A field of nine will go to post Saturday, June 26 at Hoosier Park in the 17th edition of the $200,000 Dan Patch
Invitational for older pacers. The race is part of a special evening tagged as Thrillyard 200, presented by the membership of the Indiana Standardbred Association. The evening will also include several divisions of the Indiana Sires Stakes, bringing total purses for the evening to $445,500.
Heading the list of entrants in the Dan Patch Invitational is Shark Gesture. A winner in three of his four starts for 2010, the seven-year-old son of Cams Card Shark has paced under the 1:49 mark in three of his last performances, including a 1:48.2 romp in a qualifier at The Meadowlands June 4. Trained by Larry Remmen, Shark Gesture makes his third appearance in the Dan Patch. The $2.2 million winner finished second in the 2007 edition of the race behind Artistic Fella and was sixth last year. Shark Gesture starts from Post 5 accompanied by George Brennan as the early morning line favourite at odds of 5-2.
Also a main contender for the Dan Patch title is Keep It Real, making his first Indiana start for trainer Lou Pena. The four-year-old Real Artist horse has six wins this year, only missing the top three twice in 15 starts. Keep It Real heads to Indiana off a second-place finish at Chester Downs where he was timed in 1:48.4. He starts from Post 9 and will be driven by Hoosier Park driver Ed Hensley at odds of 3-1.
Won The West, 2008 Dan Patch winner, has been selected as the third choice on the morning line for this year’s event. Now six, the Western Hanover gelding has raked in more than $2.4 million in career earnings for trainer Ron Burke. He returns to Indiana off a third-place finish at Tioga Downs where he was beaten less than a length in a time of 1:48.4. Two-time Dan Patch winning driver Ricky Macomber will steer Won The West from Post 3 at odds of 9-2.
Here is a look at the complete 2010 Dan Patch field, in post position order with driver (not yet confirmed) and morning line odds included:
1. Southwind Lynx (Peter Wrenn) 6-1
2. Atochia (Josh Sutton) 6-1
3. Won The West (Macomber) 9-2
4. Lisagain (Wrenn) 4-1
5. Shark Gesture (Brennan) 5-2
6. Dinneratartsplace (Sam Widger) 15-1
7. Robin I Scoot (Trace Tetrick) 8-1
8. Hypnotic Blue Chip (Wrenn) 10-1
9. Keep It Real (Hensley) 3-1
Wrenn, Hoosier Park’s leading driver, has been named on three horses for the race.
Estimated post time for the Dan Patch Invitational is set for 9:30 p.m. EST. It will be carded as the 13th race on the 14-race program.
Several activities will be held trackside to complement the Dan Patch Invitational, including extreme sports activities such as an extreme wrecking ball challenge, a bungee trampoline, extreme bungee racing, and a paint ball course. The evening will be kicked off with another round of Charity Chariots as members of the Fab Five along with Wrenn will offer free rides around the track on double seated jog carts for a donation of $20. All proceeds will go to the drivers’ selected charities. Rides will be held from 4 – 5 p.m.
Also, the Fab Five and Wrenn will serve as judges for the local BBQ contest. The winning submission selected by the drivers will receive $1,000. Samples will be available to racing fans beginning at 5 p.m. while supplies last.
Thrillyard 200 will conclude with an Extreme Motor Sport prize. One lucky fan will get their choice of a personal watercraft, super sports bike or $10,000 in Thrill Cash. The winner will be announced following the live racing program at approximately 10:15 p.m. in The Yard.
(Hoosier Park)