A year after pulling the 17-1 shocker aboard Ponda Warrior in the 2023 edition of Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s premier pacing event, driver Kyle Wilfong drove Dunkin to a 20-1 upset in the $416,667 Dan Patch Stakes, presented by Indiana Standardbred Breed Development, on Friday, Aug. 9.
“The last thing [owner Betty Clegg's husband] Nick told me is if you get him out of the gate, you’re going to win the Dan Patch,” said Wilfong. “He knew what he was talking about.”
Leaving from post two in the accomplished field of 10, Wilfong settled Dunkin into the fifth position as the pacers barrelled into the first turn, with a revved up Christchurch (LeWayne Miller) storming to the front through a first quarter of :26. The pacers kept their cards close to the vest on the backstretch, with Wilfong tepidly tipping from fifth as Christchurch sped into the headwind to reach the half in :54.3. The outer flow developed entering the final turn as Buzzsaw Russ (John De Long) stormed to the lead first-over at three-quarters in 1:22.2 with Charlie May (Brett Miller) on his back and Dunkin poised to strike from third-over.
Turning for home, Buzzsaw Russ looked to have given the field the slip, scampering away by four lengths at the eighth pole with Dunkin and a host of challengers yet to find their best stride in pursuit. With the strides of Buzzsaw Russ shortening on the lead and pressured to his outside with a surging Coach Stefanos (Trace Tetrick), Dunkin found more in the tank to sprint home in :26 between the local horses to emerge a length clear on the line in 1:49.1. Buzzsaw Russ and Coach Stefanos finished in a dead-heat for the place spot, while Charlie May held for fourth to complete the superfecta.
“Turning for home, I thought I was sitting pretty,” said Wilfong. “I was following two good horses and knew I had plenty of horse left. He’s a horse that has won a lot of races and deserved to be in the Dan Patch. He speaks for himself.”
Dunkin, who returned $42 for the upset win, is trained by Scott Di Domenico for owner Betty Clegg. The 1:49.1 clocking was a lifetime best for Dunkin, shaving nearly two seconds off of his previous mark of 1:50.4 in his first start ever on a track greater than five-eighths of a mile.
The victory was the ninth of the season from 25 starts and 36th in the career of the four-year-old gelded son of Pet Rock-Skinny Dip. Bred by Stonegate Standardbred Farms, Dunkin, the $7,000 bargain yearling purchase, now sports a career bankroll of $735,057.
With the victory, Dunkin receives an automatic nomination to the $175,000 USD (est.) Harrah’s Hoosier Park Pacing Derby slated for Friday, Sept. 20.
Wilfong joins Yannick Gingras (2017 & 2018) as the only driver to go back-to-back in the Dan Patch Stakes and is unbeaten in two starts in Hoosier Park’s signature pacing event. The win was one of two on the card for Wilfong, who sits third in the driver standings for the 2024 racing season.
Racing continues at Hoosier Park on Saturday, Aug. 11 with a 12-race card set to get underway at 7 p.m. The card will kick off with a $20,000 guaranteed Early Pick 5 (Races 1-5) featuring a carryover of $6,925.14. Free programs are available nightly on the Hoosier Park website.
(Hoosier Park)