Dan Patch Award Predictions: Top Trotting Contenders for the Season
Heading into the late stages of the racing season, harness racing analyst Murray Brown has revisited his early-season prognostications to evaluate top contenders across two-year-old, three-year-old, and older divisions. Looking back at prior Dan Patch award predictions made in July 2023, the updated assessment covers current earnings leaders and top performers across pacers and trotters.
Evaluating Two-Year-Old Trotting Divisions
The two-year-old trotting colt division remains a closely contested category ahead of the Mohawk Million. Gelding Uncle Rob leads the money-winners list with $321,825, closely followed by the undefeated Swan Good Bi with $320,800, both earning their credentials through sires stakes competition. Despite these figures, analyst Murray Brown projects the lightly raced Jimdougie Armitage, trained by Ake Svanstedt, as a major contender. Sired by Captain Corey, Jimdougie Armitage has secured three wins from five starts with $222,707 in earnings.
In the two-year-old trotting filly division, Wall Of Fame holds a perfect nine-for-nine record with $561,250 in earnings, pacing the category. Jim Doherty memorial winner Birr Castle follows closely as a homebred, capturing five wins from six starts and $476,356 in earnings. Long shot Kountry Plunge maintains a five-for-five undefeated streak with $277,100 in earnings. Wall Of Fame is sired by Walner, Birr Castle by Captain Corey, and Kountry Plunge by Chapter Seven.
Three-Year-Old Contenders and Season Standings
Within the three-year-old trotting colt ranks, Apex leads the category with five wins out of seven starts and $860,460 in earnings. Big Ranger stands as a primary challenger with six wins in nine starts and $552,307 in earnings. Apex is sired by Walner, while Big Ranger is by In Range.
For three-year-old trotting fillies, Nezuko Kamado S holds the top position with six wins in nine starts and $582,305 in earnings. Victorianas Secret trails as the next major competitor, securing eight wins from 11 starts and $369,931 in earnings. Nezuko Kamado S is sired by Chapter Seven, and Victorianas Secret is by Tactical Landing.
Standouts Among Older Trotters
Super Chapter emerges as a dominant force in the older male trotter division, slightly behind the overall money-leader, the pacer Brandon Blvd, with six wins in eight starts and $1,071,707 in earnings. Sired by Chapter Seven, Super Chapter’s performance has drawn speculation regarding potential international starts in the Prix d’Amérique or the Elitloppet. Meanwhile, the older female trotting category features Italian mare Diva Ek IT as the leading money winner with $250,000 earned from a single second-place finish in the Yonkers International Trot. R Dutchess follows in the standings with $243,968 in earnings.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.