Unanimous selection Twin B Joe Fresh, repeat winners Captain Albano and Jiggy Jog S, and the year’s leading money-earner Maryland led the way when divisional 2024 Dan Patch Award honours for pacers and trotters were announced during a broadcast presentation prior to Tuesday’s (Dec. 24) racing card at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Four-year-old female pacer Twin B Joe Fresh was named on all 142 ballots returned in voting conducted by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. She became the third unanimous pick in three years, following Confederate in 2023 and Bulldog Hanover in 2022.
Three-year-old Captain Albano became the sixth male pacer this century to receive a Dan Patch Award at ages two and three, while five-year-old female trotter Jiggy Jog S became the fifth trotting mare to repeat as the division’s honouree since 2000. Two-year-old male trotter Maryland, who topped the sport with $1.68 million, was the second-highest to be voted with 139.
The four remaining pacers to receive divisional honours were two-year-old male Louprint, two-year-old female Miki And Minnie, three-year-old female My Girl EJ, and older male Abuckabett Hanover. The four remaining trotters were two-year-old female Champagne Problems, three-year-old male Sig Sauer, three-year-old female Allegiant, and older male Winners Bet.
All winners were named on at least 63 percent of ballots. Complete voting totals can be viewed at this link.
The 12 division champions will be honoured during the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 23. Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year, and Horse of the Year will be announced at the banquet.
This year, Dexter Dunn drove a record eight divisional champs, including Twin B Joe Fresh, a horse he co-owned. The others were Abuckabett Hanover, Champagne Problems, Jiggy Jog S, Maryland, Miki And Minnie, My Girl EJ, and Winners Bet.
Twin B Joe Fresh finished no worse than second in all 13 of her races this year, winning 11 and earning $1.23 million to lead all older pacers in money. Ten of her wins were on the Grand Circuit and included eight of the nine most lucrative races for pacing mares (missing only the Blue Chip Matchmaker final, in which she did not compete). She was voted No. 1 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll for the final 21 weeks of the rankings.
A daughter of Roll With Joe - Fresh Breeze, Twin B Joe Fresh counted the Breeders Crown Mare Pace among her triumphs for owners Chris Ryder, Dunn, Peter Trebotica, and Barry Spak. The mare was bred by Brittany Farms. She was one of two Dan Patch Award winners trained by Ryder, along with Miki And Minnie.
Miki And Minnie hit the board in all 11 of her races, winning six and finishing second on four occasions. The daughter of Always B Miki - Thats The Ticket led all two-year-old pacers in earnings, banking $1.15 million for breeders/owners Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz. Her six triumphs came over her final seven races of the campaign and included the Breeders Crown, Three Diamonds, and Kentucky Sire Stakes championship.
Captain Albano, one of two Dan Patch honourees trained by Noel Daley, along with Sig Sauer, won 12 of 18 races and earned $1.54 million. The son of Captaintreacherous - Angelou captured 10 of his final 12 races of the season, including the Little Brown Jug and Adios, for driver Todd McCarthy and owners Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing Inc., and Michael Dolan. He was bred by Frederick Hertrich III.
The colt joined Perfect Sting, Tall Dark Stranger, Somebeachsomewhere, Captaintreacherous, and Bettors Delight as male pacers to be Dan Patch Award winners at both two and three this century.
Sig Sauer, driven by Andrew McCarthy, was the season’s fastest three-year-old trotter with a mark of 1:49.3 set in winning the Kentucky Futurity. Overall, the son of Muscle Hill - Sigilwig won five of 10 starts, including a Breeders Crown and the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, and earned $1.20 million. Bred by Southwind Farms, the colt was owned by Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Allister Stables LLC, and Caviart Farms.
Jiggy Jog S was a perfect six-for-six this year, earning $1.26 million, before being retired because of a ligament issue. She defeated an international group of male rivals in the MGM Yonkers International Trot in addition to beating the boys in the John Cashman Memorial (in a career-best 1:49.2), Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, and Sebastian K. Invitational.
A daughter of Walner - Hot Mess Hanover, Jiggy Jog S was trained by Ake Svanstedt and owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Steve Stewart, John Lengacher, and Hickory Hollow Stables. She was bred by Vestmarka AB and joined Manchego, Hannelore Hanover, Buck I St Pat, and Peaceful Way as repeat winners in the division this century.
Maryland, whose $1.68 million topped all trotters in seasonal earnings, won six of nine races for trainer Marcus Melander and owners Courant Inc., PCW Racing LLC, Holly Lane Stud East LTD, and SStewartRThorn Stable. He finished his campaign with a five-race victory streak that included the Mohawk Million, a Breeders Crown, the Peter Haughton Memorial, and the William Wellwood Memorial. The son of Chapter Seven - Crucial was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
Nancy Takter trained two Dan Patch Award winners in trotters, Winners Bet, and Champagne Problems.
Winners Bet, a four-year-old stallion, won nine of 13 races and earned $1.08 million for owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Robert Rudolph. The son of Walner - Side Bet Hanover, bred by S R F Stable, was a Breeders Crown champion and closed his season by winning five of his last six races. Earlier, he trotted a career-best 1:49.3 in a preliminary round of the Graduate Series and won the series final in his next start.
Champagne Problems won seven of 12 races and a division-leading $686,214 in purses for owners Rojan Stables, Family Business, Patrick Hoopes, and Caviart Farms. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Miss Caviar, bred by Southwind Farms, counted the Jim Doherty Memorial and Kindergarten Classic Series final among her triumphs.
Completing the list of trotting honourees was Allegiant, a Breeders Crown champ who won six of 17 races and earned $1.03 million for owner Ryan Smith. Other victories included a Matron Stakes, the Moni Maker, and a Hambletonian Oaks elimination (she was third in the final). She ended the season by finishing second against older competition in the FanDuel Mare Trot Championship. The daughter of Tactical Landing - Too Good For You was trained by Vernon Beachy and Linda Toscano and notched Grand Circuit victories with drivers Scott Zeron and Hunter Myers. She was bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and Steve Stewart.
Returning to the pacing side, Ron Burke trained two horses to receive honours, Louprint and My Girl EJ.
Louprint hit the board in all 10 of his races, winning seven and earning a division-best $1.01 million for breeders/owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Phil Collura. The son of Sweet Lou - Rockin Racer, driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., was a Breeders Crown and Kentucky Sire Stakes champion and became the first two-year-old male in history to pace four miles in 1:49.1 or faster, with a mark of 1:48.4.
My Girl EJ competed for the Burke Brigade in 17 of her 18 starts this year before being sold in mid-November and closing the season with a second-place finish to Twin B Joe Fresh in the FanDuel Mare Pace Championship for trainer Andrew Harris. Overall, she hit the board in 16 of 18 races, winning nine and earning a division-leading $1.1 million. Her victories included a Breeders Crown and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final.
The daughter of Sweet Lou - Lucys Pearl was bred by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Elizabeth Novak and was owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Ronald Burke, and Novak before being purchased by William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and Harris.
Pollock, Areman, and Harris were the connections behind Abuckabett Hanover, who hit the board in 12 of 15 races, winning seven and earning a division-best $1.14 million. He finished worse than second only twice in his final 12 starts and counted the William R. Haughton Memorial, FanDuel Open Pace Championship, Dayton Derby, and Dave Brower Memorial among his triumphs. The six-year-old stallion, a son of Betting Line - All Tucked Up, was trained by Harris and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
Following is a look at the 12 divisional Dan Patch Award recipients:
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
MARYLAND (colt)
Chapter Seven – Crucial – Father Patrick
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owners: Courant Inc., PCW Racing LLC, Holly Lane Stud East LTD, SStewartRThorn Stable.
Trainer: Marcus Melander. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 9-6-1-1. Purses: $1.68 million. Mark: 1:51.4 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: Mohawk Million, Breeders Crown, William Wellwood Memorial, Peter Haughton Memorial.
TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER
CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS
Tactical Landing – Miss Caviar – SJs Caviar
Breeder: Southwind Farms LLC.
Owners: Rojan Stables, Family Business, Patrick Hoopes, Caviart Farms.
Trainer: Nancy Takter. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 12-7-2-0. Purses: $686,214. Mark: 1:52.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: Jim Doherty Memorial, Kindergarten Classic Series final, New Jersey Sire Stakes final.
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
SIG SAUER (colt)
Muscle Hill – Sigilwig – Donato Hanover
Breeder: Southwind Farms LLC.
Owners: Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Allister Stables LLC, Caviart Farms.
Trainer: Noel Daley. Driver: Andrew McCarthy.
Races: 10-5-0-1. Purses: $1.20 million. Mark: 1:49.3 at Red Mile.
Top wins: Breeders Crown, Kentucky Futurity; Earl Beal Jr. Memorial.
THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER
ALLEGIANT
Tactical Landing – Too Good For You – Yankee Glide
Breeders: Atlantic Trot Inc., Steve Stewart.
Owner: Ryan Smith.
Trainers: Vernon Beachy, Linda Toscano. Drivers: Scott Zeron Hunter Myers.
Races: 17-6-4-2. Purses: $1.03 million. Mark: 1:51.1 at Meadowlands, Bally’s Dover.
Top wins: Breeders Crown, Matron, Moni Maker.
OLDER MALE TROTTER
WINNERS BET (four-year-old stallion)
Walner – Side Bet Hanover – Donato Hanover
Breeder: S R F Stable.
Owners: Lindy Farms of Connecticut, Robert Rudolph.
Trainer: Nancy Takter. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 13-9-0-1. Purses: $1.08 million. Mark: 1:49.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: Breeders Crown, Charlie Hill Memorial, Graduate; Caesars Trotting Classic.
OLDER FEMALE TROTTER
JIGGY JOG S (five-year-old mare)
Walner – Hot Mess Hanover – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Vestmarka AB.
Owners: Ake Svanstedt Inc., Steve Stewart, John Lengacher, Hickory Hollow Stables.
Trainer: Ake Svanstedt. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 6-6-0-0. Purses: $1.26 million. Mark: 1:49.2 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: MGM Yonkers International Trot, John Cashman Memorial, Dayton Oaks, Arthur J. Cutler Memorial.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
LOUPRINT (colt)
Sweet Lou – Rockin Racer – Rockin Image
Breeders: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phil Collura.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phil Collura.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: Ronnie Wrenn Jr.
Races: 10-7-2-1. Purses: $1.01 million. Mark: 1:48.4 at Red Mile.
Top wins: Breeders Crown; Kentucky Sire Stakes final.
TWO-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: 11-6-4-1. Purses: $1.15 million. Mark: 1:49.2 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: Breeders Crown, Kentucky Sire Stakes final; Three Diamonds.
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
CAPTAIN ALBANO (colt)
Captaintreacherous – Angelou – American Ideal
Breeder: Frederick Hertrich III.
Owners: Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing Inc., Michael Dolan.
Trainer: Noel Daley. Driver: Todd McCarthy.
Races: 18-12-1-3. Purses: $1.54 million. Mark: 1:48.1 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: Little Brown Jug, Adios; Max C. Hempt Memorial; Progress Pace; Matron.
THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER
MY GIRL EJ
Sweet Lou – Lucys Pearl – Well Said
Breeders: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Elizabeth Novak.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Ronald Burke, Elizabeth Novak (before 11/18/2024), William Pollock, Bruce Areman, Andrew Harris (as of 11/18).
Trainers: Ron Burke, Andrew Harris. Drivers: Dexter Dunn, Todd McCarthy.
Races: 18-9-5-2. Purses: $1.1 million. Mark: 1:48.1 at Red Mile.
Top wins: Breeders Crown; Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final; Glen Garnsey division.
OLDER MALE PACER
ABUCKABETT HANOVER (six-year-old stallion)
Betting Line – All Tucked Up – Western Ideal
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owners: William Pollock, Bruce Areman, Andrew Harris.
Trainer: Andrew Harris. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 15-7-4-1. Purses: $1.14 million. Mark: 1:47.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: William R. Haughton Memorial, FanDuel Open Pace Championship, Dayton Derby, Dave Brower Memorial.
OLDER FEMALE PACER
TWIN B JOE FRESH (four-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: 13-11-2-0. Purses: $1.23 million. Mark: 1:47.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $400,000 Breeders Crown; $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby; $222,650 Roses Are Red; Milton; FanDuel Mare Championship; Lady Liberty; 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)