Anderson, IN — A pair of sophomore trotting colts remained perfect on the season as Dan D Man Can and San Patricio took their respective second-round Indiana Sires Stakes divisions on Thursday (June 11) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
The Erv Miller-trained Dan D Man Can teamed up with regular pilot Atlee Bender to take the $49,500 first split.
From post 4, Dan D Man Can took his time out of the gate hovering around the middle of the seven-horse field as Swan Affect (Marcus Miller) looked to set the tone gliding to the lead just ahead of Inverness Ave (John DeLong). Swan Affect maintained his tempo showing the way for the rest of the field to the first quarter in :28.
The field started to expand as the duo of Swan Effect and Inverness Ave hoped to separate themselves from Kousin Karl (Trace Tetrick) and post-time favorite Dan D Man Can. Eventually, the trotters started to regroup while Swan Affect held the line strong to the halfway point in :56.1. Kousin Karl drifted wide to challenge Inverness Ave with Swan Affect nodding past the three-quarters in 1:24.4.
Beginning to close the gap from fourth, Dan D Man Can moved to the outside with sights set on the leading trio. Hanging on by a thread, Swan Affect battled off Inverness Ave and Kousin Karl; however, Dan D Man Can was shot out of a cannon down the outside in :27.3 to surge clear by a length on the line in 1:53.3.
Swan Affect held on for second while Inverness Ave got up for third.
The Dover Dan gelding is owned by Red Barn Stable, Douglas Overhiser and Lava Java Stable. Dan D Man Can was bred by Homestead Acres. Dan D Man Can added his third straight win of the season to boost his lifetime earnings to $189,715. Dan D Man Can paid $3.40 to win.
San Patricio, driven by Trace Tetrick for trainer Tyler Butenschoen, backed up his recent performances, staying hot to dominate the $50,000 second division.
From the jump, post-time favorite San Patricio out of post 6 wasted little time out of the gate to find the lead in front of Sunday Swagger (Marcus Miller) to lead the field of eight to the quarter in :28. San Patricio remained in front down the backstretch with the closest trotters Sunday Swagger and August Salazar (John DeLong) from second and third. Claiming the halfway mark in :56, San Patricio led a pack of four including Sunday Swagger, August Salazar and Bravo Alpha (Kyle Wilfong), leaving the rest of the field behind.
The field stayed the same at the turn to the stretch in 1:24.1 as San Patricio was not giving the rest of the field an inch. Battling for position, August Salazar wore down Sunday Swagger along the outside. It was too little too late for August Salazar as San Patricio did not falter down the stretch home free to the wire in 1:52.4, 2-3/4 lengths clear.
August Salazar climbed to second, while Sunday Swagger fought off the field for third.
The 3-year-old San Patricio is owned by Tony Holmes, Michael Holmes, June Zent and Timothy Thornton. San Patricio was bred by Tony Holmes and Walter Zent. The Swan For All gelding increased his lifetime earnings to $163,900 on his third straight win to start his sophomore season. San Patricio paid $2.40.
Live racing at Harrah’s Hoosier Park continues Friday (June 12) with a 14-race card delivering another $95,000 Indiana Sires Stakes bout for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, carded as race 10. Friday’s racing will include a $10,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 and the $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High-5, offered in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program. First post is set for 5:30 p.m.