31st Dan Patch Stakes goes for $300,000 Friday

ANDERSON, Ind.—August 6, 2024—Ten of the sport’s top older pacers are set to square off at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday, Aug. 9 for the $300,000 31st edition of the Dan Patch Stakes presented by Indiana Standardbred Breed Development.

Trainer Missy Essig’s Buzzsaw Russ (Rockin Image-Up Front Cruiser) has been established as the 5-2 morning line favorite. The locally owned pacer looks to follow in the footsteps 2023 champion, Ponda Warrior, as just the third Indiana bred to win the Dan Patch.

Slated to leave from post three with regular pilot John De Long aboard, Buzzsaw Russ enters Friday night a winner of three in his last four, including a 1:48.3 career best effort against Open company at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in his last outing on July 26. In all, the gelding has won half of his eight starts in his four-year-old campaign. Owned by Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver, Buzzsaw Russ sports a career bankroll of $539,754. Both Essig and De Long are in search of their first victories in the Dan Patch, having teamed with Little Rocket Man in 2021 and 2022 with finishes of fourth and fifth respectively.

With combined career purse earnings of over $7.2 million, the 2024 edition features a host of fresh faces with seven four-year-olds in the field. The only horse in the field with any prior Dan Patch experience is Charlie May, who will leave from the same post position he finished third from in the 2023 edition, post ten. Charlie May leads the field in career earnings; however, the double-millionaire enters The Dan Patch in search of his first victor in 2024 and has been established at 12-1 on the morning line.

Coming in off of a 68-1 upset in the $220,000 Sam McKee on Hambletonian day, Rocknroll Runa A (Rocknroll Heaven-She’s A Runa) has been designated much shorter odds on the Dan Patch morning, receiving respect as the 7-2 second choice for trainer Larry Staulbaum. Mark MacDonald, who guided the seven-year-old son of to the career best 1:47.3 upset score, is listed to drive once again. With over a quarter-million dollars made this year, the seven-time winner in 2024 will leave from post six.

Right next door in post seven, Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s all-time ldieang Trace Tetrick looks for his first Dan Patch victory with the Indiana bred Coach Stefanos. The Erv Miller trainee is listed as the 4-1 third choice on the morning line, coming off of a 1:50.2 victory against Open company at Hoosier Park. A winner of two of nine on the year including a 1:47.3 career best effort in a leg of the Graduate at the Meadowlands, a win in the Dan Patch would cement millionaire status for the career earner of $873,406.

The 2024 Dan Patch field, in post-position order with named driver and trainer includes:

1. El Rey (Captaintreacherous)                    Tr: Andrew Harris        Dr: Yannick Gingras      M/L: 6-1
2. Dunkin’  (Pet Rock)                                   Tr: Scott Di Domenico  Dr: Tim Tetrick             M/L: 8-1
3. Buzzsaw Russ (Rockin Image)                  Tr: Missy Essig             Dr: John De Long         M/L: 5-2
4. Why Not Now (Always A Virgin)             Tr: Tyler George          Dr: David Miller            M/L: 15-1
5. Christchurch (Aways B Miki)                    Tr: Todd Luther             Dr: LeWayne Miller     M/L: 20-1
6. Rocknroll Runa A (Rocknroll Heaven)     Tr: Larry Staulbaum     Dr: Mark Macdonald    M/L: 7-2
7. Coach Stefanos (Tellitlikeitis)                  Tr: Erv Miller               Dr: Trace Tetrick            M/L: 4-1
8. Seven Colors (Stay Hungry)                    Tr: Andrew Harris         Dr: Dexter Dunn          M/L: 12-1
9. Spring Inhis Step A (Somebeachsomewhere) Tr: Jeff Cullipher    Dr: Mike Oosting      M/L: 20-1
10. Charlie May (McArdle)                            Tr: Steve Carter            Dr: Brett Miller             M/L: 12-1

The 2024 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes has been slated the 13th race on the program with an estimated post time of 10:38 EDT and will be supported by an all-star undercard of racing action.

Racing fans will have the opportunity to participate in four special wagers offered for the Dan Patch card. A $10,000 Guaranteed Early Pick-5 will kick-off the card in races 1-5 along with a $30,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 in races 12-15. The Dan Patch will feature a $30,000 guaranteed Superfecta pool in race 13, before the night ends with a $15,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in the race 15 finale. Free programs for the Dan Patch card will be posted on the Harrah’s Hoosier Park website Wednesday (Aug. 7) evening.

For those who can’t attend in person, The Dan Patch Stakes card will air live on Fox Sports 2 from 8-11 p.m. with Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten on site to offer analysis. The evening will be the first of two Harrah’s Hoosier Park cards aired on Fox Sports this season, with the Caesars Trotting Classic on Friday, Sept. 20 slated to air nationally as well.

Those on track will be able to enjoy a live performance by Cook & Belle in The Hop from 7-10 p.m. to go along with outdoor activities, food trucks, Vanilla Bean creamery, face painting and much more. First post on Friday is slated for 6:15 p.m.

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 31 years ago. 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.

by Jacob Rheinheimer, for Harrah’s Hoosier Park