Repeat winners Louprint, Miki And Minnie and Twin B Joe Fresh, along with the year’s top money-earner, Lexus Kody, and undefeated Beau Jangles led the way when divisional 2025 Dan Patch Awards for pacers and trotters were announced during a broadcast presentation prior to the card of harness racing on Sunday, Dec. 21 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Three-year-old female pacer Miki And Minnie was a unanimous selection, named on all 133 ballots returned in voting conducted by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. She became the fourth unanimous pick in four years, following stablemate Twin B Joe Fresh in 2024, Confederate in 2023 and Bulldog Hanover in 2022.
Louprint, also a three-year-old, became the seventh male pacer this century to receive a Dan Patch Award at ages two and three while five-year-old Twin B Joe Fresh became the fifth pacing mare this century to earn honours in back-to-back years. Two-year-old male pacer Beau Jangles went unbeaten in 12 races and earned $1.68 million, the highest purse total for a freshman pacer (after Canadian conversion).
The two remaining pacers to receive divisional honours were two-year-old female Loua Dipa and older male Ervin Hanover.
Seven-year-old male trotter Lexus Kody earned $1.82 million in 2025, a total that ranks No. 1 all time for North American purses (after conversion) for an older trotter. The remaining five trotters to receive divisional honors this year were two-year-old male Apex, two-year-old female Setyoursightshigh, three-year-old male Super Chapter, three-year-old female Yo Tillie, and older female Warrawee Michelle.
Ron Burke, the 2025 U.S. Trainer of the Year, conditioned three Dan Patch Award winners (Louprint, Loua Dipa and Lexus Kody) while Marcus Melander also trained three (Apex, Setyoursightshigh and Super Chapter).
The 12 divisional champions will be honoured during the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Shingle Creek resort in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 22, 2026. U.S. Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year and Horse of the Year will be announced at the banquet.
Miki And Minnie had 13 wins and two second-place finishes in 15 races this season on the way to $1.55 million in purses. Her victories included three Grade 1 stakes – the Breeders Crown, Fan Hanover and James M. Lynch Memorial – and she capped her campaign by beating older rivals in the FanDuel Mare Pace Championship (G2).
A daughter of Always B Miki-Thats The Ticket, Miki And Minnie was bred by owners Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo and Lawrence Minowitz. She was trained by Chris Ryder and driven by Dexter Dunn.
Ryder and Dunn also teamed up with Twin B Joe Fresh, who was the 2024 U.S. Horse of the Year and returned to the top of the pacing mare division this season. The daughter of Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze hit the board in all nine of her races, winning six and earning $724,546, before seeing her campaign end prematurely because of injury.
Twin B Joe Fresh’s triumphs for owners Ryder, Dunn, Peter Trebotica and Barry Spak included the Roses Are Red (G1), Dayton Distaff Derby, Milton, and Dorothy Haughton Memorial (all G2). The Brittany Farms-bred mare’s 1:47.4 score in the Milton equaled the fastest mile ever by a female pacer in Canada.
Louprint won 10 races and finished second once in 12 starts, earning $1.4 million despite being sidelined for several weeks during the summer. His victories included two Grade 1 stakes, the North America Cup and Little Brown Jug, and his 1:46.3 triumph in a division of the Tattersalls Pace (G2) was the season’s fastest mile by a three-year-old pacer and second fastest overall by a pacer, behind only Ervin Hanover’s 1:46.2 mark.
Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Phil Collura bred Louprint, a son of Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer, and shared ownership of the colt with Larry Karr.
Ronnie Wrenn Jr. drove Louprint, and also was the in the sulky for all but one of Loua Dipa’s 13 races. The filly hit the board 12 times, winning nine starts and earning $1.13 million. She captured two Grade 1 stakes, the Breeders Crown and She’s A Great Lady, and her 1:48 victory in a division of the International Stallion Stakes (G3) made her the fastest two-year-old female pacer in history.
The daughter of Sweet Lou-Looksgoodinaromper was bred by owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi, who last week were named 2025 Breeders of the Year and Owners of the Year stateside.
Beau Jangles, trained by Dr. Ian Moore and driven by Bob McClure, was the No. 1-ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll at the end of the season. He capped his undefeated 12-win campaign with a 1:48.3 victory in the Grade 1 Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park, making him the fastest two-year-old ever in Canada.
The son of Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill also won the Grade 1 Metro Pace and an Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for owners Graham Grace Stables LLC, Kiwi Stables LLC, and Bolton Stables. He was bred by Tara Hills Stud of Port Perry, Ont.
Ervin Hanover won 10 of 17 races and earned a division-leading $1.16 million for trainer David Menary and owner Pollack Racing LLC. He was particularly strong the back half of the season, closing his campaign with eight wins and a second in his final 10 races. The victories included his Canadian-record 1:46.2 score in the Breeders Crown Open Pace (G1) as well as triumphs in the Jim Ewart Memorial and Dayton Pacing Derby (both G2).
Three drivers enjoyed stakes wins with Ervin Hanover: Dunn, Louis-Philippe Roy and Doug McNair. The five-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Eloquent Grace was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
On the trotting side, Lexus Kody hit the board 18 times in 21 races, and like Ervin Hanover, excelled as the season went on. He had 11 wins overall, with seven coming during an eight-race stretch to close out his campaign. Three of those victories came in Grade 1 stakes: the MGM Yonkers International Trot, Maple Leaf Trot and FanDuel Open Trot Championship. His 1:49.1 triumph in the Maple Leaf made him the fastest trotter ever in Canada.
A son of Archangel-Lexus Helios, Lexus Kody was driven for the majority of the season by Yannick Gingras for owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, and Collura. He was bred by Norm Dunstan of Caledon Village, Ont.
Melander swept the awards for the two-year-olds and added a third with Super Chapter.
Apex hit the board in eight of nine races, winning six and earning $1.2 million. He nabbed the Grade 1 Mohawk Million in a Canadian-record 1:51.4 and also counted the Grade 1 Peter Haughton Memorial among his victories.
A son of Walner-Mission Brief, Apex was driven by Dunn for owners Jeff Snyder, SRF Stable and Steve Stewart. He was bred by Mission Brief Stable.
Setyoursightshigh finished no worse than second in any of her 11 races, with seven wins, on her way to $933,661 in purses. She was second in earnings among all two-year-old trotters, trailing only stablemate Apex.
The daughter of In Range-Special Interest was an Ohio Sire Stakes champion, with Dunn in the sulky, and Next Generation Stakes winner, with driver Mike Wilder, and finished second in the Breeders Crown. Owned by Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, AMG Stable Inc. and K Kjellgren Livs AB Inc., the filly was bred by Kentuckiana Farms.
Super Chapter was the leading money-winning three-year-old trotter, with $1.71 million. He hit the board in 13 of 14 races, with his nine victories including the Grade 2 MGM Yonkers Trot and Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, where his 1:50 mile around Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania made him history’s fastest three-year-old on a five-eighths-mile oval.
In addition to his wins, Super Chapter was second in the Grade 1 Hambletonian and Breeders Crown. Dunn was the colt’s primary driver for owners Snyder, Arthur Pronti and Hanover Shoe Farms. The son of Chapter Seven-Lifetime Pursuit was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
Yo Tillie, who was the leading female trotter in earnings, with $1.35 million, grabbed divisional honours for owners Bill Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harris. The Harris-trained sophomore, driven by Todd McCarthy, had 11 wins and a second in 12 races and counted the Grade 1 Breeders Crown and Delmonica Hanover Stakes among her victories.
She also won a division of the Del Miller Memorial (G3) as well as a Kentucky Sire Stakes championship and New Jersey Classic. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Consolidator was bred by GBW Breeding Farms and Black Creek Farm.
Warrawee Michelle, a four-year-old daughter of Walner-Sound Check, took top honours for trotting mares after leading the division with $783,415 in purses. She hit the board nine times in 11 races and won the Grade 1 Breeders Crown Mare Trot in a Canadian-record-equaling 1:50.2 at Mohawk. At the time, the mile time also was the fastest trotting mile ever in a Breeders Crown.
In addition, Warrawee Michelle won the Sebastian K Invitational (G3) in 1:50 at Pocono, making her the fastest-ever four-year-old trotter on a five-eighths-mile track. Bred by Warrawee Farm of Rockwood, Ont. and owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc. and Young Guns, the mare was driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt.
Following is a look at the 12 divisional Dan Patch Award recipients. Complete divisional voting totals can be viewed at this link.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
APEX
Walner – Mission Brief – Muscle Hill
Breeder: Mission Brief Stable.
Owners: Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable, Steve Stewart.
Trainer: Marcus Melander.
Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 9-6-1-1. Purses: $1.2 million. Mark: 1:51.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Top wins: Mohawk Million; Peter Haughton Memorial; New Jersey Classic.
TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER
SETYOURSIGHTSHIGH
In Range – Special Interest – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Kentuckiana Farms LLC
Owners: Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, AMG Stable Inc., K Kjellgren Livs AB Inc.
Trainer: Marcus Melander.
Drivers: Dexter Dunn, Mike Wilder
Races: 11-7-4-0. Purses: $933,661. Mark: 1:53.1 at The Red Mile.
Top wins: Ohio Sire Stakes final; Next Generation.
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
SUPER CHAPTER
Chapter Seven – Lifetime Pursuit – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owners: Jeffrey Snyder, Arthur Pronti, Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Trainer: Marcus Melander.
Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 14-9-3-1. Purses: $1.71 million. Mark: 1:50 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Top wins: Kentucky Sire Stakes final; MGM Yonkers Trot; Earl Beal Jr. Memorial.
THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER
YO TILLIE
Tactical Landing – Consolidator – Triumphant Caviar
Breeders: GBW Breeding Farms Inc., Black Creek Farm.
Owners: William Pollock, Bruce Areman, Andrew Harris.
Trainer: Andrew Harris.
Driver: Todd McCarthy.
Races: 12-11-1-0. Purses: $1.35 million. Mark: 1:50.2 at The Meadowlands.
Top wins: Breeders Crown; Kentucky Sire Stakes final; Delmonica Hanover; New Jersey Classic final.
OLDER MALE TROTTER
LEXUS KODY (seven-year-old gelding)
Archangel – Lexus Helios – Ken Warkentin
Breeder: Norm Dunstan
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura
Trainer: Ron Burke.
Driver: Yannick Gingras.
Races: 21-11-3-4. Purses: $1.82 million. Mark: 1:49.1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Top wins: MGM Yonkers International Trot; Maple Leaf; FanDuel Open Trot Championship; Dayton Trotting Derby.
OLDER FEMALE TROTTER
WARRAWEE MICHELLE (four-year-old mare)
Walner – Sound Check – Yankee Glide
Breeder: Warrawee Farm.
Owners: Ake Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc., Young Guns.
Trainer: Ake Svanstedt.
Driver: Ake Svanstedt.
Races: 11-3-4-2. Purses: $783,415. Mark: 1:50 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
Top wins: Breeders Crown; Graduate Series final.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
BEAU JANGLES
Cattlewash – Mrs Major Hill – Art Major
Breeder: Tara Hills Stud Ltd.
Owners: Graham Grace Stables LLC, Kiwi Stables LLC, Bolton Stables.
Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore.
Driver: Bob McClure.
Races: 12-12-0-0. Purses: $1.68 million. Mark: 1:48.3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Top wins: Metro Pace; Breeders Crown; Ontario Sires Stakes final.
TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER
LOUA DIPA
Sweet Lou – Looksgoodinaromper – Pet Rock
Breeders: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Trainer: Ron Burke.
Driver: Ronnie Wrenn Jr.
Races: 13-9-2-1. Purses: $1.13 million. Mark: 1:48 at The Red Mile.
Top wins: Breeders Crown; She’s A Great Lady.
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
LOUPRINT
Sweet Lou – Rockin Racer – Rockin Image
Breeders: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phillip Collura, Lawrence Karr.
Trainer: Ron Burke.
Driver: Ronnie Wrenn Jr.
Races: 12-10-1-0. Purses: $1.4 million. Mark: 1:46.3 at The Red Mile.
Top wins: North America Cup; Little Brown Jug; Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final.
THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER
MIKI AND MINNIE
Always B Miki – Thats The Ticket – Roll With Joe
Breeders: Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, Lawrence Minowitz.
Owners: Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, Lawrence Minowitz.
Trainer: Chris Ryder.
Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 15-13-2-0. Purses: $1.55 million. Mark: 1:48.2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Top wins: Breeders Crown; Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final; Fan Hanover; James M. Lynch Memorial; FanDuel Mare Pace Championship.
OLDER MALE PACER
ERVIN HANOVER (five-year-old stallion)
Captaintreacherous – Eloquent Grace – Well Said
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owner: Pollack Racing LLC.
Trainer: David Menary.
Drivers: Dexter Dunn, Doug McNair, Louis-Philippe Roy.
Races: 17-10-1-1. Purses: $1.16 million. Mark: 1:46.2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Top wins: Breeders Crown; Dayton Pacing Derby; Jim Ewart Memorial.
OLDER FEMALE PACER
TWIN B JOE FRESH (five-year-old mare)
Roll With Joe – Fresh Breeze – Captaintreacherous
Breeder: Brittany Farms LLC.
Owners: Chris Ryder, Dexter Dunn, Peter Trebotica, Barry Spak.
Trainer: Chris Ryder.
Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 9-6-2-1. Purses: $724,546. Mark: 1:47.3 at The Red Mile.
Top wins: Dayton Distaff Derby; Roses Are Red; Milton; Dorothy Haughton Memorial.
The United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), founded in 1947, is an international organization comprised of those covering and reporting on harness racing. USHWA nominates and votes – along with North American race secretaries for equine awards – for the Dan Patch Awards and all of its year-end equine and human awards in harness racing.
(with files from USHWA)