My picks for the 2025 Dan Patch awards
by Murray Brown
It’s that time of year. The Breeders Crowns are over. Harrisburg, my usual benchmark for season’s end, is done. It’s time to think about Dan Patch winners and the Horse of the Year Award. Barring something unforeseen, this is how my ballot for the 2025 racing year will look.
PACERS
2-YEAR-OLD COLT PACER
Beau Jangles
(Cattlewash—Mrs Major Hill—Art Major)
If anybody casts his or her ballot differently, it is my opinion that his or her voting privileges be revoked. They just are not paying attention and have no idea on how they are voting.
From beginning to end of the racing season, he dominated like no other colt has since and possibly including Somebeachsomewhere. He went 12-for-12 with earnings of $1,227,326.
2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
Loua Dipa
(Sweet Lou—Looksgoodinaromper—Pet Rock)
Not quite as dominant as Beau Jangles at the beginning, but every bit as much as the season progressed. Nine-for-12 with earnings of $742,241. By Breeders Crown night, there wasn’t another pacing filly who could even come close to her exhaust. To my eyes, she and Beau Jangles constituted the greatest 2-year-old colt and filly that I’ve seen. That goes back to 1956.
3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACER
Louprint
(Sweet Lou—Rockin Racer—Rockin Image)
Despite a couple of hiccups at the end of the season, this colt, when himself, dominated the class. A winner of 10 of 12 starts with earnings of $1,025,949. Surprisingly to this observer, he was not the leading money winning 3-year-old pacer, that achievement goes to Miki And Minnie. He now goes to stud with this guy wondering whether we saw all that he could do.
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER
Miki And Minnie
(Always B Miki—That’s The Ticket—Roll With Joe)
A winner of 12 of 13 starts and the highest earning 3-year-old regardless of sex with $1,038,659.
OLDER MALE PACER
Ervin Hanover
(Captaintreacherous—Eloquent Grace—Well Said)
Like a fine wine, this horse keeps getting better with each season. A winner of 10 of 16 starts and $843,160 this season capped off with his dominant win in the Breeders Crown.
OLDER MARE PACER
Twin B Joe Fresh
(Roll With Joe—Fresh Breeze—Captaintreacherous)
All set for another Dan Patch win. Winner of six of nine starts and $526,714 in 2025 and 36 of 49 and $2,862,479 lifetime. We have been honored by her presence.
PACER OF THE YEAR
Beau Jangles
(Cattlewash—Mrs Major Hill—Art Major)
To me, the greatest 2-year-old these eyes have seen and that includes Romeo Hanover, Bret Hanover, Albatross, Niatross, Nihilator, Sweet Lou, and Somebeachsomewhere. He has swept through a magnificent campaign seemingly without difficulty.
TROTTERS
2-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTER
Apex
(Walner—Mission Brief—Muscle Hill)
Winner of six of nine starts and $871,798 including a win in the Grade 1 Mohawk Million.
2-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
Setyoursightshigh
(In Range—Special Interest—Cantab Hall)
Consistency and money earned won out for this filly. In 11 starts, she had seven wins and four seconds and earned $678,159.
3-YEAR-OLD COLT TROTTER
Super Chapter
(Chapter Seven—Lifetime Pursuit—Cantab Hall)
The leading money winning 3-year-old of 2025 regardless of gait or sex. In 13 starts, he was 8-3-1 with earnings of $1,154,574.
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROTTER
Yo Tillie
(Tactical Landing—Consolidator—Triumphant Caviar)
She dominated her division as no other trotter, winning 11 of 12 starts and earning $979,195.
OLDER MALE TROTTER
Lexus Kody
(Archangel—Lexus Helios—Ken Warkentin)
A winner of 10 of 20 starts and $1,151,401 including the $1 million Yonkers International Trot.
OLDER MARE TROTTER
Warrawee Michelle
(Walner—Sound Check—Yankee Glide)
A near dead heat in earnings with Elista Hanover ($548,991 to $524,201), it all came down to the Breeders Crown where she bested said rival.
TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Yo Tillie
(Tactical Landing—Consolidator—Triumphant Caviar)
She was dominant in her division over all others in theirs.
DAN PATCH HORSE OF THE YEAR
Beau Jangles
(Cattlewash—Mrs Major Hill—Art Major)
How does one go against the combination of dominance and perfection? The reality is that I can’t. The only way in which I could possibly change my mind would be if Yo Tillie took on and defeated her elders in the Fan Duel in a couple of weeks. Even then, I would have to give it long thought before I changed.
