Anderson, IN – Two stellar fields of ten two-year-old trotters have been assembled for the $368,950 Peter Haughton Memorial for trotting colts, and $464,400 Jim Doherty Memorial for trotting fillies. The Grade 1 affairs headline a 15-race stakes-filled card on Friday, Sept. 12 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park which gets underway with a first post of 5:30 p.m.
The Peter Haughton Memorial will go as race 11 on the evening, where Apex has been tabbed as the even-money morning-line favorite as driver Dexter Dunn looks to repeat in this event with trainer Marcus Melander after the pair teamed up with Maryland en route to victory a year ago. The royally bred son of two World Champion and award-winning parents, Walner and Mission Brief, Apex comes to the Midwest following a career best score of 1:52.2 in the $250,000 New Jersey Classic at The Meadowlands in his last. Having banked $272,100 on the season, Apex has won four of six on the year and is yet to miss the board for owners Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable and Steve Stewart.
Magic Punk has been enlisted as the 5-2 second choice on the morning line for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt. The son of Wishing Stone-I D Entity has won three of five of the season and comes to Hoosier Park after a runner-up effort in the $349,200 William Wellwood at Woodbine Mohawk Park in his last on Aug. 23. Owned by Magic Punk Inc., the colt sports a bankroll of $109,270 on the season.
In addition to the out-of-town horses, five local Indiana Sired horses will attempt to protect their home track in Hawt Yoga, Swan Bi Bi, Power N Steam, Mcmikenmike and Dan D Man Can.
Moving to Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 2023, the 2025 champion will join T C I (2023) and Maryland (2024) to win this race over the Anderson oval.
The 2025 Peter Haughton Memorial field, in post-position order with trainer and listed driver below:
- Hawt Yoga Trainer: Ricky Macomber Jr. Driver: Ricky Macomber Jr. 20-1
- Apex Trainer: Marcus Melander Driver: Dexter Dunn 1-1
- Swan Bi Bi Trainer: Henry Graber Jr. Driver: Scott Zeron 20-1
- Hamlet Hall Trainer: Norm Parker Driver: Peter Wrenn 20-1
- Power N Steam Trainer: Ken Rucker Driver: Mike Oosting 20-1
- Mcmikenmike Trainer: Erv Miller Driver: Marcus Miller 20-1
- Magic Punk Trainer: Ake Svanstedt Driver: Ake Svanstedt 5-2
- Mr Big Spender Trainer: Norm Parker Driver: Mike Wilder 7-1
- Dan D Man Can Trainer: Erv Miller Driver: Atlee Bender 20-1
- Who’s Eyes Blues Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Ronnie Wrenn Jr. 12-1
The $464,400 Jim Doherty Memorial for trotting fillies will go as race nine on the card, where the Ron Burke trained Atlantic Summer is the 2-1 morning-line favorite from the outside post nine. Regular pilot Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will be in to drive the daughter of Captain Corey-Perfect Summer K who has hit the board in four of five this year and enters off a third-place effort in the $300,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Final at Harrah’s Philly on Sept. 5. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, James Simpson, Lawrence Karr and Weaver Bruscemi, Atlantic Summer has earned $76,197 on the season and took a mark of 1:56 at the Meadows in her lone victory in her career debut.
Trainer Marcus Melander sends out a fierce duo with Creator, the 7-2 second choice, and Lainey W, 7-1 on the morning line, leaving from posts four and two respectively. Creator enters off a maiden-breaking score of 1:54 at The Red Mile against Commonwealth company in her last and the daughter of Walner-Hanna Bourbon has yet to finish worse than second through four starts. Lainey W has also been a force in the Bluegrass State, winning three straight against the Commonwealth bunch, taking a mark of 1:53.4 in the last of those wins, before jumping it off in her last.
The two editions of the Jim Doherty Memorial at Harrah’s Hoosier Park have been won by Dan Patch Award winners, Soiree Hanover (2023) and Champagne Problems (2024).
The 2025 Jim Doherty field, in post-position order with trainer, driver and morning-line odds below:
- R Zee Trainer: John Butenschoen Driver: Marcus Miller 12-1
- Lainey W Trainer: Marcus Melander Driver: Scott Zeron 7-1
- Miss Ann Reed Trainer: Philip Scott Sontsteby Driver: Ake Svanstedt 20-1
- Creator Trainer: Marcus Melander Driver: Dexter Dunn 7-2
- Clear And Cool Trainer: Henry Graber Jr. Driver: Jordan Ross 20-1
- Westwinds Yahtzee Trainer: LeWayne Miller Driver: Kyle Wilfong 5-1
- Madam Cheval Trainer: Nancy Takter Driver: Jimmy Takter 12-1
- Swan Gracelyn Trainer: LeWayne Miller Driver: LeWayne Miller 20-1
- Atlantic Summer Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Ronnie Wrenn Jr. 2-1
- R Candy Trainer: Linda Toscano Driver: David Miller 9-2
Beyond the rich purse on the line in both Grade 1 events, those already eligible to the Breeders Crown Finals this October at Woodbine Mohawk Park are also competing for a automatic slot into the $600,000 Final as part of the “win and you’re in” series.
With purses Friday night totaling just shy of $1.5 million on the evening, the two trotting features are joined by the $84,750 Hoosier Cup Final for Indiana Sired three-year-old pacing colts, and seven divisions of Indiana Sire Stakes. Horses featured on the undercard include North America’s second co-fastest two-year-old of the year, Odds On Mr Mamba, On To Norway in search of his 14th consecutive victory, and Rock Shines Again who looks to remain undefeated through 11-starts this year.
Free online racing programs will be made available on the Hoosier Park website under the racing tab.
For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.