From the U.S. Harness Writers Association
Six-year-old mare
Manchego won the third Dan Patch Award of her career Tuesday as the six 2021
division champions for trotters were announced by the U.S. Harness Writers
Association. She was the only repeat winner in the group and joined Ariana G
and Buck I St Pat as female trotters with three division crowns in the past 20
years.
The other trotters to
receive division honors this year were 2-year-old colt King Of The North,
2-year-old filly Venerable, 3-year-old colt Jujubee, 3-year-old filly Bella
Bellini, and 5-year-old stallion Forbidden Trade. All five of those winners
were named on at least 70 percent of the 146 returned ballots. Manchego edged
Atlanta by five votes, with When Dovescry another four votes back, in the
remaining contest.
Pacer of the Year,
Trotter of the Year, and Horse of the Year will be revealed at the Dan Patch
Awards banquet Feb. 20 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Fla. Complete results
and vote totals will be included with the announcement of Pacer, Trotter, and
Horse of the Year following the banquet.
Division winners for
pacers were
announced Monday.
Manchego, who was
retired in October, won six of nine races and $421,596. She defeated male
rivals in the John Cashman Memorial, becoming the first mare to capture the
event since Moni Maker in 2000, as well as the Spirit of Massachusetts, Arthur
J. Cutler Memorial, and Maxie Lee Memorial.
Her 1:49.4 victory at
The Meadowlands in a preliminary round of the Miss Versatility Series made her
the first trotter in history to win with a sub-1:50 mile in three different
years.
Manchego, by Muscle
Hill out of Secret Magic, is owned by Black Horse Racing and was bred by
Brittany Farms. She was trained by Nancy Takter and driven by 2021 Driver of
the Year Dexter Dunn. In addition to capturing honors in consecutive years in
the trotting mare division, Manchego was a Dan Patch Award winner at age 2 in 2017.
Bella Bellini and
Venerable, both from the stable of 2021 Trainer of the Year Richard “Nifty”
Norman, were the only trotters to surpass $1 million in purses this year. Bella
Bellini hit the board in 18 of 19 starts, winning 11, to lead the way with
$1.11 million.
Among Bella Bellini’s
wins were the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old filly trotters, Hambletonian Oaks,
Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final, and Matron Stakes. She finished second by a
nose in the Kentucky Filly Futurity and ended her campaign with a third-place
finish behind older rivals When Dovescry and Atlanta in the TVG Series Mare
Trot final.
Bella Bellini, by Bar
Hopping out of Bella Dolce, is owned by breeder David McDuffee. She was driven
by Dunn.
McDuffee, the 2021
Owner of the Year, also shares ownership of Venerable. The filly won nine of 11
races and $1.03 million for McDuffee, Melvin Hartman, Paul Bordogna, and Steven
Arnold.
Her triumphs included
the Mohawk Million, where she defeated a field that included six male foes, the
Jim Doherty Memorial, Peaceful Way, New Jersey Sire Stakes final, and Matron
Stakes.
Venerable, by Walner
out of Jolene Jolene, was bred by Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm,
Martin Schmucker, and Steve Stewart.
Jujubee was the top
money-earning male trotter this year, with $948,791. He finished no worse than
second in 17 of 18 races, winning 14. His victories included the Breeders Crown
for 3-year-old male trotters, Kentucky Futurity, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes
final, and Phil Langley Memorial.
The colt captured the
Futurity in 1:49.3 and the Muscle Hill Trot in 1:49.4 to become the first
3-year-old male trotter with two sub-1:50 winning miles.
Jujubee was trained
by Greg Wright Jr. and driven by Andrew McCarthy and Tony Hall. The son of
Creatine out of La Cantera is owned by breeder Jon Erdner.
Forbidden Trade led
all older trotters in purses, with $595,752. He won five of 14 races overall
and closed his campaign with six top-three finishes in seven starts. His
victories during that span included the TVG Series Open Trot final and Caesars
Trotting Classic. Earlier in the season, he won the Crawford Farms Open Trot.
By Kadabra out of
Pure Ivory, Forbidden Trade was trained by Luc Blais and driven by Bob McClure
and Dan Dube. The stallion, who was Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2019, is
owned by Determination and was bred by Steve Stewart.
King Of The North led
all 2-year-old male trotters in earnings, with $578,915. He won six of 10
starts for trainer Ray Schnittker and driver Mark MacDonald. His triumphs
included the William Wellwood Memorial, Peter Haughton Memorial, and New Jersey
Sire Stakes final.
The colt is owned by
Schnittker Ward, Arden Homestead Stable, Nolamaura Racing, and Steven Arnold.
He is by Walner out of former Schnittker star Check Me Out and was bred by
Schnittker and Steve Jones.
Anyone wishing to
take out a congratulatory ad in the Dan Patch Awards Souvenir Journal should
contact Lynne Myers at myerslex@yahoo.com; sponsorship
opportunities can be explored with Shawn Wiles at swiles@empireresorts.com. For tickets to
the awards banquet, contact Judy Davis-Wilson at zoe8874@aol.com; to book rooms at
the Rosen Shingle Creek, click here.
TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE
TROTTER
KING OF THE NORTH, colt
Walner – Check Me Out – Donato Hanover
Breeders: Steve Jones, Ray Schnittker.
Owners: Schnittker Ward, Arden Homestead Stable, Nolamaura Racing,
Steven Arnold.
Trainer: Ray Schnittker. Driver: Mark MacDonald.
Races: 10-6-1-1. Purses: $578,915. Mark: 1:52.4
at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $505,600 William Wellwood Memorial; $293,450 Peter
Haughton Memorial; $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final.
TWO-YEAR-OLD FEMALE
TROTTER
VENERABLE
Walner – Jolene Jolene – Muscle Hill
Breeders: Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm, Martin Schmucker,
Steve Stewart.
Owners: David McDuffee, Melvin Hartman, Paul Bordogna, Steven
Arnold.
Trainer: Richard “Nifty” Norman. Driver: David
Miller.
Races: 11-9-1-0. Purses: $1.03 million. Mark: 1:52
at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $790,000 Mohawk Million; $326,850 Jim Doherty Memorial;
$309,680 Peaceful Way; $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final.
THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE
TROTTER
JUJUBEE, colt
Creatine – La Cantera – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Jon Erdner.
Owner: Jon Erdner.
Trainer: Greg Wright Jr. Drivers: Andrew McCarthy,
Tony Hall.
Races: 18-14-3-0. Purses: $948,791. Mark: 1:49.3
at Red Mile.
Top wins: $650,000 Breeders Crown; $561,000 Kentucky Futurity;
$253,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final.
THREE-YEAR-OLD FEMALE
TROTTER
BELLA BELLINI
Bar Hopping –
Bella Dolce – Kadabra
Breeder: David McDuffee.
Owner: David McDuffee.
Trainer: Richard “Nifty” Norman. Driver: Dexter
Dunn.
Races: 19-11-6-1. Purses: $1.11 million. Mark: 1:52.1
at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $650,000 Breeders Crown; $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks;
$253,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final.
OLDER MALE TROTTER
FORBIDDEN TRADE, 5-year-old stallion
Kadabra – Pure
Ivory – Striking Sahbra
Breeder: Steve Stewart.
Owner: Determination.
Trainer: Luc Blais. Drivers: Bob McClure, Dan
Dube.
Races: 14-5-2-2. Purses: $595,752. Mark: 1:51.1
at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $350,000 TVG Series Open Trot; $210,000 Caesars Trotting
Classic; $135,000 Crawford Farms Open.
OLDER FEMALE TROTTER
MANCHEGO, 6-year-old
Muscle Hill – Secret
Magic – Cantab Hall
Breeder: Brittany Farms.
Owner: Black Horse Racing.
Trainer: Nancy Takter. Driver: Dexter Dunn.
Races: 9-6-0-1. Purses: $421,596. Mark: 1:49.4
at Meadowlands.
Top wins: $269,750 John Cashman Memorial; $250,000 Spirit of
Massachusetts; $141,250 Arthur J. Cutler Memorial.
