Field established for Dan Patch Stakes at Hoosier
At 0h02, on August 6, 2025 • By Jacob Rheinheimer, Harrah's Hoosier Park
Eleven of the sport’s top older pacers are set to do battle at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in the $300,000 Grade 2 Dan Patch Stakes presented by Indiana Standardbred Development. The 32nd edition of Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s signature race will serve as the 13th race on the 15-race program on Friday (Aug. 8), which gets underway at 5:30 p.m. (EDT).
Hometown hero Little Rocket Man will leave from post two in search of his first Dan Patch title in his fourth event. Trained by Ken Rucker, the 9-year-old has seemingly been aging in reverse having won eight of 10 on the year and rides a four-race win streak into the Dan Patch. Little Rocket Man missed the Dan Patch in 2024 in what would still prove to be a banner year for the son of Rockin Image, with wins in the Battle of Lake Erie, Jim Ewart and Hoosier Park Pacing Derby for the career earner of $1.8 million. Regular pilot Mike Oosting is slated to be in the bike for Little Rocket Man.
Little Rocket Man will be joined in attempting to become just the third Indiana-sired horse to win the Dan Patch Stakes (Wiggle It Jiggleit 2016, Ponda Warrior 2023) by 2024 Breeders Crown champion Coach Stefanos and 2025 Graduate champion Sabonis. Coach Stefanos is back in the Dan Patch after finishing in a dead-heat for second behind Dunkin’ in the 2024 edition. Marcus Miller is listed to drive the career earner of $1.3 million for trainer Erv Miller from post six.
Sabonis returns to Harrah’s Hoosier Park for the first time in 2025 after he ransacked the Indiana Sire Stakes a year ago in a 3-year-old campaign that saw him win 16 of 18, including victories in the Jenna’s Beach Boy, Hoosier Cup and seven legs of Indiana Sire Stakes. At age 4, Sabonis is now thriving in the barn of trainer Brett Pelling for owners Diamond Creek Racing and Pelling Racing. The son of Tellitlikeitis offers just one victory this season but has hit the board five other times including third-place efforts in both the William Haughton and Sam McKee memorials at The Meadowlands.
The all-star lineup also features Captain Luke (Post 7, Todd McCarthy) fresh off a score in the McKee on Hambletonian Day, to go along with Buckeye millionaires Bythemissal (Post 8, Chris Page) and Charlie May (Post 9, Brett Miller).
In all, the 2025 Dan Patch field has combined earnings of more than $15 million.
- Seven Colors-Andrew Harris-Tim Tetrick
- Little Rocket Man-Ken Rucker-Mike Oosting
- Desperate Man-Travis Alexander-Matt Kakaley
- I Did It Myway-Travis Alexander-Tim Tetrick
- Rocknroll Runa A-Larry Stalbaum-Larry Stalbaum
- Coach Stefanos-Erv Miller-Marcus Miller
- Captain Luke-Andrew Harris-Todd McCarthy
- Bythemissal-Ron Burke-Chris Page
- Charlie May-Terry DiCicco-Brett Miller
- Sabonis-Brett Pelling-Dexter Dunn
- Huntinthelastdolar-Per Engblom-Andrew McCarthy
