from the U.S. Harness Writers Association

Columbus, OH — Bee A Magician, Father Patrick, and Maven were unanimous 2013 Dan Patch Award selections as the best harness racing horses in their respective divisions, the U.S. Harness Writers Association announced Thursday.

A total of 131 ballots were returned. Three-year-old filly trotter Bee A Magician and older female trotter Maven were named on all 131 while 2-year-old male trotter Father Patrick was named on 130 with one abstention.

Six other year-end champions were named Thursday in divisions that saw only one horse receive at least 10 percent of the vote. Three-year-old male pacer Captaintreacherous and older male trotter Market Share both received 130 votes and were declared winners in their divisions.

Also being named winners were 2-year-old filly pacer Precocious Beauty, 2-year-old filly trotter Shake It Cerry, 3-year-old filly pacer I Luv The Nitelife, and older male pacer Foiled Again.

Winners in the three remaining divisions — 2-year-old male pacer, 3-year-old male trotter, and older female pacer — will be announced at the Dan Patch Award banquet on Feb. 23 at Dover Downs. Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year, and Horse of the Year also will be revealed at that time.

Finalists for best 2-year-old male pacer are He’s Watching and Luck Be Withyou, with the 3-year-old male trotter race coming down to Royalty For Life and Spider Blue Chip and older female pacer a battle between Anndrovette and Rocklamation.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Bee A Magician earned $1.54 million this year, the most ever for a 3-year-old filly trotter.

Bee A Magician was undefeated in 17 starts this year and joined Muscle Hill and Syrinx Hanover as the only trotters to go unbeaten at age 3 and receive Dan Patch divisional honors dating back to 1975.

Trained by Richard “Nifty” Norman and driven by Brian Sears for owners Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, and David McDuffee, Bee A Magician won the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old filly trotters, Hambletonian Oaks, Elegantimage Stakes, and Delvin Miller Memorial on her way to $1.54 million in purses. Her earnings are the most ever for a 3-year-old filly trotter, breaking the record of $1.17 million set by Continentalvictory in 1996, and her winning time of 1:51 in the Miller Memorial at Meadowlands Racetrack is the fastest mile ever by a 3-year-old filly trotter.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

The Rev. Patrick McDonnell and his namesake, 2-year-old colt trotter Father Patrick.

Father Patrick, trained by Jimmy Takter and driven by Yannick Gingras for the Father Patrick Stable ownership group, won 10 of 11 races and $744,057. His victories included the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters, the William Wellwood Memorial, and the Peter Haughton Memorial.

He finished the campaign with a nine-race winning streak and was unbeaten in stakes competition. He set the world record of 1:52.1 for a 2-year-old male trotter on a five-eighths-mile track in winning his Breeders Crown elimination at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Maven won 10 of 14 races and earned $509,220 for trainer Jonas Czernyson, driver Gingras and owner Bill Donovan. Her wins included the Breeders Crown for older female trotters, Armbro Flight Stakes, and Miss Versatility Series championship.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Maven won 10 times in 2013 and earned $509,220.

She trotted the fastest race mile ever on a half-mile track in winning the Miss Versatility in 1:51.4 at the Delaware County Fair in Ohio.

Captaintreacherous, Foiled Again, and Market Share are repeat winners.

Last year, Captaintreacherous claimed Dan Patch Awards as best 2-year-old male pacer and Pacer of the Year. This season at age 3, he won 13 of 16 races and $2.05 million for trainer Tony Alagna, driver Tim Tetrick and the Captaintreacherous Racing ownership group.

He joined Rocknroll Hanover and Gallo Blue Chip as the only 3-year-old male pacers to win a Breeders Crown, the North America Cup, and Meadowlands Pace in the same season.

The 9-year-old Foiled Again, who this season became the oldest horse to ever win a Breeders Crown and the richest North American harness racing horse in history, was named the sport’s best older male pacer for the third consecutive year. He joins Rambling Willie (1975-77) as the only horses to win the division’s top honor three straight seasons.

Foiled Again, trained by Ron Burke and driven primarily by Gingras for owners Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and JJK Stables, won 11 of 29 races in 2013 and earned $1.40 million. He is the oldest horse to ever have a million-dollar season.

Market Share, a 4-year-old, also took divisional honors last season at age 3. This year, he won six of 14 races and earned $1.07 million for trainer Linda Toscano, driver Tetrick and owners Richard Gutnick, TLP Stables, and William Augustine.

He finished the season by winning the Breeders Crown Open Trot, American-National Stakes, and TVG Free For All Series Championship.

I Luv The Nitelife won 13 of 15 races and $1.25 million for trainer Chris Ryder, driver Tetrick and owners Richard and Joanne Young. Her victories included the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old filly pacers, Fan Hanover Stakes and Valley Forge (in a world-record 1:48.4 mile).

Shake It Cerry, trained by Takter and driven by Ron Pierce for the Solveig’s Racing Partners ownership group, captured eight of 11 starts and earned $827,769. Her triumphs included the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old filly trotters, Goldsmith Maid, and Merrie Annabelle.

Precocious Beauty won seven of 11 races, including the She’s A Great Lady Stakes, and $446,692 for trainer Gregg McNair, driver Doug McNair and owner Jim Avritt Sr.

The competition for 3-year-old male trotter features Hambletonian winner Royalty For Life against Breeders Crown champion Spider Blue Chip.

The race for older female pacer is between two-time defending division champ Anndrovette, who won the Roses Are Red Stakes, and Milton Stakes winner Rocklamation.

Two-year-old male pacer honors come down to New York Sire Stakes champion He’s Watching, undefeated in eight races, and Breeders Crown winner Luck Be Withyou, who won five of 11 starts.

DAN PATCH AWARD WINNERS
These divisions saw only one horse receive at least 10 percent of the votes.

2-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
Father Patrick (130 votes)
Cantab Hall–Gala Dream–Enjoy Lavec
Breeder: Brittany Farms
Owner: Father Patrick Stable
Trainer: Jimmy Takter Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 11-10-1-0 Purses: $744,057 Mark: 1:52.1 at Pocono Downs (world record)
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $354,050 Wellwood Memorial; $280,500 Peter Haughton Memorial

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
Shake It Cerry (124 votes)
Donato Hanover–Solveig–Yankee Glide
Breeder: Solveig’s Breeders
Owner: Solveig’s Racing Partners
Trainer: Jimmy Takter Driver: Ron Pierce
Races: 11-8-2-0 Purses: $827,769 Mark: 1:53.3 at Meadowlands
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $456,150 Goldsmith Maid; $321,700 Merrie Annabelle

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
Precocious Beauty (117 votes)
Art Major–Precious Beauty–Jate Lobell
Breeder: James Avritt Sr.
Owner: James Avritt Sr.
Trainer: Gregg McNair Driver: Doug McNair
Races: 11-7-3-0 Purses: $446,692 Mark: 1:50.1 at Red Mile (world record)
Top win: $428,450 She’s A Great Lady

3-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
Captaintreacherous (130 votes)
Somebeachsomewhere–Worldly Treasure–Artsplace
Breeder: White Birch Farm
Owner: Captaintreacherous Racing
Trainer: Tony Alagna Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 16-13-2-0 Purses: $2.05 million Mark: 1:47.1 at Red Mile
Top wins: $980,000 North America Cup; $635,750 Meadowlands Pace; $500,000 Breeders Crown

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
I Luv The Nitelife (123 votes)
Rocknroll Hanover–Lisjune–Camluck
Breeders: MJG Racing Stables, Louis “Andy” Willinger
Owners: Richard and Joanne Young
Trainer: Chris Ryder Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 15-13-1-1 Purses: $1.25 million Mark: 1:48.4 at Pocono Downs (world record)
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $384,044 Fan Hanover; $350,000 Valley Forge

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
Bee A Magician (131 votes)
Kadabra– Beehive–Balanced Image
Breeder: White Birch Farm
Owners: Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee
Trainer: Richard “Nifty” Norman Drivers: Rick Zeron, Brian Sears
Races: 17-17-0-0 Purses: $1.54 million Mark: 1:51 at Meadowlands (world record)
Top wins: $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks; $500,000 Breeders Crown; $356,981 Elegantimage

OLDER MALE PACER
Foiled Again (125 votes)
Dragon Again–In A Safe Place–Artsplace
Breeder: Barbara Matthews
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables
Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 29-11-6-7 Purses: $1.40 million Mark: 1:48 at Pocono Downs (world record)
Top wins: $512,000 TVG Free For All Championship; $500,000 Breeders Crown; $500,000 Ben Franklin

OLDER MALE TROTTER
Market Share (130 votes)
Revenue S–Classical Flirt–Yankee Glide
Breeder: Hayley Moore
Owners: Richard Gutnick, TLP Stable, William Augustine
Trainer: Linda Toscano Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 14-6-1-5 Purses: $1.07 million Mark: Q1:50.3 at Meadowlands
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $526,710 Maple Leaf; $500,000 TVG Free For All Championship

OLDER FEMALE TROTTER
Maven (131 votes)
Glidemaster–M Stewart–American Winner
Breeder: All La Nuova Sbarra Srl.
Owner: Bill Donovan
Trainer: Jonas Czernyson Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 14-10-2-0 Purses: $509,220 Mark: 1:51.4 at Delaware County Fairgrounds (world record)
Top wins: $266,041 Armbro Flight; $250,000 Breeders Crown

DAN PATCH AWARD FINALISTS
Top two vote-getters in these divisions were named finalists, with the winner to be announced at the Dan Patch Awards banquet Feb. 23 at Dover Downs

2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
He’s Watching
American Ideal–Baberhood–Real Desire
Breeders: Brittany Farms, Robert Burgess, Karin Olsson Burgess
Owners: David Menary, Brad Gray, Michael Guerriero
Trainer: David Menary Driver: Jim Morrill, Jr.
Races: 8-8-0-0 Purses: $291,722 Mark: 1:50 at Tioga Downs
Top win: $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final

Luck Be Withyou
Western Ideal–Trim Hanover–Camluck
Breeder: Brittany Farms
Owner: John Craig
Trainers: Bill Cass, Chris Oakes Drivers: Phil Hudon, Ron Pierce
Races: 11-5-1-0 Purses: $359,417 Mark: 1:50 at Pocono Downs
Top win: $500,000 Breeders Crown

3-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
Royalty For Life
RC Royalty–Bourbon ’N Grits–Donerail
Breeder: Al Ross
Owners: Al Ross, Ray “Chip” Campbell, Jr., Paul Fontaine
Trainer: George Ducharme Driver: Brian Sears
Races: 14-7-2-0 Purses: $1.27 million Mark: Q1:51.3 at Meadowlands
Top wins: $1 million Hambletonian; $665,420 Canadian Trotting Classic; $294,000 Dancer Memorial

Spider Blue Chip
Andover Hall–Southwind Catlin–Muscles Yankee
Breeder: McLain Ward
Owners: David McDuffee, Mel Hartman
Trainer: Chuck Sylvester Driver: Ron Pierce
Races: 20-10-3-2 Purses: $1.08 million Mark: 1:51.3 at Red Mile
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $500,000 Colonial; $260,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final

OLDER FEMALE PACER
Anndrovette
Riverboat King–Easy Miss–Big Towner
Breeder: Golden Touch Stable
Owner: Bamond Racing, Joseph Davino
Trainer: P.J. Fraley Driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 21-7-7-4 Purses: $558,201 Mark: 1:48 at Mohawk
Top win: $313,795 Roses Are Red

Rocklamation
Rocknroll Hanover–Art Sale–Artsplace
Breeder: Perretti Farms
Owners: Our Horse Cents Stables, Stable 45, J&T Silva Stables
Trainer: Ron Burke Drivers: Yannick Gingras, Brett Miller
Races: 21-5-7-6 Purses: $540,358 Mark: 1:49.3 at Meadowlands
Top win: $275,480 Milton