Colts Neck, NJ (Best E Casino) - The United States Harness Writers' Association has named the finalists for the 2005 Dan Patch Awards for harness racing's top pacers and trotters.
Five standardbreds were named winners in their categories by receiving at least 10-percent of the vote in their divisions. The division winners will be announced on February 8 in Las Vegas. That night the Horse of the Year will be revealed along with Trotter and Pacer of the Year.
Rocknroll Hanover is the champion three-year-old pacer off his win in the Breeders Crown, Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup. He closed 2005 as the top money earner in harness racing with better than $2.2 million.
The champion older trotters for 2005 are Mr Muscleman and Peaceful Way. Mr Muscleman repeats as older male trotter from last year. He was champion three- year-old trotter in 2003. Mr Muscleman earned more than $1.3 million this year with 12 wins in 14 starts.
Peaceful Way was named champion older female trotter off her record of nine wins in 10 starts. She earned $660,804 this year and equaled the world record for female trotters with a 1:51 4/5 mile.
Chocolatier is the 2005 champion two-year-old male trotter. He captured the Breeders Crown race at the Meadowlands and concluded the year with eight wins in 10 starts, and $508,250.
The champion two-year-old female trotter is Passionate Glide. She also won her Breeders Crown race at the Meadowlands while finishing 2005 with $638,947. Passionate Glide captured five races in 11 starts.
Four horses are finalists for older male pacer. Breeders Crown winner Boulder Creek is joined by Admiral's Express, Ponder and Maltese Artist.
Former Dan Patch winners Burning Point and Loyal Opposition are the finalists for champion older female pacer. Burning Point won the Dan Patch in 2003 as top three-year-old female pacer and Loyal Opposition was champion two-year-old female pacer in 2002.
The two finalists for two-year-old male pacer are Breeders Crown winner Jereme's Jet and Woodrow Wilson winner Western Ace. Jereme's Jet earned more than $1 million this year and Western Ace garnered winnings of $709,743.
The two-year-old female pacing finalists are Breeders Crown winner My Little Dragon and Darlin's Delight. My Little Dragon was perfect in six starts this year and earned $486,583. Darlin's Delight won $560,404 with nine wins in 14 starts.
Breeders Crown winner Belovedangel is a finalist with Cabrini Hanover for champion three-year-old female pacer. Belovedangel won seven of 23 starts for $652,481. Cabrini Hanover, who won a Nova Award last week, brought home $917,440 while winning eight of 18 starts.
Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo and Breeders Crown winner Strong Yankee are the finalists for three-year-old male trotter. Vivid Photo earned more than $1.4 million this year and won 16 of 25 starts. Strong Yankee won the remaining two Triple Crown races this year and finished with better than $1.1 million.
Blur and Her Culese are the two finalists for three-year-old female trotter. Blur concluded the year with a win in the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs and earlier won the Breeders Crown race at the Meadowlands. She won seven of 12 starts for $867,453. Her Culese won nine of 21 starts in 2005 for $342,658.
