The 2019 Dan Patch Award divisional racehorse winners were announced on Friday evening (Jan. 3) live during the Meadowlands Racetrack's broadcast.
None of the six pacing divisional winners for the 2019 Dan Patch Awards were able to garner all the votes in their division, but three came close – pacing mare Shartin N and three-year-old filly Warrawee Ubeaut were selected on all but two ballots and three-year-old colt Bettors Wish saw only three votes go against him.
The remaining pacing divisional winners were two-year-old colt Tall Dark Stranger, two-year-old filly Lyons Sentinel and eight-year-old stallion McWicked.
The voting was conducted by the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA), the sport’s top media organization, along with the American Harness Racing Secretaries group. There were 147 participants in this year’s Dan Patch Awards racehorse voting.
Shartin N, Warrawee Ubeaut and McWicked were repeat winners.
Among the females, we’ll follow the adage “age before beauty,” or in this case “Ubeaut,” and say first that six-year-old Shartin N received 145 of the 147 votes, with late-season nemesis Caviart Ally getting the other two. Shartin N won 15 of 19 races, finished second three times and earned $982,177. She became the fastest female in harness racing history with a 1:46.4 victory in the Lady Liberty at The Meadowlands. Other wins included the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final, Roses Are Red, Golden Girls and Artiscape.
Shartin N is a New Zealand-bred daughter of Tintin In America-Bagdarin, bred by G. J. Crabbe, trained by Jim King Jr., and driven by Tim Tetrick, who is co-owner through his Tim Tetrick LLC with Jo Ann Looney-King, Jim’s wife, and Richard Poillucci.
Three-year-old filly Warrawee Ubeaut also received 145 of the votes cast in her division; Tall Drink Hanover gathered the other two.
Warrawee Ubeaut had an eight-race win streak in the prime of the season, which included her Breeders Crown final, the Glen Garnsey Memorial, the Jugette, and her Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship. For the year, she won 12 of 19 races, finished off the board only twice and earned $950,610.
A daughter of Sweet Lou-Great Memories, Warrawee Ubeaut was bred by Warrawee Farms and owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Phillip Collura, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She was trained by Ron Burke and driven by Yannick Gingras.
Bettors Wish drew 144 votes out of 147 after having a season with 13 wins and six seconds in 19 starts to bring him the top earnings honour of all North American Standardbreds of $1.64 million. His victories included the Carl Milstein Memorial, Art Rooney Pace, a division of the Tattersalls Pace, the Matron and Kentucky Sire Stakes championship.
The Bettors Delight-Lifetime Star colt was bred by Breeder of the Year Brittany Farms; owned by Bettors Wish Partners, Fair Island Farm Inc., Bella Racing Ltd., and trainer Chris Ryder; and driven by Driver of the Year Dexter Dunn.
McWicked, the 2018 Horse of the Year, won his third divisional crown at age eight, going along with his coronations at ages three and seven. He was involved in the closest vote among the pacers, winning 73-70 over Lather Up, who earlier in the season tied the 1:46 all-time record.
For the second year in a row and record-equalling third time in his career, McWicked posted a million-dollar season. He won six of 17 races and $1.03 million, with victories including the Jim Ewart Memorial, Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial and Dan Rooney Invitational. The son of McArdle-Western Sahara was bred by Andray Farm, owned by S S G Stables, trained by Casie Coleman and piloted by Brian Sears.
In contests among the two-year-olds, the Captaintreacherous-Tutu Hanover filly Lyons Sentinel won by more than 100 votes over her nearest rival. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and owned by Threelyonsracing, Lyons Sentinel gave trainer Jim King Jr. and driver Tim Tetrick a second divisional winner among the pacing distaffs, as she earned $801,809 to top all other freshmen of either gait or sex.
Lyons Sentinel won nine of 14 races, with her victories including the She’s A Great Lady, her Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship and Matron Stakes.
Tall Dark Stranger topped the two-year-old colts and geldings, getting 86 votes to outdistance rival Papi Rob Hanover by 36. Tall Dark Stranger, a Bettors Delight colt out of Pacing Broodmare of the Year Precocious Beauty, had eight wins and a second in nine starts and earnings of $717,514.
His wins for trainer Nancy Takter and driver Yannick Gingras included the Breeders Crown, Metro Pace, and a division of the International Stallion Stakes. Owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms and Howard Taylor, Tall Dark Stranger was bred by James Avritt Sr.
Three-year-old trotting colt Greenshoe, who was the highest money-winning trotter in North America during 2019, had the largest margin of victory among six trotters elected to Dan Patch Award divisional honours in year-end voting.
The trotting side also produced the closest decision in the 12 categories for both trotters and pacers. Four-year-old mares Atlanta and Manchego, who combined have won over $4 million lifetime, produced as good a finish as any on the track, with Atlanta edging out her rival, 74-72.
Also elected divisional trotting winners were two-year-old gelding Real Cool Sam, two-year-old filly Ramona Hill, three-year-old filly When Dovescry and four-year-old stallion Six Pack.
Greenshoe’s margin was 123-22 over Gimpanzee, the group’s defending champion and his stablemate in the barn of Trainer of the Year Marcus Melander. Greenshoe, a Father Patrick colt out of Designed To Be, was bred by co-Bergstein/Proximity winners Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, driven by Brian Sears, and owned by Hans Backe, Lars Granqvist, Morten Langli and Owner of the Year Anders Ström’s Courant Inc.
Greenshoe won 10 of 13 starts and $1.27 million; in his three other races he was second, and suffered interference in two of them. Among his notable victories were the Kentucky Futurity, the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial, a division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial, and sire stakes championships in Kentucky and New Jersey. He took his mark of 1:49.4 in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes at The Red Mile.
Defending Trotter of the Year Atlanta got the barest of nods among the trotting mares for her campaign in which she won eight of 15 races, hit the board a total of 13 times, and earned a division-best $769,950. She won the Charlie Hill Memorial and two legs and the final of the Graduate Series in mixed company, along with the Armbro Flight and Miami Valley Distaff.
A daughter of Chapter Seven-Hemi Blue Chip bred by Order By Stable, Atlanta raced for trainer Ron Burke, driver Yannick Gingras, and the ownership of Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant and Howard Taylor.
Six Pack joined Atlanta as a repeat champion in 2019, collecting 56 per cent of the vote among older male trotters. Six Pack won four of 12 starts and was worse than third only once on his way to $581,314 in purses. An authoritative 1:49.2 win at Lexington in the Allerage Open Trot and a strong rallying victory in the TVG Series final were among Six Pack’s wins.
The son of Muscle Mass-Pleasing Lady was bred by Breeder of the Year Brittany Farms and campaigned by trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt for his Ake Svanstedt Inc., Little E-Knutssontrotting, Stall Kalmar Inc., and L Berg Inc.
The champion among two-year-old male trotters, Real Cool Sam, was a success from the word “go,” winning his first nine starts and suffering defeat only at the Breeders Crown, where he got too far behind in off going and could only rally for fourth. The son of Muscle Hill is out of the mare Cooler Schooner, a world record-setter in her racing days, and in 2019, Real Cool Sam set no fewer than five divisional world records, including in his division of the International Stallion Stakes, where he dead-heated with Big Oil in 1:52.1, making him the fastest freshman trotting gelding ever, and the time also the fastest dead-heat ever on the trot, regardless of age.
Other wins for Real Cool Sam included the Peter Haughton Memorial and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship. Fashion Farms bred and owns Real Cool Sam, who was trained by Jim Campbell and driven by David Miller.
Ramona Hill ensured her selection among two-year-old trotting fillies by rocketing to the lead from the outside post 10 in her Breeders Crown final, surrendering the advantage, then coming back on to win by four lengths, leaving Sister Sledge and Hypnotic AM, respectively, both second and third in the race and in the year-end voting.
For the year, Ramona Hill won six of seven races and $405,400. She is a daughter of Muscle Hill-Lock Down Lindy, bred by Crawford Farms, and owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant, Robert Leblanc and In The Gym Partners. She is trained by Tony Alagna and was one of driver Andrew McCarthy’s four Breeders Crown winners.
When Dovescry first made noise in the three-year-old trotting filly division by winning her Hambletonian Oaks elimination on July 27, then came back the next week to win the final of the prestigious event. Further triumphs in the Matron and divisions of the Simcoe and Bluegrass stakes boosted her earnings for the year to $644,380.
The daughter of Muscle Hill-Cedar Dove was campaigned by the brother team of trainer Rene Allard and driver Simon Allard. She was bred by William Weaver III and is owned by Go Fast Stable, Yves Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh and Lawrence Dumain.
All of the honourees and their connections will be honoured at USHWA’s annual Dan Patch Awards Banquet, celebrating the best and brightest of harness racing in the past year. The banquet honouring the champions of 2019 will be held on Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, the climax of a weekend that also finds USHWA holding its annual national meetings.
Trotter of the Year, Pacer of the Year and Horse of the Year will be revealed at the banquet.
Tickets for the Dan Patch Awards Banquet are $180, with a filet mignon dinner served. Post times on Feb. 23 are cocktails at 5:30 p.m., with dinner to follow. Tickets and other banquet-related information can be obtained through Dinner Planning Committee Chair Judy Davis-Wilson, at [email protected] or 302-359-3630.
Hotel reservations can be made through USHWA’s website, www.ushwa.net (a link to the hotel’s computer is on the front page of the website). Those who would like to take out congratulatory ads for award winners in the always-popular Dan Patch Awards Journal can do so by contacting Kim Rinker at [email protected] or 708-557-2790 (the 2019 journal is online at the writers’ website).
For the complete voting totals, click here.
PACERS
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
TALL DARK STRANGER, colt (86 votes, 58.5%)
Bettors Delight – Precocious Beauty – Art Major
Breeder: James Avritt Sr.
Owners: Crawford Farms Racing, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms, Howard Taylor
Trainer: Nancy Takter Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 9-8-1-0 Purses: $717,514 Mark: 1:49.1 at Woodbine Mohawk Park
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $562,500 Metro
TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER
LYONS SENTINEL (129 votes, 87.8%)
Captaintreacherous – Tutu Hanover – Western Ideal
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms Inc.
Owner: Threelyonsracing
Trainer: Jim King Jr. Principal driver: Tim Tetrick
Races: 14-9-4-1 Purses: $801,809 Mark: 1:49.3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park
Top wins: $405,000 She’s A Great Lady; $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship; $176,400 Matron
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER
BETTORS WISH, colt (144 votes, 98.0%)
Bettors Delight – Lifetime Star – Western Ideal
Breeder: Brittany Farms LLC
Owners: Chris Ryder, Bella Racing Ltd., Fair Island Farm Inc., Bettors Wish Partners
Trainer: Chris Ryder Driver: Dexter Dunn
Races: 19-13-6-0 Purses: $1,643,745 Mark: 1:47.4 at Lexington
Top wins: $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial; $300,000 Art Rooney Pace; $270,000 Tattersalls Pace division; $250,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes championship; $248,350 Matron
THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PACER
WARRAWEE UBEAUT (145 votes, 98.6%)
Sweet Lou – Great Memories – Apaches Fame
Breeder: Warrawee Farm
Owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Phillip Collura, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC
Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 19-12-2-3 Purses: $950,610 Mark: 1:48.3 at Lexington
Top wins: $550,000 Breeders Crown; $253,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship; $216,000 Glen Garnsey Memorial; $155,760 Jugette
OLDER MALE PACER
MCWICKED, 8-year-old stallion (73 votes, 49.7%)
McArdle – Western Sahara – Western Ideal
Breeder: Andray Farm
Owner: S S G Stables
Trainer: Casie Coleman Driver: Brian Sears
Races: 17-6-3-3 Purses: $1,034,091 Mark: 1:47.2 at Lexington
Top wins: $440,000 Jim Ewart Memorial; $260,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial; $250,000 Dan Rooney Pace
OLDER FEMALE PACER
SHARTIN N, 6-year-old (145 votes, 98.6%)
Tintin In America – Bagdarin – Live Or Die
Breeder: G. J. Crabbe
Owners: Richard Poillucci, Jo Ann Looney-King, Tim Tetrick LLC
Trainer: Jim King Jr. Driver: Tim Tetrick
Record: 19-15-3-0 Purses: $982,177 Mark: 1:46.4 at The Meadowlands
Top wins: $402,600 Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final; $247,500 Roses Are Red; $183,500 Lady Liberty; $179,550 Golden Girls
TROTTERS
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
REAL COOL SAM, gelding (91 votes, 61.9%)
Muscle Hill – Cooler Schooner – Broadway Hall
Breeder: Fashion Farms LLC
Owner: Fashion Farms LLC
Trainer: Jim Campbell Driver: David Miller
Races: 10-9-0-0 Purses: $497,774 Mark: 1:52.1 at Lexington.
Top wins: $324,550 Peter Haughton Memorial; $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship
TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER
RAMONA HILL (67 votes; 45.6%)
Muscle Hill – Lock Down Lindy – Lucky Chucky
Breeder: Crawford Farms LLC
Owners: Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert Leblanc, In The Gym Partners
Trainer: Tony Alagna Driver: Andrew McCarthy
Races: 7-6-0-1 Purses: $405,400 Mark: 1:52.2 at Lexington
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; divisions of the Bluegrass and International Stallion stakes
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER
GREENSHOE, colt (123 votes, 83.7%)
Father Patrick – Designed To Be – Donato Hanover
Breeders: Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz
Owners: Courant Inc., Hans Backe, Lars Granqvist, Morten Langli
Trainer: Marcus Melander Driver: Brian Sears
Races: 13-10-3-0 Purses: $1,277,049 Mark: 1:49.4 at Lexington
Top wins: $450,000 Kentucky Futurity; $330,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial; $250,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes championship; $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship
THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TROTTER
WHEN DOVESCRY (90 votes, 61.2%)
Muscle Hill – Cedar Dove – Andover Hall
Breeder: William Weaver III
Owners: Go Fast Stable, Yves Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh, Lawrence Dumain
Trainer: Rene Allard Driver: Simon Allard
Races: 12-5-4-3 Purses: $644,380 Mark: 1:50.1 at Lexington
Top wins: $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks; $176,150 Matron Stakes
OLDER MALE TROTTER
SIX PACK, 4-year-old stallion (83 votes, 56.5%)
Muscle Mass – Pleasing Lady – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Brittany Farms LLC
Owners: Ake Svanstedt Inc., Little E-Knutssontrotting, Stall Kalmar Inc., L Berg Inc.
Trainer/Driver: Ake Svanstedt
Races: 12-4-3-4 Purses: $581,314 Mark: 1:49.2 at Lexington
Top wins: $350,000 TVG Open championship; $145,000 Allerage Open
OLDER FEMALE TROTTER
ATLANTA, 4-year-old (74 votes, 50.3%)
Chapter Seven – Hemi Blue Chip – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Order By Stable
Owners: Crawford Farms Racing, Brad Grant, Howard Taylor
Trainer: Ron Burke Driver: Yannick Gingras
Races: 15-8-4-1 Purses: $769,950 Mark: 1:49.1 at Meadowlands
Top wins: $250,000 Graduate Series championship; $220,000 Charlie Hill Memorial; $192,000 Armbro Flight
(With files from USHWA)