Harness Analyst – $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes

The best older pacers on the continent tangle in the $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes in Grand Circuit harness racing action from Harrah’s Hoosier Park tonight (Aug. 11).

Here is my analysis of each horse’s chances followed by a brief analysis and selections.

From the rail out:

(1) ABUCKABETT HANOVER – he was racing well before the Haughton where he got an impossible trip and predictably backed up late. His driver, Scott “The Money Man” Zeron comes off a huge Hambletonian day and this Betting Line stallion is a – CONTENDER

(2) TELLMEABOUTIT – a local hope, seems a notch below the best ones in here, but he could trip out and land in the bottom of the Super. I see him as a – FRINGE PLAYER

(3) THIS IS THE PLAN – hasn’t taken a check since late May and he may have lost a step at age eight with 133 starts behind him. He has the look of an – OUTSIDER

(4) LOUS PERLMAN – motored late to get second in his division of the McKee Memorial and he should love the long stretch here. He is a – CONTENDER

(5) SOUTHWIND GENDRY – got a good trip in his division of the McKee Memorial and he couldn’t do anything with it, nor could he keep up on the far turn. He has the look of an – OUTSIDER

(6) LINEDRIVE HANOVER is in great form and Macdonald travels down from Canada to take the drive. He is an obvious – CONTENDER

(7) CAPTAIN KIRK has done nothing against these types this year that would make me think he can contend. He is a likely – ALSO-RAN

(8) LITTLE ROCKET MAN was game first up in the Send It In Stakes and he is no stranger to this track, having taken his life’s mark and several other wins here. He is another – CONTENDER

(9) WHICHWAYTOTHEBEACH is in solid form, and he won’t get bet at all here from the 9-hole. I could see him closing for a small piece of this. He is a – LONGSHOT FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE EXOTICS

(10) CHARLIE MAY comes off two perfect trip wins now he draws into the second tier. He could get another good trip following the rail horse, however, and that makes him a – CONTENDER

(11) PONDA WARRIOR – got a late start to the season but you know his local connections would love nothing more than to win this race. He is sharp and he is a – LONGSHOT WITH A CHANCE

Selections – 1-4-6-10

(1) ABUCKABETT HANOVER seems perfectly slotted to either make a middle move to the front or work out a second-over trip in this spot. No one is hotter in big races than driver Scott Zeron and this stallion may get overlooked in the wagering a bit because of where he finished in the McKee which to me is a line that I toss. If he goes off anywhere close to his 8 to 1 morning line quote, he will be the value of the race.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink