Harrah's Hoosier Park: Breeders Crown spots up for grabs in Haughton, Doherty Memorials

Harrah's Hoosier Park will play host two a pair of Grade 1 events on Friday, Sept. 18, with the $475,100 Peter Haughton Memorial and $483,350 Jim Doherty Memorials for the sport's top 2-year-old trotters headlining the 15-race program which gets underway at 5:30 p.m. (EDT).

A full field of 10 will go postward in the Peter Haughton Memorial for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings in the 11th race of the evening, where the undefeated Indiana superstar, Swan Good Bi, has been tabbed as the 8-5 morning line choice with regular pilot Jordan Ross. Trained by Henry Graber Jr., the Swan For All-Bange Bi gelding has begun his career with five consecutive victories, three of which came against Indiana Sire Stakes company, including a 1:55 career-best effort on July 31. The $30,000 purchase at last fall's Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale has banked $83,250 on the year for owners Indiana Stable, Frank Baldachino, Michael Rosenthal and James Zito.

The tandem of Marcus Melander and Dexter Dunn will look to win their third consecutive title at Hoosier Park, having won the last two editions with Maryland and Apex in 2024 and 2025, respectively. The duo will team up with Dream Shaq from post three, listed as 7-1 on the morning line. The Father Patrick-Me Too Baby colt began his career with three consecutive wins against Pennsylvania Sire Stakes company, taking a career mark of 1:55 1/5 at The Meadows on July 11. An $85,000 yearling buy at last fall's Lexington Selected Sale by owners Brixton Medical Inc. and Hatfield Stables, Dream Shaq has racked up $98,266 on the year.

The Peter Haughton Memorial is a "Win and You're In" event for this year's Breeders Crown at Scioto Downs, with the winner receiving an automatic bid for the final on Oct. 23, assuming they are Breeders Crown eligible.

The 2026 $475,100 Peter Haughton Memorial, in post-position order with trainers and listed drivers below:

1-Mendoza Mafia - Jeff Cullipher - Atlee Bender - 12-1
2-Ponda Cheeta - Erv Miller - Marcus Miller - 9-1
3-Dream Shaq* - Marcus Melander - Dexter Dunn - 7-1
4-Swan Good Bi - Henry Graber Jr. - Jordan Ross - 8-5
5-Presidente* - Nancy Takter - Scott Zeron - 5-2
6-Southern Hanover* - Linda Toscano - John De Long - 9-1
7-Ponda Solve* - Ron Burke - Kyle Wilfong - 20-1
8-Big Time Trot S* - Ake Svanstedt - Yannick Gingras - 12-1
9-Yankee Boss* - Ake Svanstedt - Tim Tetrick - 15-1
10-Red Andray* - Norm Parker - Mike Wilder - 20-1

*- Breeders Crown Eligible

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The filly counterpart, the Jim Doherty Memorial, will immediately follow with a field of seven set to go in race 12. Trainer Marcus Melander sends a trio into the event, headlined by the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion, Birr Castle, who has been tabbed as the 2-1 morning line favorite from the rail. The Captain Corey-Melania filly has compiled a record of 5-4-1-0 on the year and exits off the 1:53 4/5 career-best-equaling score in the $300,000 PaSS final at Pocono Downs in her last start. Scott Zeron will retain the drive on the Pheasant Hill Farm homebred that has banked $234,681 on the year.

Also included in that Melander trained triple-threat is the Grade 1 Peaceful Way champion, Athena's Girl, who has been listed as the 5-2 morning line second choice. Dexter Dunn will once again have the drive on the filly that has reeled off three consecutive wins since the addition of trotting hopples, headlined by that 1:53 career-best effort at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the Peaceful Way in her last try. The daughter of Walner-Fashion Athena has banked $176,300 on the year for owner Brad Grant, and will leave from post four, while the third part of the Melander three-headed monster, Two Day Hangover (Mattias Melander listed to drive), leaves from the outside post seven.

The Jim Doherty Memorial will be the richest horse race contested in the state of Indiana in 2026, and is all a "Win and You're in" event for the Breeders Crown at Scioto Downs.

The 2026 $483,350 Jim Doherty Memorial, in post-position order with trainers and listed drivers below:

1-Birr Castle* - Marcus Melander - Scott Zeron - 2-1
2-RBssouthwindcentra* - Henry Graber Jr. - David Miller - 3-1
3-Miss Eliza* - Norm Parker - Mike Wilder - 12-1
4-Athena's Girl* - Marcus Melander - Dexter Dunn - 5-2
5-Salt Water Taffy - Tim Twaddle - Yannick Gingras - 20-1
6-Climatic Hanover* - Lucas Wallin - Tim Tetrick - 8-1
7-Two Day Hangover* - Marcus Melander - Mattias Melander - 5-1

*-Breeders Crown Eligible

The 15-race program also includes the $78,750 Hoosier Cup for Indiana-sired 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings in the evening's sixth race. Meanwhile, bettors will have a $15,000 guaranteed late Pick 4 (races 12-15) to take aim at, beginning with the Doherty in the 12th, along with a $10,000 guaranteed late Hoosier High 5 in the race 15 finale offered in partnership with the USTA's Strategic Wagering Program.

The Haughton/Doherty kicks off a four-week stretch of major Friday night cards at Harrah's Hoosier Park, followed by the Caesars Trotting Classic, presented by Kountry Lane Standardbreds, on Friday, Sept. 25, the final leg of Indiana Sire Stakes on Friday, Oct. 2, and the $2.2 million Hoosier Champions card on Friday, Oct. 9.

For more information, guests are encouraged to visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

--press release (Hoosier)--