Mister Big and Dan Patch are separated by a century, but the two pacers are linked through greatness
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Dan Patch was one of the sport's first superstars and his exploits against the clock eventually led to the U.S. Harness Writers Association naming its top awards in his honour. Mister Big, who ranks fourth in career earnings among all pacers in history, with $3.3 million, has received his division's Dan Patch Award the past two years.
This weekend, Mister Big will head to Dan Patch's home state of Indiana and try to win a race named in his honour.
The 16th edition of the Dan Patch Invitational will be held at Hoosier Park on Saturday. The list of potential entrants in the $200,000 event also includes Art Official, Dali, Robin I Scoot, Southwestern Dream, Shark Gesture, Foiled Again, Winbak Speed and defending champion Won The West. Entries will be taken Wednesday.
"It looks like a competitive field," said Virgil Morgan, Jr., who trains Mister Big for owner Joe Muscara. "It's a competitive race, that's for sure. It's going to be a full field and, as always, post position is going to dictate a lot."
Mister Big made his 2009 debut on June 11 at Harrah's Chester. He finished second to Montecito N, beaten by a neck in 1:50.1. Mister Big, who has won 29 of 69 races - including 11 of 14 last year, was fifth in the early goings and raced on the outside for the final five-eighths of a mile. Montecito N was second in the Graduate on May 16 at the Meadowlands and since then has won three consecutive starts at Chester.
"I thought (Mister Big) raced super," Morgan said. "He came with a :53.4 (second) back half in his first start. I think a lot of people were looking at the fact he got beat, but you have to look at the trip. I knew we were in trouble when a horse of (Montecito's) caliber gets to the half in :55.3; I knew it was going to be a wicked back half. To come first over on Montecito N, who has been racing pretty much all winter, and pace :53.4 - he's sharp. It was an awesome effort."
Mister Big's payday was enough to move him ahead of Nihilator on the all-time earnings list. Boulder Creek, Eternal Camnation, and Gallo Blue Chip - with $4.2 million - are the only pacers above Mister Big.
Over his last 16 major stakes finals, Mister Big has nine wins and four second-place finishes. Last year, he joined Red Bow Tie as the only older male pacers since 1977 to win back-to-back Dan Patch Award divisional honours. If the six-year-old can grab another trophy this year, he will join Rambling Willie as the only ones in history to win three.
Horses for the Dan Patch Invitational will race from the Grandstand Paddock, located on the south end of the grandstand. Guests are encouraged to view the horses as they prepare for the race. The Dan Patch Invitational will be the 13th race on the card, with a 5:01 p.m. estimated post time.
(Harness Racing Communications)