If you liked the field that lined up on Saturday in the US Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands, you'll love the lineup assembled for the 2016 Dan Patch Stakes slated for Friday, August 12 at Hoosier Park.
Six of the seven horses from Saturday's U.S. Pacing Championship have entered the $300,000 event. That includes the vaunted Indiana-bred trio of Always B Miki, Freaky Feet Pete and Wiggle It Jiggleit. Also in the mix, the winner of the US Pacing Championship, Shamballa; the horse that finished third in that race (ahead of Always B Miki) Dealt A Winner; 2016's co-fastest pacer Mel Mara; double millionaire All Bets Off; sub-1:48 winner Luck Be Withyou and 2015 O'Brien Award winner Wakizashi Hanover.
Always B Miki has drawn the outside Post 9 in the nine-horse field, and has been listed by Hoosier's oddsmakers as the morning line choice at 8-5. Here's the field with odds in post position order:
1. Wiggle It Jiggleit - 2-1
2. Freaky Feet Pete - 5-1
3. Wakizashi Hanover - 30-1
4. All Bets Off - 20-1
5. Mel Mara - 10-1
6. Dealt A Winner - 20-1
7. Shamballa - 6-1
8. Luck Be Withyou - 20-1
9. Always B Miki - 8-5
Racing fans will have the opportunity to participate in two special wagers offered for the Dan Patch card. A $20,000 Guaranteed Dan Patch Superfecta pool will be available along with a $15,000 Guaranteed Hoosier-High Five pool on the last race of the program as part of the Strategic Wagering Program. Each wager has a minimum bet of 10 cents and is available through the cooperative efforts of the United States Trotting Association, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino and the Indiana Standardbred Association.
Five lucky racing fans will also have the opportunity to place a $1,000 win bet on the horse of their choice in the Dan Patch Stakes. Slated as the twelfth race on the card, estimated post time for the Dan Patch Stakes is 10:07 p.m.
The race will be part of a special weekend tagged as “Dan Patch Festival Weekend”. Hoosier Park will showcase some of the most notable names in harness racing alongside special wagers, free fireworks, giveaways, and interactive family-friendly entertainment.
In conjunction with free helicopter rides, zip-lining and roaming entertainment on Saturday, legendary country music group, Asleep At The Wheel will perform a free concert in Hoosier Park’s Outdoor Music Center as part of the summer concert series line-up. The entire weekend will be culminated by a free fireworks show.
(With files from Hoosier Park)