Periculum headlines $200,000 Caesars Trotting Classic field

ANDERSON, Ind.—Sept. 17, 2024—The fields were drawn Tuesday (Sept. 17) for two of Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s signature harness racing events, the $165,000 Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, and $200,000 Caesars Trotting Classic presented by Kountry Lane Standardbreds on Friday, Sep. 20.

Two full fields of ten will go postward, with Periculum (Muscle Hill) nabbed as the morning line favorite in the Caesars Trotting Classic, and Little Rocket Man (Rockin Image) enlisted as the bettors’ choice in the Pacing Derby.

With combined earnings of over $11 million and 186 wins, the Maple Leaf Trot champion Periculum headlines the powerhouse field of free-for-all trotters. Entering with a runner-up finish to Jiggy Jog S in the $1,000,000 International Trot in his last outing, Periculum has won six of 11 on the season while banking $543,522 for trainer Marcus Melander. Periculum leaves from post four with Scott Zeron listed to drive, right next to his Melander stablemate Oh Well, who leaves from post three as the 5-1 fourth choice.

Looking to join Bella Bellini (Bar Hopping) as only the second mare to win the Caesars Trotting Classic, M-M’s Dream (Swan For All) returns to her Indiana roots, leaving from the second-tier in post 10 with Hall of Fame driver Tim Tetrick listed to drive. A 31-time winner in 48 career outings, M-M’s Dream was an Indiana Sire Stakes champion at two and three before branching out in her aged campaign, banking $1,699,417 and taking a career mark of 1:50 at The Meadowlands in 2023. M-M’s Dream returns to the Herny Graber Jr. barn Friday night for owners Eleven Star Stable, Frank Baldachino and Hillside Stables.

Trainer Ron Burke sends a pair of entries in the Trotting Classic, including 2023 champion, It’s Academic. The career earner of $2.5 million won last year’s edition in a stakes record time of 1:50.3. It’s Academic leaves from the rail at 15-1 with Dave Miller aboard as he was for last year’s victory. Right next door in post two from the Burke Brigade is Hambletonian Maturity champion, Chapercraz with Yannick Gingras listed to drive at 6-1 on the morning line.

The 2024 Caesars Trotting Classic field, in post-position order with trainer and listed driver below:

1. It’s Academic              Trainer: Ron Burke                 Driver: David Miller               15-1
2. Chapercraz                  Trainer: Ron Burke                 Driver: Yannick Gingras        6-1
3. Oh Well                       Trainer: Marcus Melander      Driver: Todd McCarthy          5-1
4. Periculum                    Trainer: Marcus Melander      Driver: Scott Zeron                 5-2
5. Ponda Jet                     Trainer: Jay Hochstetler         Driver: Kyle Wilfong              15-1
6. Winner’s Bet              Trainer: Nancy Takter             Driver: Dexter Dunn               7-2
7. Hillexotic                    Trainer: Todd Luther              Driver: Austin Hanners           12-1
8. Flagman                      Trainer: Rick Plano                 Driver: Rick Plano                  20-1
9. Helpfirstedition           Trainer: Missy Essig               Driver: John De Long             20-1
10. M-M’s Dream             Trainer: Henry Graber Jr.       Driver: Tim Tetrick                 9-2

The $165,000 Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby sees a field of 10 headlined by the last two champions of the Little Brown Jug, seven millionaires and the 2024 Dan Patch champion, Dunkin’. A total of 15 horses entered this year’s Pacing Derby, including supplemental entry, Backstreet Shadow. The top-nine career money earners along with Dunkin’, due to his victory in $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, secured their spot in the field Friday night.

Hometown hero Little Rocket Man is slated as the morning line choice, with “The Buckeye” David Miller listed to drive for trainer Ken Rucker. Now eight, Little Rocket Man is on track for a career year, with victories already in the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield and in the Jim Ewart Memorial in his last outing at Scioto Downs. A winner in 10 of 13 this season, the 64-time winner sports career earnings of $1,462,299 for owners Russ Beeman and Boomer Freeman.

Last year’s Little Brown Jug champion, It’s My Show enters in fine form, a winner in the Canadian Pacing Derby two back before backing it up with a 1:49.2 Kentucky Sire Stakes score at The Red Mile in his last outing. Linda Toscano trains the royally bred four-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Put On A Show who has made $1,486,502 lifetime.

The horse It’s My Show tracked down in the Canadian Pacing Derby, Abuckabett Hanover, is enlisted as the 7-2 second-choice for trainer Andrew Harris. The six-year-old son of Betting Line already has wins in the Dave Brower and William Haughton Memorials at The Meadowlands this owner with Dexter Dunn listed to drive who swept the Peter Haughton and Jim Doherty Memorials last Friday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

The 2024 Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby field, in post-position order with trainer and listed driver below:

1. Dunkin’                       Trainer: Scott Di Domenico   Driver: Tim Tetrick                 12-1
2. It’s My Show              Trainer: Linda Toscano           Driver: Scott Zeron                 6-1
3. Why Not Now            Trainer: Todd Luther              Driver: Austin Hanners           20-1
4. Coach Stefanos           Trainer: Erv Miller                  Driver: Trace Tetrick              20-1
5. Little Rocket Man       Trainer: Ken Rucker               Driver: David Miller               5-2
6. Backstreet Shadow     Trainer: Travis Alexander      Driver: Matt Kakaley              20-1
7. Charlie May                Trainer: Steve Carter              Driver: Dan Noble                  4-1
8. Abuckabett Hanover   Trainer: Andrew Harris          Driver: Dexter Dunn               7-2
9. Bythemissal                 Trainer: Ron Burke                 Driver: Yannick Gingras        5-1
10. I Did It Myway           Trainer: Travis Alexander      Driver: Matt Kakaley              9-2

Final driver selections/changes for the Friday card will be made Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 18).

The 15-race Caesars Trotting Classic card gets underway with a first post time of 6:00 p.m. The card will also air live on Fox Sports 1 from 8-11 p.m. with hosts Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten live on site. Caesars Trotting Classic night also serves as Community Night at the Races, with local vendors, free kids activities, outdoor entertainment along with an education and giveaway station provided by the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and Indiana Standardbred Association located on the track apron.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Jacob Rheinheimer, for Harrah’s Hoosier Park