USHWA ANNOUNCES DAN PATCH AWARD-WINNING HORSES

HIGHTSTOWN, NJ -- December 23, 2024 -- Unanimous selection Twin B Joe Fresh, repeat winners Captain Albano and Jiggy Jog S, and the year’s leading money-earner Maryland led the way when divisional 2024 Dan Patch Award honors for pacers and trotters were announced during a broadcast presentation prior to Tuesday’s (Dec. 24) racing card at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Four-year-old female pacer Twin B Joe Fresh was named on all 142 ballots returned in voting conducted by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. She became the third unanimous pick in three years, following Confederate in 2023 and Bulldog Hanover in 2022. 

Three-year-old Captain Albano became the sixth male pacer this century to receive a Dan Patch Award at ages 2 and 3 while 5-year-old female trotter Jiggy Jog S became the fifth trotting mare to repeat as the division’s honoree since 2000. Two-year-old male trotter Maryland, who topped the sport with $1.22 million, was the second-highest vote-getter with 139.

The four remaining pacers to receive divisional honors were 2-year-old male Louprint, 2-year-old female Miki And Minnie, 3-year-old female My Girl EJ, and older male Abuckabett Hanover. The four remaining trotters were 2-year-old female Champagne Problems, 3-year-old male Sig Sauer, 3-year-old female Allegiant, and older male Winner’s Bet.

All winners were named on at least 63 percent of ballots. Complete voting totals can be viewed at this link.

The 12 division champions will be honored during the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 23. Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year and Horse of the Year will be announced at the banquet.

Dexter Dunn this year drove a record eight divisional champs, including Twin B Joe Fresh, a horse he co-owned. The others were Abuckabett Hanover, Champagne Problems, Jiggy Jog S, Maryland, Miki And Minnie, My Girl EJ, and Winner’s Bet.

Twin B Joe Fresh finished no worse than second in all 13 of her races this year, winning 11 and earning $895,562 to lead all older pacers in money. Ten of her wins were on the Grand Circuit and included eight of the nine most lucrative races for pacing mares (missing only the Blue Chip Matchmaker final, in which she did not compete). She was voted No. 1 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll for the final 21 weeks of the rankings.

A daughter of Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze, Twin B Joe Fresh counted the Breeders Crown Mare Pace among her triumphs for owners Chris Ryder, Dunn, Peter Trebotica, and Barry Spak. The mare was bred by Brittany Farms. She was one of two Dan Patch Award winners trained by Ryder, along with Miki And Minnie. 

Miki And Minnie hit the board in all 11 of her races, winning six and finishing second on four occasions. The daughter of Always B Miki-That’s The Ticket led all 2-year-old pacers in earnings, banking $834,086 for breeders/owners Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz. Her six triumphs came over her final seven races of the campaign and included the Breeders Crown, Three Diamonds, and Kentucky Sire Stakes championship.

Captain Albano, one of two Dan Patch honorees trained by Noel Daley, along with Sig Sauer, won 12 of 18 races and earned $1.11 million. The son of Captaintreacherous-Angelou captured 10 of his final 12 races of the season, including the Little Brown Jug and Adios, for driver Todd McCarthy and owners Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing Inc., and Michael Dolan. He was bred by Frederick Hertrich III.

The colt joined Perfect Sting, Tall Dark Stranger, Somebeachsomewhere, Captaintreacherous, and Bettor’s Delight as male pacers to be Dan Patch Award winners at both 2 and 3 this century.

Sig Sauer, driven by Andrew McCarthy, was the season’s fastest 3-year-old trotter with a mark of 1:49.3 set in winning the Kentucky Futurity. Overall, the son of Muscle Hill-Sigilwig won five of 10 starts, including a Breeders Crown and the Earl Beal Jr. Memorial, and earned $871,812. Bred by Southwind Farms, the colt was owned by Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Allister Stables LLC, and Caviart Farms.

Jiggy Jog S was a perfect 6-for-6 this year, earning $929,188, before being retired because of a ligament issue. She defeated an international group of male rivals in the MGM Yonkers International Trot in addition to beating the boys in the John Cashman Memorial (in a career-best 1:49.2), Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, and Sebastian K Invitational.

A daughter of Walner-Hot Mess Hanover, Jiggy Jog S was trained by Ake Svanstedt and owned by Ake Svanstedt Inc., Steve Stewart, John Lengacher, and Hickory Hollow Stables. She was bred by Vestmarka AB and joined Manchego, Hannelore Hanover, Buck I St Pat, and Peaceful Way as repeat winners in the division this century.

Maryland, who came within $11,176 of setting the earnings record for a 2-year-old male trotter, won six of nine races for trainer Marcus Melander and owners Courant Inc., PCW Racing LLC, Holly Lane Stud East LTD, and SStewartRThorn Stable. He finished his campaign with a five-race victory streak that included the Mohawk Million, a Breeders Crown, Peter Haughton Memorial and William Wellwood Memorial. The son of Chapter Seven-Crucial was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

Nancy Takter trained two Dan Patch Award winners in trotters Winner’s Bet and Champagne Problems.

Winner’s Bet, a 4-year-old stallion, won nine of 13 races and earned $786,684 for owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Robert Rudolph. The son of Walner-Side Bet Hanover, bred by S R F Stable, was a Breeders Crown champion and closed his season by winning five of his last six races. Earlier, he trotted a career-best 1:49.3 in a preliminary round of the Graduate Series and won the series final in his next start.

Champagne Problems won seven of 12 races and a division-leading $500,086 in purses for owners Rojan Stables, Family Business, Patrick Hoopes, and Caviart Farms. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Miss Caviar, bred by Southwind Farms, counted the Jim Doherty Memorial and Kindergarten Classic Series final among her triumphs.

Completing the list of trotting honorees was Allegiant, a Breeders Crown champ who won six of 17 races and earned $748,027 for owner Ryan Smith. Other victories included a Matron Stakes, the Moni Maker, and a Hambletonian Oaks elimination (she was third in the final). She ended the season by finishing second against older competition in the FanDuel Mare Trot Championship. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Too Good For You was trained by Vernon Beachy and Linda Toscano and notched Grand Circuit victories with drivers Scott Zeron and Hunter Myers. She was bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and Steve Stewart.

Returning to the pacing side, Ron Burke trained two horses to receive honors, Louprint and My Girl EJ.

Louprint hit the board in all 10 of his races, winning seven and earning a division-best $737,939 for breeders/owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Phil Collura. The son of Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer, driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr., was a Breeders Crown and Kentucky Sire Stakes champion and became the first 2-year-old male in history to pace four miles in 1:49.1 or faster, with a mark of 1:48.4.

My Girl EJ competed for the Burke Brigade in 17 of her 18 starts this year before being sold in mid-November and closing the season with a second-place finish to Twin B Joe Fresh in the FanDuel Mare Pace Championship for trainer Andrew Harris. Overall, she hit the board in 16 of 18 races, winning nine and earning a division-leading $796,399. Her victories included a Breeders Crown and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final.

The daughter of Sweet Lou-Lucy’s Pearl was bred by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and Elizabeth Novak and was owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Ronald Burke, and Novak prior to being purchased by William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and Harris. 

Pollock, Areman, and Harris were the connections behind Abuckabett Hanover, who hit the board in 12 of 15 races, winning seven and earning a division-best $833,022. He finished worse than second only twice in his final 12 starts and counted the William R. Haughton Memorial, FanDuel Open Pace Championship, Dayton Derby, and Dave Brower Memorial among his triumphs. The 6-year-old stallion, a son of Betting Line-All Tucked Up, was trained by Harris and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.

Dinner tickets for the Dan Patch Awards banquet can be ordered here and room reservations at Rosen Centre can be made here. Additional information is available at the USHWA website. Sponsorship opportunities for the event can be procured from sponsorship chairman Shawn Wiles at swiles@rwcatskills.com. Advertisements in the souvenir journal can be arranged with journal chairman Kim Rinker at trotrink@aol.com.

Following is a look at the 12 divisional Dan Patch Award recipients:

TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
MARYLAND (colt)
Chapter Seven – Crucial – Father Patrick
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owners: Courant Inc., PCW Racing LLC, Holly Lane Stud East LTD, SStewartRThorn Stable.
Trainer: Marcus Melander. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 9-6-1-1. Purses: $1.22 million. Mark: 1:51.4 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: Mohawk Million; $700,000 Breeders Crown; $425,500 William Wellwood Memorial; $390,000 Peter Haughton Memorial.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER

CHAMPAGNE PROBLEMS

Tactical Landing – Miss Caviar – SJ’s Caviar
Breeder: Southwind Farms LLC.
Owners: Rojan Stables, Family Business, Patrick Hoopes, Caviart Farms.
Trainer: Nancy Takter. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 12-7-2-0. Purses: $500,086. Mark: 1:52.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $305,000 Jim Doherty Memorial; $243,400 Kindergarten Classic Series final; $240,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final.

THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
SIG SAUER (colt)
Muscle Hill – Sigilwig – Donato Hanover
Breeder: Southwind Farms LLC.
Owners: Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing, Allister Stables LLC, Caviart Farms.

Trainer: Noel Daley. Driver: Andrew McCarthy.
Races: 10-5-0-1. Purses: $871,812. Mark: 1:49.3 at Red Mile.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $500,000 Kentucky Futurity; $300,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial.

THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER
ALLEGIANT
Tactical Landing – Too Good For You – Yankee Glide
Breeders: Atlantic Trot Inc., Steve Stewart.
Owner: Ryan Smith.
Trainers: Vernon Beachy, Linda Toscano. Drivers: Scott Zeron, Hunter Myers.
Races: 17-6-4-2. Purses: $748,027. Mark: 1:51.1 at Meadowlands, Bally’s Dover.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $146,050 Matron; $100,000 Moni Maker.

OLDER MALE TROTTER
WINNER’S BET (4-year-old stallion)
Walner – Side Bet Hanover – Donato Hanover
Breeder: S R F Stable.
Owners: Lindy Farms of Connecticut, Robert Rudolph.
Trainer: Nancy Takter. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 13-9-0-1. Purses: $786,684. Mark: 1:49.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $260,000 Charlie Hill Memorial; $230,000 Graduate; $200,000 Caesars Trotting Classic.

OLDER FEMALE TROTTER
JIGGY JOG S (5-year-old mare)
Walner – Hot Mess Hanover – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Vestmarka AB.
Owners: Ake Svanstedt Inc., Steve Stewart, John Lengacher, Hickory Hollow Stables.
Trainer: Ake Svanstedt. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 6-6-0-0. Purses: $929,188. Mark: 1:49.2 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot; $282,000 John Cashman Memorial; $250,000 Dayton Oaks; $145,150 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial.

TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
LOUPRINT (colt)
Sweet Lou – Rockin Racer – Rockin Image
Breeders: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phil Collura.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Phil Collura.

Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: Ronnie Wrenn Jr.
Races: 10-7-2-1. Purses: $737,939. Mark: 1:48.4 at Red Mile.
Top wins: $700,000 Breeders Crown; $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER
MIKI AND MINNIE
Always B Miki – That’s The Ticket – Roll With Joe
Breeders: Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, Lawrence Minowitz.
Owners: Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, Lawrence Minowitz.
Trainer: Chris Ryder. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 11-6-4-1. Purses: $834,086. Mark: 1:49.2 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $700,000 Breeders Crown; $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final; $338,200 Three Diamonds.

THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
CAPTAIN ALBANO (colt)
Captaintreacherous – Angelou – American Ideal
Breeder: Frederick Hertrich III.
Owners: Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing Inc., Michael Dolan.
Trainer: Noel Daley. Driver: Todd McCarthy.
Races: 18-12-1-3. Purses: $1.11 million. Mark: 1:48.1 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $525,000 Little Brown Jug; $350,000 Adios; $300,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial; $267,960 Progress Pace; $185,500 Matron.

THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER
MY GIRL EJ
Sweet Lou – Lucy’s Pearl – Well Said
Breeders: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Elizabeth Novak.
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Ronald Burke, Elizabeth Novak (prior to 11/18/2024); William Pollock, Bruce Areman, Andrew Harris (as of 11/18).
Trainers: Ron Burke, Andrew Harris. Drivers: Dexter Dunn, Todd McCarthy.
Races: 18-9-5-2. Purses: $796,399. Mark: 1:48.1 at Red Mile.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final; $116,500 Glen Garnsey division.

OLDER MALE PACER
ABUCKABETT HANOVER (6-year-old stallion)
Betting Line – All Tucked Up – Western Ideal
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owners: William Pollock, Bruce Areman, Andrew Harris.
Trainer: Andrew Harris. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 15-7-4-1. Purses: $833,022. Mark: 1:47.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $428,000 William R. Haughton Memorial; $325,000 FanDuel Open Pace Championship; $250,000 Dayton Derby; $152,190 Dave Brower Memorial.

OLDER FEMALE PACER
TWIN B JOE FRESH (4-year-old mare)
Roll With Joe – Fresh Breeze – Captaintreacherous
Breeder: Brittany Farms LLC.
Owners: Chris Ryder, Dexter Dunn, Peter Trebotica, Barry Spak.
Trainer: Chris Ryder. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 13-11-2-0. Purses: $895,562. Mark: 1:47.3 at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $400,000 Breeders Crown; $250,000 Dayton Distaff Derby; $222,650 Roses Are Red; $151,700 Milton; $150,000 FanDuel Mare Championship; $146,000 Lady Liberty; $140,000 Dorothy Haughton Memorial.