Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is set to host its most prestigious stakes race of the calendar this year, the $300,000 USD Dan Patch Stakes on Friday, Aug. 9. The track’s all-time leading driver, Trace Tetrick, has won the leading driver title at the track for the last 10 years and has won nearly every major stakes race over the Anderson, Indiana oval except one: the Dan Patch Stakes.

Tetrick seeks his first victory in the event aboard local pacing standout, Coach Stefanos. Tetrick, who is ranked among the top 10 drivers in the U.S. by wins this year, will guide Coach Stefanos from post seven in a highly competitive field of 10, listed at 4-1 as the third choice on the morning line.

"He is a very versatile horse, but I think he particularly likes to race off a helmet -- he loves to chase horses," Tetrick noted of his mount. "He is a horse for the course, that is for sure, but his forte lately has been that he is a big closer -- he loves to get home.

"You go into the race with plan A, B and C. Hopefully, plan A works out, but if not, you’re prepared for whatever happens behind the gate,” continued Tetrick. “Luckily for me, he is very manageable and that allows me to have options. I feel good about my chances and my horse. Last week, we knew he was heading for this race so we wanted to give him a good prep and he did exactly what he was supposed to do."

Coach Stefanos comes off an impressive win in last week’s Open Pace at Hoosier Park and will look to continue his winning ways on Friday for trainer Erv Miller. Owned by Kenneth Duffy, D And M Trading and J. Chris Stefanos, the four-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched has won 17 of his 37 career starts while amassing $896,718 in lifetime purse earnings.  A winner of the Fox Stakes at two, Coach Stefanos scored victories in the Monument Circle, Indiana Sires Stakes and was a winner of his Breeders Crown elimination at Hoosier last season.

Tetrick will be looking for his first Dan Patch victory after finishing third twice, in 2015 with Clear Vision and 2021 with Backstreet Shadow for the sport's leading trainer Ron Burke.

“This race is special and it would mean a lot to finally win it,” said Tetrick. “I think horses that race here consistently helps our chances. I’ve just got to put him in a decent spot to win turning for home and he will do all that he can to get the job done.”

The Dan Patch Stakes field includes several notable competitors, headlined by one of Coach Stefanos’ arch rivals, another four-year-old pacing standing out from the Hoosier State, Buzzsaw Russ. Buzzsaw Russ has drawn post three with John DeLong driving for trainer Missy Essig and has been enlisted as the 5-2 morning line favourite. Also lining up behind the gate on Friday will be Rocknroll Runa A, who stunned the racing world with a 68-1 victory in last week’s Sam McKee Memorial at The Meadowlands. Rocknroll Runa A will start from post six with Mark MacDonald driving for trainer Larry Stalbaum and is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line.

Fans will have the opportunity to participate in four special wagers offered for the Dan Patch card. A $10,000 guaranteed Early Pick-5 will kick off the card in Races 1-5 along with a $30,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 in Races 12-15. The Dan Patch will feature a $30,000 guaranteed superfecta pool in Race 13 before the night ends with a $15,000 guaranteed Hoosier High-5 in the 15th and final race. 

The Dan Patch Stakes card will air live on Fox Sports 2 from 8-11 p.m. (EDT), featuring in-depth analysis from Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten on site. The evening’s racing action begins at 6:15 p.m., with the 31st edition of the Dan Patch Stakes scheduled for 10:38 p.m. as Race 13. For a free program for Friday's card, click here.

(Hoosier Park)