Harrah's Hoosier Park: Bulldog Hanover fresh and ready for Dan Patch

Bulldog Hanover heads into Friday's $315,000 Dan Patch Stakes at Harrah's Hoosier Park as the probable odds-on favorite while facing nine solid rivals. Trainer Jack Darling will be bringing the 4-year-old son of Shadow Play to the Anderson, Indiana, facility and be an on-track eyewitness to the world champion for the first time in quite some time.

"We're shipping down tomorrow [Thursday]," said Darling from his Ontario base of operations. "He's in good shape and we're looking forward to the race."

Darling sent Bulldog Hanover to the U.S. earlier this summer and the horse rolled off four consecutive stakes victories, with a 1:45 4/5 world record established on July 16 in the William Haughton Memorial at the Meadowlands as the centerpiece to an incomparable string of successes. Within the short time frame, Bulldog Hanover had victories in 1:46, 1:46 1/5 and 1:47 with Dexter Dunn in the sulky.

"He's always been a very fast horse," Darling said. "So, I wasn't surprised. It's something I never expected."

Following the July 16 win Bulldog Hanover returned to Darling's stable to prepare for the rest of the season. "He definitely had lost some weight," said Darling, hardly surprised given the four weeks of hot weather and fast times. "I gave him a bit of a rest but still had to keep him fit."

On August 2 Bulldog Hanover returned to action in a qualifier at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A 1:51 mile prepared him for Friday's Dan Patch and his trainer believes he's ready for battle.

"You never know what to expect but I've been with him for three years and you kind of get a feel of what he needs to be ready to race," said Darling.

The Dan Patch sees Bulldog Hanover with a good spot in post three against a host of rivals made up predominately of two of the sport's leading stables. Trainer Ron Burke has five of the 10 in the field and trainer Tony Alagna has his two prized 4-year-olds in Rockyroad Hanover and Abuckabett Hanover looking for a measure of revenge against Bulldog Hanover, who dominated the pair through the 4-year-old only races and then beyond.

Rockyroad Hanover perhaps enters the Dan Patch with the best chance for an upset given that the son of Captaintreacherous has routinely drawn poorly when up against Bulldog Hanover this year. Rockyroad Hanover should have a smoother journey at Harrah's Hoosier Park after landing post four, directly outside of Bulldog Hanover.

Abuckabett Hanover's lack of early speed cost him dearly last week in the Sam McKee at the Meadowlands, but prior to that performance he showed incredible final quarters, closing in sub-25 territory on consecutive weeks in the Graduate final and then the William Haughton. Abuckabett Hanover gets to start from post 10 in the second tier in Friday's Dan Patch.

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Trainer Ron Burke has been known for his success in this division through his illustrious Hall of Fame career and captured the Dan Patch in 2017 with Check Six, as well as 2014 when Sweet Lou gave him a first victory. Workin Ona Mystery is the one of his five entrants that drew well, landing the pole position. A 6-year-old that went over the $1 million mark in career earnings on Hambletonian Day, Workin Ona Mystery has won four of 11 tries this year, with his biggest victory in the Commodore Barry at Harrah's Philadelphia.

Backstreet Shadow, another millionaire from the Burke stable, was a strong-closing seventh in last week's McKee at the Meadowlands and appears to have found the form that has made him a top invitational performer for many years. Backstreet Shadow landed post six.

This Is The Plan has been first or second in 50 of his 108 lifetime starts and rarely puts in a sub-par performance. Yannick Gingras will have to overcome post nine with This Is The Plan.

Fortify (post seven) and Lou's Pearlman (post eight) are Burke's other starters.

The Dan Patch is race 14 on a 15-race card that also includes a number of guaranteed wagers. The $20,000 Pick 4 starts in race 12, a $25,000 Superfecta is offered in the Dan Patch and a $15,000 Hi-5 goes in the finale.

For Darling, he is also looking forward to the rest of the season with Bulldog Hanover and has his sights set on some major races.

"Of course, I'd like to win the [Canadian] Pacing Derby and Breeders Crown at my home track," said Darling. "And I'd like to race him in Lexington. It's special down there."

Even with the 1:45 4/5 world record, on a good day over the Red Mile surface, breaking that mark could be well within Bulldog Hanover's reach. Then again, given the Harrah's Hoosier Park surface and the incredible talent in Friday's Dan Patch, it wouldn't surprise anyone if that record falls in mid-August.

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