The 2012 Dan Patch Awards will be given out Sunday, February 12 in Orlando, Florida and Meadowlands Racetrack's top horsemen weigh in on who they think will take home the hardware
.
Ken Warkentin caught up with a group of trainers and drivers familiar with winning the prestigious honour. Trainer Jimmy Takter, who has won three U.S. Horse of the Year Awards, thinks it's a slam dunk for San Pail. Takter was the trainer of San Pail's sire, San Pellegrino.
"The horse had a tremendous year, he stepped up to a different level," said Takter, who won Horse of the Year honours twice with Moni Maker and once with Malabar Man. "He's been a good horse for years, but last year he faced horses down here. I'm a little excited...it's nice to see a great trotter like that. We need that. And hopeully they take him over to Europe and kick their ass over there."
Warkentin also interviewed Hall of Famer John Campbell, driver of U.S. Horse of the Year winners like Mack Lobell and Real Desire, Brian Sears - who guided Muscle Hill to Horse of the Year honours both in Canada and the U.S. in 2009 as well as Bruce Saunders, trainer of U.S. harness racing's last overall champion Rock N Roll Heaven.
To watch the interview, click the play button below.
The results of USHWA balloting for Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year will be announced at the organization’s annual Dan Patch Awards dinner, to be held February 12 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld in Florida. The ceremony will be streamed live on ustrotting.com. Divisional winners appear below.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Possess The Will (85 votes)
Donato Hanover-Aurora Hall-Self Possessed
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms.
Owner: Fashion Farms.
Trainer: Jim Campbell. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 12-7-2-1 Purses: $550,789. Mark: 1:54 at The Red Mile.
Top wins: $410,000 Valley Victory; $85,250 Bluegrass division.
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Check Me Out (116 votes)
Donato Hanover-Illusion Bi-Toss Out
Breeders: Az Agricola Biasuzzi Srl, Scuderia Gina Biasuzzi.
Owners: Raymond Schnittker, Charles Iannazzo.
Trainer: Raymond Schnittker. Drivers: Tim Tetrick, Ron Pierce.
Races: 16-14-2-0. Purses: $900,619. Mark: 1:53.2f at Dover Downs (world record).
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $333,200 Merrie Annabelle.
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Broad Bahn (45 votes)
Broadway Hall-Madonarail-Donerail
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm.Owner: Fam Alber Horse Racing.
Trainer: Noel Daley. Driver: George Brennan.
Races: 19-5-8-2. Purses: $1.32 million. Mark: 1:53 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $1.5 million Hambletonian; $122,420 Zweig division.
THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Cedar Dove (50 votes)
Andover Hall-Pine For Her-Pine Chip
Breeders: Robert Anderson, Rod Ferguson.
Owners: Adam Victor & Son Stable, John Fielding.
Trainer: Noel Daley. Driver: Ron Pierce.
Races: 17-7-2-3. Purses: $543,316. Mark: 1:53.2s at Woodbine.
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $291,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity.
OLDER MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
San Pail (114 votes)
San Pellegrino-Village Beauty-Balanced Image
Breeder: Glenn Van Camp.
Owners: Glenn Van Camp, Rod Hughes.
Trainer: Rod Hughes. Driver: Randy Waples.
Races: 16-14-2-0. Purses: $1.28 million. Mark: 1:50.4 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $766,500 Maple Leaf Trot; $600,000 Breeders Crown.
OLDER FEMALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Action Broadway (90 votes)
Broadway Hall-Photo With Molly-SJs Photo
Breeder: Kenneth Sommer.
Owner: Kenneth Sommer.
Trainer: Virgil Morgan Jr. Drivers: Dave Palone, Brian Sears, Mark MacDonald.
Races: 27-10-7-2. Purses: $538,944. Mark: 1:52.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $366,450 Armbro Flight; $164,000 Muscle Hill.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Sweet Lou (89 votes)
Yankee Cruiser-Sweet Future-Falcons Future
Breeder: Birnam Wood Farms.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Lawrence Karr, Phillip Collura.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: Dave Palone.
Races: 12-10-2-0. Purses: $686,647. Mark: 1:49s at Woodbine (world record).
Top wins: $650,000 Breeders Crown; $200,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final.
TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
Economy Terror (78 votes)
Western Terror-Mattatonic-Matts Scooter
Breeder: VAE LLC.
Owners: Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold.
Trainer: Chris Oakes. Driver: Brian Sears.
Races: 11-8-3-0. Purses: $926,520. Mark: 1:50.3f at Harrah’s Chester (world record).
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $380,000 Three Diamonds.
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Roll With Joe (98 votes)
Cams Card Shark-Classic Wish-Armbro Emerson
Breeder: Winbak Farm.
Owners: Blue Chip Bloodstock, Stephen Demeter, Not To Worry Stable, Winbak Farm.
Trainer: Ed Hart. Driver: Ron Pierce.
Races: 14-6-4-2. Purses: $1.64 million. Mark: 1:48.2 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $1 million Meadowlands Pace; $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine; $401,000 Messenger.
THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
See You At Peelers (109 votes)
Bettors Delight-West Side Glory-Western Ideal
Breeder: Christina Takter.
Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding.
Trainer: Jimmy Takter. Drivers: Marcus Johansson, Brian Sears.
Races: 12-9-1-0 Purses: $916,611. Mark: 1:49.2f at Tioga Downs.
Top wins: $613,020 Fan Hanover; $350,000 Valley Forge
OLDER MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Foiled Again (88 votes)
Dragon Again-In A Safe Place-Artsplace
Breeder: Barbara Matthews.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK Stables.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: Yannick Gingras.
Races: 28-14-6-5. Purses: $1.40 million. Mark: 1:48.1s at Mohawk.
Top wins: $335,000 Quillen Memorial; $306,000 Molson.
OLDER FEMALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Anndrovette (86 votes)
Riverboat King-Easy Miss-Big Towner
Breeder: Golden Touch Stable.
Owners: Jeffrey Bamond, Joseph Davino.
Trainer: Mark Kesmodel. Drivers: Tim Tetrick, Luc Ouellette, George Brennan.
Races: 20-11-2-2. Purses: $747,112. Mark: 1:49.2s at Woodbine.
Top wins: $300,000 Breeders Crown; $178,000 Artiscape.
To view the full voting results, click here.