Long Dan and Brad Ferguson rallied home with a long stride to score the win in the $6,500 conditioned trot Friday, Sept. 8 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The duo covered the mile event in 1:55.0, a new lifetime mark for the Indiana sired trotter.
Long Dan and Brad Ferguson lengthen their stride to score a new lifetime win of 1:55.0 Friday, Sept. 8 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Long Dan started from post three and worked out a two-hole trip behind Jesse V and John DeLong. Fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:27.1 were posted on the board before Long Dan began to lengthen his stride in the stretch, winning by three and one-quarter lengths. Dude Included and Trace Tetrick rallied from the back of the pack for second with a final quarter of :26.3 turned in over Collettes and Ricky Macomber Jr. for third.
Long Dan earned his second win of 2023. He paid $11.00 for the win. Trained by Don Eash, the sophomore Dover Dan gelding is owned by Eash Racing Stable. Maumee River Stables bred the gelding, who went winless as a two-year-old.
Long Dan has the pedigree to be a successful trotter. His dam, Seducer Hall, has a mark of 1:56.3 and more than $130,000 on her card and has produced two six-figure winners in Seducedbychocolate (1:54.3, $174,000) and Faithfulandtrue (1:53.4, $262,000). Seducedbychocolate is now a brood mare and the dam of Northern Express, who has a mark of 1:52.0 and more than a half-million on his card and still racing.
Long Dan is from the second crop of Dover Dan. He was purchased from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $18,000.
Later in the card, three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were in action in the $12,500 conditioned pace. Six Again and Joey Putnam scooted home to fend off a late challenge by Captain Up and Kyle Wilfong in 1:51.2. They were victorious in the four horse photo by a head over Captain Up. Strengthfromabove and John DeLong finished third over Lotas Knock Us and Jared Finn.
Six Again is owned by Paula Smith, Stanley Tarvidas, Ron Schuler, and Lynwood Romano. Joel Smith trains the Check Six sophomore, who paid $8.40 for the win.