Anderson, IN — Marcus Miller said he is excited for Friday’s (Aug. 14) $300,000 Grade 1 Dan Patch Stakes, for open pacers, especially having an opportunity to strike with Coach Stefanos, who makes his third appearance in the signature event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
“I know that he is the kind of horse that can compete with the horses that are coming in from out of town,” Miller said. “When you go into a race just having a horse that is truly competitive is all you can ask for, and he is definitely that kind of horse.”
For the Dan Patch, Coach Stefanos drew the post position 5, priming him up the middle of the 11-horse field. Miller said he is hoping for a better trip compared to Coach Stefanos’s recent starts.
“It’s as good of a spot as it possibly could be for him,” Miller said. “Obviously, a little farther left would be nice, but it gives us a chance to be in the race. I was happy to see it was the five-hole; it looks like there’s a lot of speed [in the field], so hopefully it sets up to be a really exciting race and Coach can get the job done.”
This season, Coach Stefanos has appeared in 10 starts, scoring on the podium in eight of those appearances. Despite only having one win on the year, the millionaire Tellitlikeitis gelding has remained a threat in the local Open Pace affairs, leaving Miller excited for the potential for it all to come together.
“He’s been really sound, and he’s felt like his old self,” Miller said. “He’s been right up in the rigging all the way around the last turn and through the wire, and he’s just feeling really good. I hope he continues that way because we all know when he’s 100%, he’s as good as any horse in the country.”
Miller has been in the bike for all of Coach Stefanos’s starts this season since being at Hoosier Park full-time this year. Miller said he is thankful for the opportunity to compete at one of the biggest races at Hoosier Park.
“[The Dan Patch] is super exciting when you have [drivers] coming out of town; there aren’t a ton of spots in these kind of races,” Marcus Miller said. “So, to be able to have one with a horse that’s competitive is all you can ask for.”
Alongside Miller in Coach Stefanos’s corner is trainer Erv Miller as the father-son duo takes on the stakes night together. Erv has been with Coach Stefanos every step of the way. including his runner-up dead-heat finish in the 2024 Dan Patch, and his Breeders Crown championship. For Marcus, being able to share the stage with his father makes the Dan Patch Stakes even better.
“We’ve been on a team my whole career, and it’s worked out pretty well,” Marcus said. “We’ve had some big wins over the years, and it’s a lot of fun. We work together well and him being my father just makes it that much sweeter.”
Friday, Marcus hopes to add to the growing resume for the hometown Coach Stefanos, who has already had a prolific career striving for his first Dan Patch win.
“He’s a hometown favorite,” the younger Miller said. “So, anytime you can do something with a horse that a lot of people follow, it makes it that much cooler. He’s got fans, and I hope I can put him in the right spot.”
The $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes serves as the 13th race at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday. First post for the 15-race program is 5:30 p.m.