racing alongside special wagers, free prizes, giveaways, food trucks and ice cream.
Racing fans will have the opportunity to participate in two special wagers offered for the Dan Patch card. A $25,000 guaranteed Dan Patch Superfecta pool will be available along with a $15,000 guaranteed Hoosier High Five pool on the last race of the program as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Program. A free online live racing program for the entire card will also be available on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website.
Six racing fans will have the opportunity to place a $250 win bet on the horse of their choice in the Dan Patch Stakes. Harrah’s Hoosier Park will also give away $1,000 cash immediately following the Dan Patch. Racing fans can enter to win the wager and $1,000 cash prize at any trackside promotional kiosk beginning at 5 p.m.
The Dan Patch festivities will also include a driver autograph session, family-friendly activities, special giveaways in the winner’s circle, and an official Dan Patch duffle bag free to the first 500 guests, beginning at 5 p.m.
(with files from Harrah's Hoosier Park)