Eleven of the sport's top older pacers are set to do battle at Harrah's Hoosier Park in the Grade 2 $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, presented by Indiana Standardbred Development. The 32nd edition of Harrah's Hoosier Park's signature race will serve as the 13th race on the 15-race program on Friday, Aug. 8 that gets underway at 5:30 p.m. (EDT)
Hometown hero Little Rocket Man will leave from post two in search of his first Dan Patch title in his fourth attempt. Trained by Ken Rucker, the 9-year-old has seemingly been aging in reverse, having won eight of 10 on the year and riding a four-race win streak into the Dan Patch. Little Rocket Man missed the Dan Patch in 2024 in what would still prove to be a banner year for the son of Rockin Image, with wins in the Battle of Lake Erie, Jim Ewart and Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for the career earner of $1.8 million. Regular pilot Mike Oosting is slated to be in the bike for Little Rocket Man.
Little Rocket Man will be joined in attempting to become just the third Indiana-sired horse to win the Dan Patch Stakes (Wiggle It Jiggleit 2016 and Ponda Warrior 2023) by 2024 Breeders Crown Open Pace champion, Coach Stefanos, and 2025 Graduate Series champion Sabonis. Coach Stefanos is back in the Dan Patch after finishing in a dead-heat for second behind Dunkin' in the 2024 edition. Marcus Miller is listed to drive the career earner of $1.3 million for trainer Erv Miller from post six.
Sabonis returns to Harrah's Hoosier Park for the first time in 2025 after he ransacked Indiana Sire Stakes a year ago in a 3-year-old campaign that saw him win 16 of 18, including victories in the Jenna's Beach Boy, Hoosier Cup and seven legs of Indiana Sire Stakes. At age four, Sabonis is now thriving in the barn of trainer Brett Pelling for owners Diamond Creek Racing and Pelling Racing. The son of Tellitlikeitis offers just one victory this season but has hit the board five other times, including third-place efforts in both the William Haughton and Sam McKee Memorials at the Meadowlands.
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The all-star lineup also features Captain Luke (post seven, Todd McCarthy), fresh off a score in the McKee on Hambletonian Day, to go along with Buckeye millionaires Bythemissal (post eight, Chris Page) and Charlie May (post nine, Brett Miller).
In all, the 2025 Dan Patch field has combined earnings of more than $15 million.
The 2025 Dan Patch field, in post position order with named driver and trainer is:
1. Seven Colors-Tim Tetrick-Andrew Harris
2. Little Rocket Man-Mike Oosting-Ken Rucker
3. Desperate Man-Matt Kakaley-Travis Alexander
4. I Did It Myway-Tim Tetrick-Travis Alexander
5. Rocknroll Runa A-Larry Stalbaum-Larry Stalbaum
6. Coach Stefanos-Marcus Miller-Erv Miller
7. Captain Luke-Todd McCarthy-Andrew Harris
8. Bythemissal-Chris Page-Ron Burke
9. Charlie May-Brett Miller-Terry Di Cicco
10. Sabonis-Dexter Dunn-Brett Pelling
11. Huntinthelastdolar-Andy McCarthy-Per Engblom
AE. Ervin Hanover-Tim Tetrick-Dave Menary
The 2025 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes has been slated the 13th race on the program and will be supported by an all-star undercard of racing action. Final driver selections will be made on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
Bettors will have plenty of action to take aim at over the course of the Dan Patch card, with a quartet of guaranteed pools. There will be $10,000 guarantees in the early Pick 5 (races 1-5), early Pick 4 (races 3-6) and late Hoosier High 5 (race 15), to go along with a $30,000 guarantee in the late Pick 4 (races 12-15). With the 11-horse field in the Dan Patch stakes, there will also be an additional High 5 wager tacked on to bring a total of five 12% takeout wagers on the evening.
On track, race fans can win big with their Dan Patch selections with the $10,000 Dan Patch Pick 'Em promo. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., guests may make their selection for the Dan Patch on a Trackside Promotional Kiosk before depositing their selection in the drum located at Trackside Promotions and Events. Immediately following the Dan Patch Stakes, one lucky winner will be drawn from those who selected to winner to go home with $10,000.
Harrah's Hoosier Park will also have a Dan Patch hat giveaway, beginning at 5 p.m. at Trackside Promotions and Events. The first 150 guests to provide their Caesars Rewards card and proof of a $5 on-track wager at Harrah's Hoosier Park will go home with Dan Patch hats.
For those who can't attend in person, The Dan Patch Stakes card will air live on Fox Sports from 8-11 p.m. (EDT) on Friday night. Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten will be on track to provide commentary, going back and forth with Horseshoe Indianapolis from 8-9:30 p.m. (EDT) on Fox Sports 2 before shifting to Fox Sports 1 from 9:30-11 p.m. (EDT).
The on-track simulcast will be handled by Harrah's Hoosier Park analysts Jacob Rheinheimer and Emily Gaskin in the Dan Patch Studio, with Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob "Hollywood" Heyden manning paddock and winner's circle interviews.
The Dan Patch race has become a tradition that is close to the hearts of Hoosiers. The Dan Patch not only highlights some of the best athletes in the sport of harness racing but is deeply rooted throughout Indiana history. The Dan Patch race was established at Harrah's Hoosier Park in 1994 with Ready To Rumble and driver Trevor Ritchie winning the inaugural edition. The list of all-star horses that have made their way to Harrah's Hoosier Park over the years includes Jenna's Beach Boy, Sweet Lou and world record holder Bulldog Hanover.
For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule at Harrah's Hoosier Park, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.
--press release (Hoosier)--