Harrah's Hoosier Park's signature race, the $300,000 USD Grade 1 Dan Patch Stakes presented by Indiana Standardbred Breed Development, attracted a field of 11 of the best older pacers in North America to do battle on the seven-eighths-mile oval on Friday, Aug. 14.

The top 10 career money earners that entered received their spot in the Grade 1 affair, with Crack Shot receiving an additional invite from Hoosier Park to complete the field as the 11th horse. Ten millionaires feature in the field that has 292 victories collectively and combined earnings of more than $18.7 million.

A pair of hometown hopefuls will look to defend their turf, with Little Rocket Man and Coach Stefanos taking aim at the Dan Patch once more. The double millionaire Little Rocket Man leaves from the rail with two-time Dan Patch Stakes-winning pilot Kyle Wilfong listed to drive as the 10-year-old pacer takes his fifth shot at the signature event. Little Rocket Man enters off a 1:49.2 win against Open company at Hoosier Park on Aug. 7. The effort gave the gelding his 87th career victory from 161 starts and pushed his career earnings to $2,425,512 for owners Russ Beeman and Jack Freeman. The son of Rockin Image-Gt Miss Royal was favoured in the 2025 edition, in which he finished eighth in a race won by fellow Indiana-sired star Sabonis, and has finished fourth twice in the event (2021 and 2023).

Coach Stefanos, the 2024 Breeders Crown Champion, was third in the Aug. 7 Open event won by Little Rocket Man and has hit the board in three straight outings at Hoosier leading into the Dan Patch. Regular pilot Marcus Miller looks to give his father, Erv, his first victory in the Dan Patch as Coach Stefanos takes his third run at it. The six-year-old gelded son of Tellitlikeitis-Watch N Be Watched finished in a dead heat for second in the 2024 edition behind Dunkin. He boasts a career bankroll of $1,667,217 with 21 wins in 47 starts for owners Ken Duffy, D&M Trading II LLC and Chris Stefanos.

A number of horses make their way to Hoosier Park after competing in the Sam McKee Memorial on Hambletonian Day at The Meadowlands. Women Layer (PP11) pulled off a 17-1 stunner in his division of the McKee and will once again have Hall of Famer David Miller in the bike for conditioner Virgil Morgan Jr. Both are in search of their second Dan Patch score, with Miller having won in 2020 with Century Farroh and Morgan in 2009 with Mister Big.

The Dr. Ian Moore-trained Prince Hal Hanover enters the event aiming for victory after three Grand Circuit place finishes in his last four starts, including the McKee last out. The Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup winner will be driven by Todd McCarthy from post seven.

Double millionaire Bythemissal (PP3, Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), Captain Optimistic (PP6, Dexter Dunn), Fallout (PP8, Tim Tetrick) and Huntinthelastdolar (PP10, Yannick Gingras) each enter from efforts in the Sam McKee in their last as well.

The 2026 Dan Patch field is below.

$300,000 USD Dan Patch Stakes (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Little Rocket Man - Kyle Wilfong - Ken Rucker
2. Crack Shot - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair     
3. Bythemissal - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
4. Dandy Ideal - Jason Bartlett - Hunter Oakes
5. Coach Stefanos - Marcus Miller - Erv Miller
6. Captain Optimistic - Dexter Dunn - Nancy Takter
7. Prince Hal Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Dr. Ian Moore
8. Fallout - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke
9. Harrisburg Heist - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
10. Huntinthelastdolar - Yannick Gingras - Per Engblom
11. Women Layer - David Miller - Virgil Morgan Jr.

The 2026 installment of the Dan Patch Stakes has been slated as the 13th race on the program and will be supported by an all-star undercard of racing action. Final driver selections will be made on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

In addition to the Dan Patch, the inaugural $100,000 USD Grade 3 Rockin Nola will serve as the 12th race on the card with a field of seven pacing mares set to compete. The field is below.

$100,000 USD Rockin Nola (G3)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Rodeo Drive Deo - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
2. Good As You - Todd McCarthy - Trent Stohler
3. The Last Martini - Doug McNair - Jared Bako
4. Lyin Eyes - Joey Putnam - Joe Putnam
5. Canttouchthese - John De Long - Roger Welch
6. Champagne Room - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
7. Three Times Bettor - Dexter Dunn - Brett Pelling

Free online programs for the Dan Patch card will be available on Wednesday evening on the Hoosier Park website. Bettors will be able to study up for a wagering buffet that includes:

• $10,000 guaranteed Early Pick-5 (Races 1-5)
• Added Pick 4 (Races 2-5)
• $10,000 guaranteed Pick 4 (Races 6-9)
• Added Double (Race 10-11)
• Added All Stakes Pick 3 (Races 11-13)
• $30,000 guaranteed Late Pick-4 (Races 12-15)
• $10,000 guaranteed Late High-5 (Race 15)

For those attending in-person, there will be plenty to do on the track apron with promotions and family-fun entertainment. From 6-10 p.m., guests may enjoy a live DJ, food trucks, bounce houses, a mechanical bull and Vendor Market located in The Yard, as well as free yard games available in the Hoosier Outdoor Patio.

Additionally, guests 18 years of age and older may get involved in the free-to-enter Door Prize Drawings located near the Winner's Circle beginning at 5:30 p.m. Prizes include pro football tickets to the Indianapolis home opener against Baltimore, Blackstone Grill, Apple iPad, AirPods, Yeti Backpack Cooler and Nespresso Coffee Machine, as well as $250 USD MegaBets on the Dan Patch. Guests will have until the start of the sixth race to enter, with prizes being drawn after each of Races 6 through 11.

Guests may also enter the $20,000 USD Friday Night Fling on the track apron beginning at 5:30 p.m. Guests will receive their duck at the registration table to toss into the ISA vehicle on track after Race 6; each duck they get in the vehicle on Fridays will count as an entry into the $20,000 USD cash drawing on Hoosier Champions Night (Friday, Oct. 9).

The card will be broadcast on FOX Sports 2 from 9-11:30 p.m. Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten will be live on site to provide coverage on the national window. The on-track simulcast will be handled by Hoosier Park analysts Jacob Rheinheimer and Emily Gaskin in the Dan Patch Studio, with Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob ‘Hollywood’ Heyden manning paddock and winner’s circle interviews.

(Hoosier Park)