Harrah's Hoosier: Century Farroh surges late to take Dan Patch Stakes

Century Farroh hadn't had a trip go his way at the Meadowlands in recent weeks, but it did tonight, as he worked out a three-hole journey on the pylons and then slipped up the passing lane in the stretch to win the $225,000 Dan Patch Stakes for free-for-all pacers on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park in 1:49.

Backstreet Shadow (Tim Tetrick) shot out from post six for the first call, but Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn), coming off a big win in the Sam McKee Memorial on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands, pressed on two-wide from post three and wrestled the top spot away from Backstreet Shadow beyond the 25 3/5 opening quarter. Bettor's Wish was then unchallenged to the half, ringing up that marker in 54 1/5, with Our Majordan (Andrew McCarthy) beginning a first-over move after landing sixth from the trailing post 10.

Bettor's Wish was able to resist Our Majordan's advance to the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, turned for home first, and looked like a winner for much of the lengthy Harrah's Hoosier Park stretch as nobody seemed to be making much headway and he was responding to Dunn's encouragement. However, David Miller navigated Century Farroh to the passing lane in the last eighth after that cozy ride on the inside, and he had pace to go with the space, catching Bettor's Wish and going by late in the mile to score by half a length. Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley) got up for third, with Backstreet Shadow fourth and Workin Ona Mystery (Trace Tetrick) fifth.

"He's been locked-in or raced really hard. He actually got a good trip tonight, and with the open stretch I was able to get to the inside," said Miller. "Those horses in that field, they're pretty legit, and they can take whatever you throw at them. My horse raced good, he's been racing good, and he was due."

Dr. Ian Moore trains Century Farroh, a 4-year-old son of Mach Three, for owner Ratchford Stable NS. This was his 18th win from 34 career tries, and he has now earned $902,580. He was the 3-1 second choice and paid $8.60 to win.

The undercard feature was the $39,000 Gregg Haston Memorial for open pacers, and Indiana-sired Little Rocket Man (Trace Tetrick) led through splits of 26, 53 4/5, and 1:21 2/5 on his way to a 2 1/4 length win in 1:47 2/5, tying the track's all-age track record with that clocking. GD Western Joe (Kakaley) was the runner-up, with Brassy Hanover (Scott Zeron) third.

Little Rocket Man, a 4-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, is trained by Missy Essig for owners Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman. Little Rocket Man now has a record of 16-1-2 from 23 trips behind the gate, and he has banked $248,630. He was the 2-1 second choice and returned $6.00 to win.