A pair of sophomore trotting geldings remained perfect on the season as Dan D Man Can and San Patricio took their respective divisions of the second leg of Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) on Thursday, June 11 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
The Erv Miller-trained Dan D Man Can teamed up with regular pilot Atlee Bender to take the $68,750 first split, moving to two-for-two in the series this year.
Dan D Man Can took his time out of post four, hovering around the middle of the seven-horse field as Swan Affect (Marcus Miller) looked to set the tone, gliding to the lead ahead of Inverness Ave (John De Long). Swan Affect maintained his tempo to the quarter in :28. The field strung out as Swan Effect and Inverness Ave looked to separate themselves from Kousin Karl (Trace Tetrick) and favourite Dan D Man Can, who was fourth. The trotters started to regroup while Swan Affect held the line strong past the halfway point in :56.1. Kousin Karl drifted wide and rolled alongside Inverness Ave with Swan Affect leading past the three-quarters in 1:24.4.
Beginning to close the gap from fourth, Dan D Man Can moved to the outside with sights set on the lead trio. Swan Affect battled off Inverness Ave and Kousin Karl down the lane, but Dan D Man Can flew down the outside in :27.3 to surge clear by a length on the line in 1:53.3. Swan Affect held on for second, while Inverness Ave finished third.
The winning Dover Dan-Caramela Hanover gelding is owned by Red Barn Stable, Douglas Overhiser and Lava Java Stable. Dan D Man Can added his third straight win of the season to boost his lifetime earnings to $263,181 and his record to four-for-12. He paid $3.40 to win.
San Patricio, driven by Trace Tetrick for trainer Tyler Butenschoen, dominated the $69,444 second split.
From the start, favoured San Patricio fired out of post six to find the lead in front of Sunday Swagger (Marcus Miller) in a first quarter of :28. San Patricio remained in front down the backstretch with the closest trotters Sunday Swagger and August Salazar (John De Long) racing second and third, respectively to the half in :56. San Patrico led a pack of four — Sunday Swagger, August Salazar and Bravo Alpha (Kyle Wilfong) — leaving the rest of the field behind heading to three-quarters in 1:24.1. San Patricio extended his lead to three lengths by the eighth pole and cruised home a 2-3/4-length winner in 1:52.4 over August Salazar, who closed for second over Sunday Swagger.
San Patricio is owned by Tony Holmes, Michael Holmes, June Zent and Timothy Thornton. The Swan For All-Kaikoura gelding increased his lifetime earnings to $225,989 with his third straight win to start his sophomore season, following victories in the INSS at Hoosier and an overnight event at Oak Grove. He is now eight-for-11 lifetime. The win price was $2.40.
Live racing at Hoosier Park continues on Friday with a 14-race card delivering another $95,000 USD INSS bout for the three-year-old pacing males. Friday’s racing will include a $10,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 and the $10,000 guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5, done in partnership with the USTA’s Strategic Wagering Program. First post is set for 5:30 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park; photo of Dan D Man Can winning on June 11)