Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

U.S. Harness Writers 2005 Dan Patch Awards
Banquet held Sunday night, February 13th at Ceasar's Palace in Atlantic City, NJ

February 14, 2005

The pacing filly Rainbow Blue edged Trotting Triple Crown winner Windsong's Legacy for the Dan Patch Award as harness racing's 2004 Horse of the Year in the closest vote in 30 years. Rainbow Blue defeated Windsong's Legacy, 119-98, in the tightest finish since older trotter Savoir beat filly pacer Silk Stockings, 52-49, in 1975. She joins Bunny Lake (2001) and Fan Hanover (1981) as the only female pacers to win Horse of the Year. All three were 3-year-olds when they won the award.

Trained by George Teague Jr. and driven by Ron Pierce, Rainbow Blue won 20 of 21 races and earned $1.2 million. She is the only filly in harness racing history to post two sub-1:50 miles, winning twice in a world-record equaling 1:49.2. Her triumphs included the Breeders Crown, Fan Hanover, Nadia Lobell and Matron. She ended the season by stepping out of the 3-year-old filly division and defeating five mares at The Meadowlands Racetrack.

U.S. Harness Writers Association members also voted Rainbow Blue 3-year-old Filly Pacer of the Year and Pacer of the Year. Teague and his sister, Brenda, share ownership of Rainbow Blue with Kevin and Ron Fry, all of Delaware.

Windsong's Legacy, trained and driven by Trond Smedshammer, won nine of 12 starts and earned a single-season trotting record $1.7 million. His victories in the Hambletonian, Yonkers Trot and Kentucky Futurity made him the first Trotting Triple Crown winner since Super Bowl in 1972. In addition, Windsong's Legacy won the Goodtimes, Stanley Dancer Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic. He was voted both the 3-year-old Male Trotter of the Year and Trotter of the Year. He is owned by Fredrik Lindegaard of Norway with Ted Gewertz and Patricia Spinelli, both from New York.

Erv Miller trained Restive Hanover and Loyal Opposition, who was the 2-year-old filly champ in 2002. Ed Hart trained Village Jolt while Brett Pelling trained Timesareachanging and Dave Sabatelli trained Four Starzzz Shark.

           The Miller Family celebrates Sunday night at Atlantic City: from left to
           right, trainer Erv Miller & wife Heidi, and trainer Julie Miller & driver/husband
           Andy Miller.

Rainbow Blue, Windsong's Legacy, Ken Warkentin, Housethatruthbuilt, and Village Jolt were the only horses in their respective divisions to receive at least 10 percent of the vote. In contested pacing divisions, Restive Hanover won 171-29 over Cabrini Hanover; Timesareachanging got 121 votes to Western Terror's 65 and Holborn Hanover's 25; Four Starzzz Shark won 146-58 over Royal Mattjesty; and Loyal Opposition got 87 votes while Bunny Lake received 81 and Carolina Sunshine and Eternal Camnation picked up 25 apiece.   For the trotters, Solveig beat stablemate Flirtin Miss, 118-91; Mr Muscleman got 91 votes to Revenue's 72 and HP Paque's 41; and Stroke Play won 199-25 over Windylane Hanover.

And the winners are....
Horse/2004 Record/Trainer/Owner(s) or Lessees
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings
Village Jolt 10-6-2-0 $918,577 1:51.1S Ed Hart Jeffrey Snyder, Arlene & Jules Siegel:
Won the $663,200 Breeders Crown; $432,000 Woodrow Wilson; $119,600 Goshen Cup.

Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Restive Hanover 14-9-3-0 $590,607 1:52.0M Ervin Miller,Starmarker Farm, Anthony McEldowney: Won the $576,800 Breeders Crown; $200,000 Three Diamonds; $180,000 American-National; $106,700 International Stallion division.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings
Timesareachanging 21-10-6-2  $1.14M  1:48.4M Brett Pelling, Perfect World Enterprises:
Won the $350,350 Adios; $334,875 Cane Pace; $308,610 Little Brown Jug.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Rainbow Blue 21-20-0-0   $1.2M  1:49.2S George Teague Jr. Teague Inc., K&R Racing
Won $610,000 Breeders Crown; $543,543 Fan Hanover; $222,500 Nadia Lobell; $159,675 Matron; $120,200 Glen Garnsey division.

Older Pacing Horses
Four Starzzz Shark 11-9-1-0  $766,945 1:47.4M Dave Sabatelli, Four Starzzzz Stables: Won the $700,000 William Haughton; $285,000 Graduate; $200,750 Molson Canadian.

Older Pacing Mares
Loyal Opposition 18-9-4-4   $472,660  1:48.4M Ervin Miller Daniel Waxman
Won the $294,078 Milton; $238,600 Lady Liberty.

Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings
Ken Warkentin 9-8-0-1  $643,240  1:55.3M Jimmy Takter Christina Takter, John Fielding, Tie Domi, Windsor Stb.: Won the $525,900 Breeders Crown; $357,973 Campbellville; $109,000 Bluegrass division; $82,577 Champlain division.

Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Solveig 12-6-3-0   $593,304  1:56.0S Jimmy Takter Christina Takter, John Fielding, Anderberg Stable: Won the $381,381 Oakville; $86,750 International Stallion division; $78,553 Champlain division at Mohawk.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings
Windsong's Legacy 12-9-2-1  $1.7M   1:53.0M T. Smedshammer Fredrik Lindegaard, Ted Gewertz, Patricia Spinelli: Won the $1 million Hambletonian; $901,290 Canadian Trotting Classic; $391,200 Yonkers Trot; $382,000 Stanley Dancer; $235,571 Goodtimes; $177,000 Kentucky Futurity.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Housethatruthbuilt 15-11-3-1   $848,109 1:52.4M T. Smedshammer Patricia Spinelli, Ted Gewertz: Won the $500,000 Breeders Crown; $119,600 Hudson; $105,478 Simcoe division; $104,400 Bluegrass division.

Older Trotting Horses
Mr Muscleman 14-7-5-0 $593,323 1:53.1M Noel Daley Adam Victor & Son Stable LLC
Won the $662,970 Maple Leaf Trot; $235,000 American-National.

Older Trotting Mares
Stroke Play 9-7-1-0    $410,936   1:53.4S T. Smedshammer Jorgen Jahre Jr.
Won the $257,873 Armbro Flight; $250,000 Classic Series; $85,000 Allerage.