Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s signature race, the $300,000 Grade 1 Dan Patch Stakes, presented by Indiana Standardbred Breed Development, attracted a field of 11 of the best older pacers in North America set to do battle on the seven-eighths-mile oval on Friday (Aug. 14).
Author: by Jacob Rheinheimer, for Harrah 's Hoosier Park
Melillo seeks breakthrough in G2 Milstein
The field is set for the $300,000 Grade 2 Carl Milstein Memorial, which headlines a strong Saturday (Aug. 15) program at Northfield Park, and one of the sport’s most accomplished young pacers will arrive at the Cleveland-area harness racing venue looking to finally break through on the Grand Circuit.
Soft Shot a tough act in Plainridge Open
After two narrow misses in sub-1:50 miles in her most recent outings at Plainridge Park, Soft Shot threw the mile of her life while winning the $25,000 Open Pace for fillies and mares on Tuesday (Aug. 11) afternoon.
Hard Four upsets in Kentucky Championship Series leg
Hard Four catapulted from a second-over trip to reel in and collar pacesetter Seine to win the $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series second preliminary for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 11) at the Red Mile.
Long shots continue to light up Pocono tote board
In Tuesday’s (Aug. 11) sixth race at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, a trotter named Bijou Blue Chip made her career debut from post 8, and she was dismissed at 92-1, the longest odds in the race. Bijou Blue Chip was in the second half of her field most of the race but mounted a winning rally in her bow to return a $186.40 win payoff, the highest recorded at Pocono in nearly five years.
August Hoof Beats: All Hail
The August issue of Hoof Beats features Allegiant, the American-bred and Swedish-based trotter who took the world by storm with her world-record 1:48 victory in the Elitlopp this May.
Sangria Summer surprises in Shady Daisy
Canadian invader Sangria Summer swooped onto the scene late from a prime stalking trip to foil hard-strung odds-on favorite Be Perfect BG and win the $123,200 Grade 3 Shady Daisy, for 3-year-old pacing fillies, in the final strides of a 1:48.1 mile on Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Meadowlands.
Miki And Minnie dazzles in Lady Liberty
The Chris Ryder-trained tandem of Twin B Joe Fresh and Miki And Minnie renewed their rivalry in the stretch of the $156,500 Grade 2 Lady Liberty, for pacing mares, on Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Meadowlands with Miki And Minnie scoring the winning blow in a 1:48 mile.
Women Layer, Captain Albano win G2 McKee splits
Women Layer ground out a first-over ascent and sprang a 17-1 upset with his 1:48.2 score in the $138,650 first division of the Grade 2 Sam McKee Memorial on Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Meadowlands while Captain Albano fought off a bevy of late pursuers for a 1:48.3 victory in the $139,900 second section of the annual event for open pacers.
Apex a nose best in record-setting Hambletonian
Apex captured the $1 million Grade 1 Winning Key Farm Hambletonian Stakes, for 3-year-old trotters, on Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Meadowlands, holding off favorite Big Ranger by a nose in a stakes-record 1:49.2.