by Al Cimaglia
August 10, 2017
This weekend Hoosier Park will be hosting the $325,000 Dan Patch Stakes for older pacers. The big race will be highlight of the Dan Patch Festival Weekend for harness racing enthusiasts of all ages. Besides the 24th running of the Dan Patch, there will be giveaways for fans and interactive family entertainment offered.
The son of Bettor's Delight, All Bets Off is part of a trio of Ron Burke entries in the headliner and has been installed as the 7/2 morning line favorite. The six-year-old will be looking to improve upon his third-place finish in last year's Dan Patch. Burke will also send out Rockin Ron who won at Yonkers last Saturday in a sparkling 1:51. To round out the Burke entries is the winner of last weekend's Sam McKee Memorial Pace, Check Six who lit-up the tote board at 38-1.
It's a deep field of 10 older pacers who have cumulative earnings of over $11 million. All Bets Off leads the field with $2,272,503 in earnings. But there are other notables including local favorite and World Champion Freaky Feet Pete, Wakizashi Hanover, plus McWicked from the Casie Coleman barn.
Below are the horses-trainers-listed drivers and morning line odds in post-position order for Friday's feature at Hoosier Park.
1. Dealt A Winner - Mark Silva - Aaron Merriman - 15/1
2. All Bets Off - Ron Burke - Matt Kakaley - 7/2
3. McWicked - Casie Coleman - David Miller - 5/1
4. Freaky Feet Pete - Marty Rheinheimer - Trace Tetrick - 8/1
5. Manhattan Beach - Walter Haynes Jr. - Sam Widger - 30/1
6. Dr J Hanover - Tony Alagna - John De Long - 10/1
7. Rock N’ Roll World - Jeff Cullipher - John De Long - 10/1
8. Rockin Ron - Ron Burke - Ricky Macomber Jr. - 6/1
9. Check Six - Ron Burke - Yannick Gingras - 4/1
10. Wakizashi Hanover - Jo Ann Looney-King - Tim Tetrick - 9/2
The field size was increased to ten because the local connections of Rock N World paid the $25,000 supplemental fee. The five-year-old stallion was a $165,000 purchase at this year's Tattersalls Spring Mixed Sale at the Meadowlands. Not long afterwards Rock N World set a lifetime mark of 1:48.3 at Hoosier Park.
The management of Hoosier Park has done an excellent job of bringing quality racing back to the Midwest. On October 27-28, the Anderson Indiana oval will host the Breeders Crown for the first time. Saturday's 14 race card will be a tune-up for bigger events to come this fall.
You can follow me on Twitter @AlCimaglia.