It wasn’t a major upset, but an upset nonetheless for Century Farroh who hauled down Bettors Wish in deep stretch en route to capturing Friday’s $225,000 Dan Patch Stakes at Hoosier Park.
With David Miller in tow, Century Farroh got away third while heavily-favoured Bettors Wish and Dexter Dunn shot to the lead and carved out fractions of :25.3, :54.1 and 1:22.2. In the lane, Bettors Wish drifted slightly off the rail, and Miller took advantage of the opportunity to shoot through that opening with Century Farroh.
Sent off at odds of 3-1, Century Farroh sprinted up the cones in :26 to nip Bettors Wish by a half-length margin in a time of 1:49. Bettors Wish was second under the line, with Dorsoduro Hanover finishing a fast-closing third.
Century Farroh, a four-year-old son of Mach Three-Beachy Girl, hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Dr. Ian Moore for the Ratchford Stable NS of North Sydney, NS. The victory was his second of the season from eight attempts and it goes down as career win 18 for the career winner of $1,071,045.
“He’s always been a good horse,” David Miller said. “He has just had some back luck this year and this time he had some luck. Also, how the track was playing really had no impact on how I drove him. I just went out there and did my job. We had no particular strategy, and this is how everything worked out.”
Trainer Dr. Ian Moore had noted earlier in the season it can be difficult transition for a four-year-old horse but that this one was a, “Tough horse and a good horse. Good horses find a way a overcome things.”
In the race prior to the featured event the Gregg Haston Memorial, Little Rocket Man, with Hoosier Park’s perennial leading driver, Trace Tetrick holding the lines led from gate to wire and stopped the clock in a track equaling 1:47.2.
Trained by Missy Essig and owned by Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman, the four-year-old son of Rockin Image-Gt Miss Royal unfortunately did not quality for the Dan Patch Stakes based on earnings. The Indiana champion was sent off as the 2-1 second choice and improved his 2020 record to 6-5-0-0 with the win in this $39,000 event.
Little Rocket Man defeated Gd Western Joe (Matt Kakaley) and Brassy Hanover (Scott Zeron).
He paid $6.00 to win.
(With files from Hoosier Park)
All year long, Century Farroh
All year long, Century Farroh has been knocking on the door of the stable where the elite older pacers reside. Last night, the door finally opened, and he walked in.