Hoosier: Lather Up rolls into town as heavy Dan Patch favorite

In 2016 driver Montrell Teague lined up behind the gate with Wiggle It Jiggleit in the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park. The confrontation with fellow Indiana-breds Always B Miki and Freaky Feet Pete was a major battle. In the end Wiggle It Jiggleit got the better of the two to capture the race.

“It’s one of my favorite races,” Teague said, recalling the triumph. “I think they put in the passing lane that year. I let Miki out and followed him, when the passing lane came we just went right on by.”

Teague won’t be driving Wiggle It Jiggleit on Friday night for the 2019 edition of the $330,000 Dan Patch. Instead it will be the top older performer Lather Up that goes against eight rivals as the expected odds-on favorite. Lather Up, an Ohio-bred, has been vicious over the past six weeks with record-setting performances over The Meadowlands mile surface. “He’s definitely matured,” said Teague of Lather Up this year versus his sophomore campaign. As to similarities between the 2016 Dan Patch champion and Lather Up, Teague said, “Other than that they both have high speed they are really different horses.”

For the eight rivals on Friday night, it’s the speed that has been the problem. That means staying close to Lather Up is at issue. Lather Up has won his last three races, all major stakes events, including a record-shattering performance in last Saturday’s $230,200 Sam McKee, where he covered the mile and one-eighth distance in an unheard of 1:59 2/5 clocking. “I’m not a big fan of the 12-horse fields with the added distance,” Teague said. “I think everyone that pays in should have their nose on the gate.”

Prior to the McKee, Lather Up also captured the William R. Haughton at the added distance. The 4-year-old by I’m Gorgeous equaled the all-age world mark of 1:46 with a victory in the Graduate versus his age group. “He’s definitely grown up,” said Teague. “We started him against the 4-year-olds and now he can handle the older horses.”

Lather Up drew post four in Friday’s Dan Patch carded as race 11 on the Hoosier Park 14-race program with a 6:30 p.m. first post. McWicked, the defending Horse of the Year, returns to this year’s Dan Patch for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Brian Sears as the 5-2 second choice. McWicked could not overtake the pacesetting Lazarus N who captured last year’s edition. This year McWicked was slow coming around but captured the $260,000 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial on July 20 at Saratoga Harness to regain winning form. In his last two outings against Lather Up, both at the extra distance, McWicked has been well off the winner finishing fourth in the Haughton and third in the McKee. Perhaps a change in venue and the traditional mile distance will make the difference on Friday.

Jimmy Freight is another 4-year-old that has raced competitively this year but hasn’t had the best of racing luck. The draw was again unkind to Jimmy Freight, who starts from post six in the nine-horse field. Scott Zeron will drive for trainer Andrew Harris in Jimmy Freight’s first competitive race since a fourth-place finish behind McWicked in the Gerrity.

One horse that should not be overlooked in the Dan Patch is Always A Prince. This rock-solid Indiana-bred son of Always A Virgin showed blinding speed cutting the pace in Lather Up’s record-equaling 1:46 victory in the Graduate final and was beaten just two lengths on the wire. Trainer Tyler George freshened Always A Prince up with a solid qualifier here last week and hands the lines to the more than capable Trace Tetrick for Friday’s contest. Always A Prince drew post nine.

Trainer Ron Burke, who captured the 2017 Dan Patch with Check Six, sends out a pair in Filibuster Hanover (post 6) and Rockin Ron (post 8). Completing the field is Miso Fast (post 1), New Talent (post 3) and Endeavor (post 7).