by Tammy Knox, Publicity Director, Hoosier Park

Dan Patch fever has already hit Hoosier Park. Several of the horses hoping to take home the crown in the 11th edition of the $200,000 event scheduled for Saturday, April 10 will use the $20,000 Invitational Pace Saturday, April 3 as a prep for the race.

Heading the list of Dan Patch horses is Eaton Road Kill, one of the top horses in the country this season. The six-year-old son of Cambest has nine wins in ten outings for 2004 with a best time of 1:49.2 taken at The Meadowlands two starts back. Owned by Gregg Pistochini of Auburn, Calif., Eaton Road Kill raced in last year’s Dan Patch, finishing eighth. He is reuniting with former trainer Ed Hensley from post eight in the Invitational.

Also headed to the Dan Patch is Life Sizzles, owned by The Zdravo Maria Stable of Yonkers, NY. The six-year-old Life Sign horse has two wins in seven starts for 2004 with his best effort recorded at Balmoral Park two starts back in a time of 1:51.2. Trained by Jeff Miller, Life Sizzles will start from post six in the ten-horse prep for driver Jay Cross.

Sharky Spur, last year’s winner of the Dan Patch, is back for his 2004 Hoosier Park debut. Now eight, the Cam’s Card Shark horse has only two starts this season with a first and second place finish. He will join forces with Don Irvine Jr. once again from post five with hopes of returning to defend his Dan Patch title.

Foxy Maneuver and Don Eash also have only two starts this season and will once again vie for a spot in the field. The five-year-old Indiana-bred gelding finished fourth in last year’s event. He has drawn post seven in the Invitational field.

Swingin Glory and Ricky Macomber Jr. are back this week to try for their second straight win among the top pacers at Hoosier Park. After winning the Open Pace last week in a time of 1:50.3, the ten-year-old Raging Glory horse will throw some experience into this year’s Dan Patch field. He will start from the second tier post ten in his final prep before the Dan Patch.

Horses for the $20,000 Invitational are listed in post position order with odds and driver: Spastic 15-1 (Lambert), Dee Magic Man 3-1 (Essig Jr.), Jesse’s Trigger 4-1 (Haynes Jr.), Art’s Chip 12-1 (Evers), Sharky Spur 9-2 (Irvine Jr.), Life Sizzles 8-1 (Cross), Foxy Maneuver 4-1 (Eash), Eaton Road Kill 2-1 (Hensley), Northern J 10-1 (Whisman).

The Dan Patch Invitational Pace is Hoosier Park’s signature event each season. To complement the evening, the first 1,500 fans arriving at the track when gates open at 5 p.m. will receive a coupon for a Dan Patch Bobblehead. Special activities for kids and other giveaways will also be included during the evening.

Post positions for the Dan Patch Invitational will be drawn at a special Dan Patch Post Draw Luncheon Wednesday, April 7 in the Homestretch Restaurant.

Nine horses are expected to enter this year’s event, which will have an estimated post time of 9:41 p.m. The first race on Dan Patch Night goes to the gate at 6:45 p.m.