Harrah's Hoosier Park: Periculum tops entrants in Caesars Trotting Classic

The fields were drawn Tuesday (Sept. 17) for two of Harrah's Hoosier Park's signature events, the $165,000 Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and $200,000 Caesars Trotting Classic, presented by Kountry Lane Standardbreds, on Friday, Sept. 20. Two full fields of ten will go postward, with Periculum nabbed as the morning line favorite in the Caesars Trotting Classic, and Little Rocket Man enlisted as the morning line choice in the Pacing Derby.

With combined earnings of over $11 million and 186 wins, the Maple Leaf Trot champion Periculum headlines the powerhouse field of free-for-all trotters. Entering with a runner-up finish to Jiggy Jog S in the $1,000,000 MGM Yonkers International Trot in his last outing, Periculum has won six of 11 on the season while banking $543,522 for trainer Marcus Melander. Periculum leaves from post four with Scott Zeron listed to drive, right next to his Melander stablemate Oh Well, who leaves from post three as the 5-1 fourth choice.

Looking to join Bella Bellini as only the second mare to win the Caesars Trotting Classic, M-M's Dream returns to her Indiana roots, leaving from the second tier in post 10 with Hall of Fame driver Tim Tetrick listed to drive. A 31-time winner in 48 career outings, M-M's Dream was an Indiana Sires Stakes champion at two and three before branching out in her aged campaign. She has banked $1,699,417 and taken a career mark of 1:50 at the Meadowlands in 2023. M-M's Dream returns to the Herny Graber Jr. barn Friday night for owners Eleven Star Stable, Frank Baldachino and Hillside Stables.

Trainer Ron Burke sends out a pair of entries in the Trotting Classic, including 2023 champion It's Academic. The career earner of $2.5 million won last year's edition in a stakes record time of 1:50 3/5. It's Academic leaves from the rail at 15-1 with Dave Miller aboard, as he was for last year's victory. Right next door in post two from the Burke Brigade is Hambletonian Maturity champion Chapercraz, with Yannick Gingras listed to drive at 6-1 on the morning line.

The 2024 Caesars Trotting Classic field, in post position order with trainer and listed driver below:

1-It's Academic-Trainer: Ron Burke-Driver: David Miller 15-1
2-Chapercraz-Trainer: Ron Burke-Driver: Yannick Gingras 6-1
3-Oh Well-Trainer: Marcus Melander-Driver: Todd McCarthy 5-1
4-Periculum-Trainer: Marcus Melander-Driver: Scott Zeron 5-2
5-Ponda Jet-Trainer: Jay Hochstetler-Driver: Kyle Wilfong 15-1
6-Winner’s Bet-Trainer: Nancy Takter-Driver: Dexter Dunn 7-2
7-Hillexotic-Trainer: Todd Luther-Driver: Austin Hanners 12-1
8-Flagman-Trainer: Rick Plano-Driver: Rick Plano 20-1
9-Helpfirstedition-Trainer: Missy Essig-Driver: John De Long 20-1
10-M-M's Dream-Trainer: Henry Graber Jr.-Driver: Tim Tetrick 9-2

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The $165,000 Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby sees a field of 10 headlined by the last two champions of the Little Brown Jug, seven millionaires and the 2024 Dan Patch champion Dunkin'. A total of 15 horses entered this year's Pacing Derby, including supplemental entry, Backstreet Shadow. The top nine career money earners along with Dunkin', due to his victory in $300,000 Dan Patch Stakes, secured their spot in the field Friday night.

Hometown hero Little Rocket Man is slated as the morning line choice, with "The Buckeye" David Miller listed to drive for trainer Ken Rucker. Now an 8-year-old, Little Rocket Man is on track for a career year, with victories already in the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield and in the Jim Ewart Memorial in his last outing at Scioto Downs. A winner in 10 of 13 this season, the 64-time winner sports career earnings of $1,462,299 for owners Russ Beeman and Boomer Freeman.

Last year's Little Brown Jug champion It's My Show enters in fine form, a winner in the Canadian Pacing Derby two back before backing it up with a 1:49 2/5 Kentucky Sires Stakes score at The Red Mile in his last outing. Linda Toscano trains the royally-bred 4-year-old son of Sweet Lou-Put On A Show who has made $1,486,502 lifetime.

The horse It's My Show tracked down in the Canadian Pacing Derby, Abuckabett Hanover, is enlisted as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line for trainer Andrew Harris. The 6-year-old son of Betting Line already has wins in the Dave Brower and William Haughton Memorials at the Meadowlands this year with Dexter Dunn, who swept the Peter Haughton and Jim Doherty Memorials last Friday at Harrah's Hoosier Park, listed to drive.

The 2024 Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby field, in post position order with trainer and listed driver below:

1-Dunkin-Trainer: Scott Di Domenico-Driver: Tim Tetrick 12-1
2-It's My Show-Trainer: Linda Toscano-Driver: Scott Zeron 6-1
3-Why Not Now-Trainer: Todd Luther-Driver: Austin Hanners 20-1
4-Coach Stefanos-Trainer: Erv Miller-Driver: Trace Tetrick 20-1
5-Little Rocket Man-Trainer: Ken Rucker-Driver: David Miller 5-2
6-Backstreet Shadow-Trainer: Travis Alexander-Driver: Matt Kakaley 20-1
7-Charlie May-Trainer: Steve Carter-Driver: Dan Noble 4-1
8-Abuckabett Hanover-Trainer: Andrew Harris-Driver: Dexter Dunn 7-2
9-Bythemissal-Trainer: Ron Burke-Driver: Yannick Gingras 5-1
10-I Did It Myway-Trainer: Travis Alexander-Driver: Matt Kakaley 9-2

Final driver selections/changes for the Friday card will be made Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 18).

The 15-race Caesars Trotting Classic card gets underway with a first post time of 6:00 p.m. (EDT). The card will also air live on Fox Sports 1 from 8-11 p.m. (EDT) with hosts Gabe Prewitt and Jessica Otten live on-site. Caesars Trotting Classic night also serves as Community Night at the Races, with local vendors, free kids activities and outdoor entertainment, along with an education and giveaway station provided by the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and Indiana Standardbred Association, located on the track apron.

For more information on the upcoming entertainment or live racing schedule at Harrah's Hoosier Park, please visit www.harrahshoosierpark.com.

--press release (Harrah's Hoosier Park)--