The 2012 Dan Patch Award winners, led by U.S. Horse of the Year Chapter Seven and his connections, were honoured on Sunday evening at the U.S. Harness Writers Association’s annual banquet at the Westin Beach Resort and Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Chapter Seven won eight of 10 starts and earned over $1.02 million in purses during his four-year-old season in 2012.
Sired by Windsongs Legacy and Trotting Broodmare of the Year La Riviera Lindy, Chapter Seven defeated Canada’s Mister Herbie and European star Commander Crowe in the Breeders Crown on October 27 at Woodbine Racetrack despite racing on the outside every step of the mile. He equalled history’s fastest mile on a mile racetrack by winning the Nat Ray Invitational in 1:50.1 at the Meadowlands and also won the Titan Cup, American-National Stakes, Maxie Lee Memorial Invitational and Allerage Open Trot.
His 1:52.1 victory in the Maxie Lee, at Harrah’s Philadelphia, set the stakes record and missed equalling the world record for four-year-old trotters on a five-eighths-mile track by one-fifth of a second.
Chapter Seven’s only losses came in the Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack, where he was defeated by three-quarters of a length by Mister Herbie in the fastest mile ever trotted in Canada (1:50.4), and in the Credit Winner at Vernon Downs, where he was edged by a head by Hot Shot Blue Chip in a time (1:51.2) that missed the track’s fastest-ever trotting mile by one-fifth of a second.
Chapter Seven was campaigned by Trainer of the Year Linda Toscano for Owner of the Year Richard Gutnick. Gutnick shares ownership of Chapter Seven with Southwind Farm and J&T Silva Stables. Driver of the Year Tim Tetrick was the trotter's regular reinsman.
"When you give great horses to a phenomenal trainer, the results speak for themselves," said Gutnick at the awards banquet.
"It's such a team effort," noted Toscano, who also campaigned divisional winners Heston Blue Chip and the Gutnick-owned Market Share. "I have an incredible group of people behind me. This year the stars were in alignment and things did work out. We were just unstoppable this year and I don't know why."
"2012 was amazing," commented Tetrick, who also drove U.S. Pacer of the Year Captaintreacherous along with divisional winners Market Share, Heston Blue Chip, Check Me Out and Anndrovette. "This is my third time. What an honour. And to all the owners, trainers and grooms, I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you."
Breeder of the Year honours went to White Birch Farms, the breeder and co-owner of Captaintreacherous.
Canadian driver Scott Zeron was among the honourees on Sunday evening earning the Rising Star Award.
"It's a true honour to be here," said the 23-year-old Oakville, Ont. reinsman, who drove Canada's 2012 Horse of the Year Michaels Power for his stellar sophomore campaign. "Winning the Little Brown Jug was something I'll never forget."
North America's winningest driver Dave Palone also stepped into the spotlight to accept the Good Guy Award.
"We all know about our fans, it's what makes us go," said Palone. "When I beat Herve's record it meant a lot. But it will also mean a lot when someone comes along and breaks my record."
Hall of Fame driver John Campbell, harness racing’s all-time leading money-winning pilot, earned the Stan Bergstein-Proximity Award, presented to a person or organization for outstanding contributions to harness racing.
"Lifetime achievement? I've got news for you. I'm not done, on or off the track," stated Campbell while making his acceptance speech. "This award has special meaning to me as it is the first time it is named the Bergstein Proximity Award."
The complete list of equine division winners are listed below.
2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
PACER OF THE YEAR
Captaintreacherous (144 votes)
Somebeachsomewhere – Worldly Treasure – Artsplace
Breeder: White Birch Farm, Allentown, N.J.
Owners: Brittany Farms, Versailles, Ky.; Marvin Katz, Toronto; Joe Sbrocco, Brecksville, Ohio; White Birch Farm, Allentown, N.J.
Trainer: Tony Alagna. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 10-8-1-1. Purses: $911,277. Mark: 1:49.2 at Mohawk.
Top wins: $1-million Metro Pace, $309,050 Woodrow Wilson, $109,206 Nassagaweya division, $86,800 Bluegrass Stakes division, $86,550 International Stallion Stakes division.
2-YEAR-OLD-FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
Somwherovrarainbow (80 votes)
Somebeachsomewhere – Rainbow Blue – Artiscape
Breeders: K&R Racing, Houston, Del.; Teague Inc., Harrington, Del.
Owners: George Teague Jr. Inc., Harrington, Del.; K&R Racing, Houston, Del.; Ted Gewertz, New York, N.Y.
Trainer: George Teague Jr. Drivers: Andy Miller, Montrell Teague.
Races: 11-7-2-1. Purses: $522,437. Mark: 1:51.2 at Woodbine.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown, $160,650 Matron.
3-YEAR-OLD-MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Heston Blue Chip (68 votes)
American Ideal – Shot Togo Bluechip – Cam’s Card Shark
Breeder: Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Wallkill, N.Y.
Owner: Ken Jacobs, Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Trainer: Linda Toscano. Drivers: Tim Tetrick, George Brennan.
Races: 18-14-1-1. Purses: $1.02 million. Mark: 1:48.0 at Dover Downs.
Top wins: $555,000 Breeders Crown, $270,400 Empire Breeders Classic, $270,000 Progress Pace, $176,663 Matron.
3-YEAR-OLD-FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
American Jewel (141 votes)
American Ideal – Trim Hanover – Camluck
Breeder: Brittany Farms, Versailles, Ky.
Owner: Brittany Farms, Versailles, Ky.
Trainer: Jimmy Takter. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 16-9-4-2. Purses: $1.16 million. Mark: 1:48.2 at Mohawk (world record).
Top wins: $629,160 Fan Hanover, $500,000 Breeders Crown, $250,000 Lynch Memorial, $207,930 Simcoe, $145,000 American-National, $71,000 Bluegrass Stakes division.
OLDER MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Foiled Again (60 votes)
Dragon Again – In A Safe Place – Artsplace
Breeder: Barbara Matthews, Aiken, S.C.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Fredericktown, Pa.; Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Canonsburg, Pa.; JJK Stables, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: Yannick Gingras.
Races: 24-7-8-5. Purses: $1.20 million. Mark: 1:48.3 at Mohawk.
Top wins: $794,870 Canadian Pacing Derby, $291,000 Molson Pace, $200,000 Indiana Pacing Derby.
OLDER FEMALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Anndrovette (72 votes)
Riverboat King – Easy Miss – Big Towner
Breeder: Golden Touch Stable, Fair Lawn, N.J.
Owners: Bamond Racing, Brick, N.J.; Joseph Davino, Clarksburg, N.J.
Trainer: P.J. Fraley. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 23-7-4-5. Purses: $696,799. Mark: 1:48.1 at Mohawk.
Top wins: $387,090 Roses Are Red, $331,500 Breeders Crown, $101,750 Overbid.
2-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Wheeling N Dealin (135 votes)
Cantab Hall – Quick Credit – Credit Winner
Breeder: Valley High Stable, Freehold, N.J.
Owner: Ecurie Synergie, Montreal, PQ.
Trainer: Dustin Jones. Driver: Sylvain Filion.
Races: 9-9-0-0. Purses: $683,544. Mark: 1:55.0 at Mohawk.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown, $475,860 Wellwood Memorial, $142,323 Champlain division.
2-YEAR-OLD-FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
To Dream On (115 votes)
Credit Winner – Satin Pillows – Conway Hall
Breeder: Valley High Stable, Freehold, N.J.
Owners: Marvin Katz, Toronto, Ontario; Al Libfeld, Pickering, Ontario.
Trainer: Jimmy Takter. Drivers: Takter, David Miller, Yannick Gingras.
Races: 9-8-1-0. Purses: $19,377. Mark: 1:53.2 at Red Mile.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown, $354,450 Merrie Annabelle, $98,100 International Stallion Stakes division, $89,250 Bluegrass Stakes division.
3-YEAR-OLD-MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Market Share (140 votes)
Revenue S – Classical Flirt – Yankee Glide
Breeder: Hayley Moore, Paris, Ky.
Owners: Richard Gutnick, Blue Bell, Pa.; TLP Stable, Kearny, N.J.; William Augustine, Hammonton, N.J.
Trainer: Linda Toscano. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 20-10-5-3. Purses: $1,985,952. Mark: 1:50.3 at Red Mile.
Top wins: $1.5 million Hambletonian, $1.03 million Canadian Trotting Classic, $350,000 Zweig Memorial, $235,000 American-National, $108,000 Galt.
3-YEAR-OLD-FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Check Me Out (128 votes)
Donato Hanover – Illusion Bi – Toss Out
Breeders: Az Agricola Biasuzzi Srl, Pompano Beach, Fla.; Scuderia Gina Biasuzzi, Pompano Beach, Fla.
Owners: Ray Schnittker, Middletown, N.Y.; Charles Iannazzo, Tappan, N.Y.
Trainer: Ray Schnittker. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 15-11-2-1. Purses: $960,275. Mark: 1:51.2 at Red Mile (world record).
Top wins: $519,400 Elegantimage, $245,500 Delvin Miller Memorial, $200,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship, $185,194 Hudson Filly Trot, $150,000 Zweig Memorial Filly.
OLDER MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
TROTTER OF THE YEAR
HORSE OF THE YEAR
Chapter Seven (140 votes)
Windsongs Legacy – La Riviera Lindy – Dream Vacation
Breeder: Richard Banca, Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Owners: Richard Gutnick, Blue Bell, Pa.; Southwind Farm, Pennington, N.J.; J&T Silva Stables, Long Beach, N.Y.
Trainer: Linda Toscano. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 10-8-2-0. Purses: $1.02 million. Mark: 1:50.1 at Meadowlands (equals world record).
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown, $250,000 Nat Ray, $201,700 Titan Cup, $180,000 American-National, $150,000 Maxie Lee, $131,200 Allerage Open Trot.
OLDER FEMALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Frenchfrysnvinegar (135 votes)
Angus Hall – Gugus – Fool Me Not
Breeders: Big Al’s Stables, Woodbridge, Ontario; David Smith, Rockwood, Ontario.
Owner: David Smith, Rockwood, Ontario.
Trainer: Jeff Gillis. Driver: Jody Jamieson.
Races: 25-8-3-2. Purses: $431,452. Mark: 1:52.0 at Red Mile.
Top wins: $155,820 Ontario Masters, $153,000 Miss Versatility, $119,200 Allerage Mare Trot.
(With files from USHWA)