Dan D Man Can's perfect sophomore season continued with an Indiana Sire Stakes (INSS) victory in the $135,915 fifth leg for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday, July 30 at Harrah's Hoosier Park.
The win was part of an INSS sweep for driver Atlee Bender, who also won the $133,099 sixth-leg event for sophomore male pacers with Dancingdreamer as part of a five-win evening. Erv Miller, trainer of Dan D Man Can, and Tyler George, who conditions Dancingdreamer, both had noteworthy nights, winning four and three races, respectively.
Trotting out of post two, Dan D Man Can snagged the second spot as the 2-5 favourite, leaving smooth sailing for August Salazar (John De Long) to lead the field at the first quarter in :27.3. Swan Affect (Marcus Miller) cruised out of third and got past Dan D Man Can and August Salazar to take command to the half-mile mark in :57.2. Dan D Man Can transitioned to the outside upon arrival at the turn, taking aim at the leader first-over to three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Dan D Man Can wore down the leader on the final turn and pushed his way to the helm. August Salazar found an extra gear from third to put in a late bid, but Dan D Man Can was decisive to the wire for his seventh straight win in 1:53.1 by a quarter length. Inverness Ave (Kevin Lambright) got up for third at 30-1.
The winning Dover Dan-Caramela Hanover gelding is owned by Red Barn Stable, Stepbystep Racing and Lava Java Stable. He is undefeated through seven starts in 2026 and is five-for-five in the INSS, bringing his career totals to eight wins and $474,917 in earnings from 16 starts. Dan D Man Can paid $2.80 to win.
Dancingdreamer, making his first start for George, took a new lifetime mark in the INSS three-year-old colt pace contest.
Dancingdreamer accelerated to an early lead from post seven in a :26.2 opening panel, then yielded to Swiss Lights (Trace Tetrick), who passed on a pocket tuck to take the lead. Favoured Aces And Cinches (Kyle Wilfong) brushed from third to arrive at the front at the halfway mark in :54.2. The field remained unchanged to the three-quarters in 1:22.3 with Aces And Chinches, Swiss Lights, and Dancingdreamer comprising the top three. The three-horse race didn’t disappoint down the stretch, with Dancingdreamer picking up a head of steam to get by his rivals late and win by a quarter-length in 1:49. Aces And Cinches held for second, and Swiss Lights finished third.
Dancingdreamer took his sixth career win in 16 tries and increased his bankroll to $187,465. He is three-for-eight this year for owners Desyllas Racing LLC, William Beck, and Jeffrey Eckburg. He paid $21.40 to win.
Including Dan D Man Can and Dancingdreamer, Bender had five wins on the 14-race program. He also won with Meadowbrook Mark ($9.40), trained by Nikki Hauck, and Tarzan ($3.20) and Assistant Coach ($2.20) for Erv Miller. Bender, coming off a career-best season of 235 wins, is 167-for-1,095 in 2026.
Erv Miller also won with Ponda Challenger ($3.60), driven by his son, Marcus. With the Thursday grand slam, the trainer has 121 victories in 2026 from 522 starts for a win rate of 23.2 per cent.
George's other winners were Quantum ($2.80) and Lady Wonder ($6.60), both piloted by Trace Tetrick. George, who last season set a career-high win total of 201, is 93-for-333 this term and is clicking at a 28 per cent clip.
Two-year-old INSS actions returns on Friday at Hoosier with the trotting colts and geldings in Races 2, 10 and 12. Friday’s 14-race card features the $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.
(With files from Hoosier Park)