My Dan Patch Winners

Last Sunday was the banquet for members of USHWA to honor the horsemen and writers involved with the sport of harness racing. It was also the night the champions of each division were crowned with the prestigious Dan Patch Awards. Some awards I thought, the horse deserved. Others I thought had a better candidate. Today, I talk about who I thought should’ve won the Dan Patch awards, in divisions that I thought were won by the “wrong” horse. Let this know I do not take anything away from the winner of the Dan Patch award, just who I thought would’ve won.

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

Winner- Sweet Lou

Deserving winner- A Rocknroll Dance

Although Sweet Lou set the world record in the Breeders Crown and defeated A Rocknroll Dance, he was a very lightly raced horse. Sweet Lou raced a lot in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes, then won a division of the Elevation and two Grand Circuit events at Lexington. Then he set the scene setting the world record in the Breeders Crown.

A Rocknroll Dance raced with the freshmen pacing bunch since the beginning of his career. He won the Metro Elim, but was caught by bomber Simply Business right at the wire. He then went on to win two Grand Circuit events at Lexington. To close out 2011, A Rocknroll Dance dominated the division in the Governor’s Cup at Chester. He earned $863,325 this season, which is $176,678 more than Sweet Lou. He was also one fifth off of Sweet Lou’s fastest mile of 2011.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Winner- Economy Terror

Deserving Winner- American Jewel

Economy Terror was the second best to American Jewel, until she was out of the picture. American Jewel was injured in the International Stallion Series at Lexington, where she was beat by Big Mcdeal. American Jewel defeated Economy Terror in the She’s A Great Lady, a prestigious race at Woodbine and a key race for the Breeders Crown. She earned $677,166 in her short career. She had a world record of 1:50.2, the fastest of the year as well.

After American Jewel was injured, Economy Terror was the leader of the bunch. She ended the year with a Breeders Crown triumph and winning the Three Diamonds. She had a near $1-million season and took a mark of 1:50.3, a track and world record in the Three Diamonds.

PACER OF THE YEAR

Winner- Foiled Again

Deserving Winner- Roll With Joe

Roll With Joe certainly caught the eyes of spectators in the Meadowlands Pace, where he held off Big Jim to win. He just lost the jug and the Breeders Crown, but made up for it by winning the Messenger. He also dominated on Super Stakes Sunday at Chester, where he won the final of the Battle Of The Brandywine. He earned $1.64-million this season and took a mark of 1:48.2 in the Meadowlands Pace.

Foiled Again also had a good season with this tough crop of Older Pacers. He won the Battle of Lake Erie, Bobby Quillen, American National and Molson Pace. He earned $1.4-million this year and took a mark of 1:48.1 at Mohawk. Although he was against a tough crop, so was Roll With Joe. The glamour boy division beat each other all throughout the year. If you were to pick a winner of that bunch, it would be Roll With Joe. Same goes for Foiled Again.