Field established for 31st Dan Patch Stakes
At 0h04, on August 7, 2024 • By Jacob Rheinheimer, Harrah's Hoosier Park
Ten of the sport’s top older pacers are set to square off at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Friday (Aug. 9) for the 31st edition of the Dan Patch Stakes, presented by Indiana Standardbred Breed Development. Trainer Missy Essig’s Buzzsaw Russ has been established as the 5-2 morning line favorite and will look to follow in the footsteps of 2023 champion, Ponda Warrior, as just the third Indiana-bred to win the Dan Patch.
Slated to leave from post three with regular pilot John DeLong aboard, Buzzsaw Russ enters Friday night a winner of three in his last four races, including a 1:48.3 career-best effort against Open company at Hoosier on July 26.
In all, the gelded son of Rockin Image-Up Front Cruiser has won half of his eight starts in his 4-year-old campaign. Owned by Russ Beeman and Charles Weaver, Buzzsaw Russ sports a career bankroll of $539,754. Both Essig and DeLong are in search of their first victories in the Dan Patch, having teamed with Little Rocket Man to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 2021 and 2022 editions.
With combined career purse earnings of over $7.2 million, the 2024 edition features a host of fresh faces with seven 4-year-olds in the field. The only horse in the field with any prior Dan Patch experience is Charlie May, who will leave from post 10. Charlie May leads the field in career earnings, however the double millionaire enters the Dan Patch in search of his first victory in 2024 and has been established at 12-1 on the morning line.
Coming in off of a 68-1 upset in the $220,000 Sam McKee Memorial on Hambletonian Day, Rocknroll Runa A has been designated much shorter odds on the Dan Patch line, receiving respect as the 7-2 second choice for trainer Larry Stalbaum. Mark MacDonald, who guided the 7-year-old son of Rocknroll Heaven-She’s A Runa to the career best 1:47.3 upset score, is listed to drive once again. With over a quarter million dollars made this year, the seven-time winner in 2024 will leave from post six.
Right next door in post seven, Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s all-time leading driver Trace Tetrick looks for his first Dan Patch victory with the Indiana-bred Coach Stefanos. The Erv Miller trainee is listed as the 4-1 third choice on the morning line, coming off of a 1:50.2 victory against Open company at Hoosier. A winner of two of nine on the year, including a 1:47.3 career-best effort in a leg of the Graduate at the Meadowlands, Coach Stefanos has earned $873,406 in his career.
The 2024 Dan Patch field, in post position order with named drivers and trainers, includes:
- El Rey (Yannick Gingras/Andrew Harris) 6-1
- Dunkin’ (Tim Tetrick/Scott DiDomenico) 8-1
- Buzzsaw Russ (John DeLong/Missy Essig) 5-2
- Why Not Now (David Miller/Tyler George) 15-1
- Christchurch (LeWayne Miller/Todd Luther) 20-1
- Rocknroll Runa A (Mark MacDonald/Larry Stalbaum) 7-2
- Coach Stefanos (Trace Tetrick/Erv Miller) 4-1
- Seven Colors (Dexter Dunn/Andrew Harris) 12-1
- Spring Inhis Step A (Mike Oosting/Jeff Cullipher) 20-1
- Charlie May (Brett Miller/Steve Carter) 12-1
The 2024 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes has been slated the 13th race on the program with an estimated post time of 10:38 p.m. and will be supported by an all-star undercard.
