Harrah's Hoosier Park will play host two a pair of Grade 1 events on Friday, Sept. 18, with the $475,100 USD Peter Haughton Memorial and $483,350 USD Jim Doherty Memorial for the sport's top two-year-old trotters headlining the 15-race program which gets underway at 5:30 p.m.
A full field of 10 will go postward in the Peter Haughton Memorial for rookie colt trotters in the 11th race. The undefeated Indiana superstar, Swan Good Bi, has been tabbed as the 8-5 morning-line choice with regular pilot Jordan Ross. Trained by Henry Graber Jr., the Swan For All-Bange Bi gelding has begun his career with five consecutive victories, three of which came against Indiana Sire Stakes company, including a 1:55 lifetime-best effort on July 31. The $42,254 purchase at last fall's Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale has banked $116,200 on the year for owners Indiana Stables LLC, Frank Baldachino, Michael Rosenthal and James Zito.
The tandem of Marcus Melander and Dexter Dunn will look to take their third consecutive Haughton trophy, having won the last two editions with Maryland and Apex in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The duo will team up with Dream Shaq in post three, listed as 7-1 on the morning line. The Father Patrick-Me Too Baby colt began his career with three consecutive wins against Pennsylvania-sired stakes company, taking a career mark of 1:55.1 at The Meadows on July 11. A $118,056 yearling at last fall's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by owners Brixton Medical Inc. and Hatfield Stables, Dream Shaq has racked up $137,897 and won three times in six starts.
The Peter Haughton Memorial is a "Win and You're In" event for this year's Breeders Crown at Scioto Downs, with the winner receiving an automatic berth for the final on Oct. 23, assuming they are Breeders Crown eligible.
The field for the Haughton is listed below.
$475,100 USD Peter Haughton Memorial (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line
1. Mendoza Mafia - Atlee Bender - Jeff Cullipher - 12-1
2. Ponda Cheetah - Marcus Miller - Erv Miller - 9-1
3. Dream Shaq - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander - 7-1
4. Swan Good Bi - Jordan Ross - Henry Graber Jr. - 8-5
5. Presidente - Scott Zeron - Nancy Takter - 5-2
6. Southern Hanover - John De Long - Linda Toscano - 9-1
7. Ponda Solve - Kyle Wilfong - Ron Burke - 20-1
8. Big Time Trot S - Yannick Gingras - Ake Svanstedt - 12-1
9. Yankee Boss - Tim Tetrick - Ake Svanstedt - 15-1
10. Red Andray - Mike Wilder - Norm Parker - 20-1
AE1. Jazzy Blues - Todd McCarthy - Carter Pinske
AE2. Black Tesla - Ridge Warren - Nicklas Andersen
The filly counterpart, the Jim Doherty Memorial, will immediately follow with a field of seven set to go in Race 12. Trainer Marcus Melander sends a trio into the event, headlined by the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (PASS) champion Birr Castle, who has been listed as the 2-1 morning-line favourite from the rail. The Captain Corey-Melania filly has compiled a record of 5-4-1-0 and exits off her 1:53.4 career-best-equalling score in the PASS final at Pocono Downs. Scott Zeron will retain the drive on the Pheasant Hill Farm homebred that has banked $327,899.
Also included in that Melander-trained triple threat is the Grade 1 Peaceful Way champion Athenas Girl, who has been billed as the 5-2 morning-line second choice from post four. Dexter Dunn will once again have the drive on the filly that has reeled off three consecutive wins since the addition of trotting hopples, headlined by that 1:53 lifetime-best effort at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the Peaceful Way in her last. The daughter of Walner-Fashion Athena has banked $245,106 on the year for owner Brad Grant and is three-for-six. The third part of the Melander trio, Two Day Hangover (Mattias Melander, 5-1), leaves from the outside post seven. The daughter of Captain Corey-Sherry Lyns Lady has won three of her four starts with $148,823 in earnings for Brittany Farms LLC and Marvin Katz LLC.
The Jim Doherty Memorial will be the richest horse race contested in the state of Indiana in 2026, and is also a "Win and You're in" event for the Breeders Crown.
The field for the Doherty is listed below.
$483,350 USD Jim Doherty Memorial (Grade 1)
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Odds
1. Birr Castle - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander - 2-1
2. Rbssouthwindcentra - David Miller - Henry Graber Jr. - 3-1
3. Miss Eliza - Mike Wilder - Norm Parker - 12-1
4. Athenas Girl - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander - 5-2
5. Salt Water Taffy - Yannick Gingras - Tim Twaddle - 20-1
6. Climatic Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Lucas Wallin - 8-1
7. Two Day Hangover - Mattias Melander - Marcus Melander - 5-1
The 15-race program also includes the $78,750 Hoosier Cup for Indiana-sired three-year-old pacing colts and geldings in the evening's sixth race.
Bettors will have a $15,000 guaranteed Late Pick 4 (Races 12-15) at which to take aim, at beginning with the Doherty in the 12th, along with a $10,000 USD guaranteed Late Hoosier High 5 in the finale, offered in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program. Free online programs are available on the Hoosier Park website, in addition to complimentary access to Hoosier Park race replays under the racing tab.
The Haughton/Doherty card kicks off a four week stretch of major Friday-night programs at Hoosier Park. It is followed by the Caesars Trotting Classic presented by Kountry Lane Standardbreds, on Friday, Sept. 25, the final leg of Indiana Sire Stakes on Friday, Oct. 2, and the $2.2 million USD Hoosier Champions card on Friday, Oct. 9.
(With files from Hoosier Park)