by Tom White, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — Little Brown Jug contender Big Bad John will leave his hometown of Delaware, Ohio, on Friday morning to travel to Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville, Ontario, to compete in Saturday’s (June 11) eliminations for next week’s C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup.

Big Bad John drew post seven in the eight-horse third elimination of the North America Cup. A field of 23 colts and geldings were entered Tuesday morning and 15 are eligible to the 66th Little Brown Jug. The top three finishers in each C$50,000 elim will compete in the North America Cup final on June 18. One fourth place finisher, drawn by lot, will also be included in the 10-horse final.

Purchased as a yearling for $130,000 by Edward Telle of Powell, Ohio, Big Bad John has spent the past week relaxing at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Big Bad John will head to Canada for the first time in Saturday’s North America Cup eliminations.

“He likes his hometown,” said trainer Ron Potter of Delaware. “I jogged him on Monday and Tuesday and we’ll go a training mile on Wednesday. He doesn’t need a lot of work. I would like for him to be fresh for this weekend.”

Big Bad John scored an impressive 1:50.3 victory in last Friday’s $210,234 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at The Meadows, beating $300,000 Max Hempt Stakes winner and Jug eligible Custard The Dragon by 3-3/4 lengths. He blazed the last half in :53.4, the final quarter in an eye-popping :26 seconds — and appeared to have plenty in reserve.

“I was fortunate enough to get some good fractions, but I’ve never had one come home that fast,” said driver Brett Miller, from Columbus, Ohio. “Horses of his caliber have a long year and you have to protect them as much as you can and not go wicked miles every week. He felt great all the way through the mile. He’s got a gait to him that’s just unbelievable.”

Miller, who took over the driving chores behind Big Bad John this season, finished second to Sportswriter with We Will See in last year’s North America Cup.

Big Bad John is a son of Western Hanover and has career earnings of $295,318 with a 1:50.2f lifetime best. Big Bad John has 10 wins in 12 lifetime starts and is three for three this season. He’s already tasted success at Delaware, with a 1:53 victory over Jug eligible Powerful Mist in the Standardbred 2-year-old colt pace. He also defeated strong Grand Circuit colts in two victories at Lexington’s Red Mile in 2010.

Here is how the eliminations will line up (with listed drivers). Jug eligibles have an (*) next to their names.

First Elimination – Race 3:
1. Mach Of Ballykeel (Sylvain Filion) (*)
2. Rock To Glory (David Miller)
3. Big Jim (Phil Hudon) (*)
4. Powerful Mist (Tim Tetrick) (*)
5. Bestofbest Hanover (Jack Moiseyev)
6. Rockabillie (Sylvain Filion) (*)
7. Custard The Dragon (Montrell Teague) (*)

Second Elimination – Race 4:
1. Feel Like A Fool (Brian Sears) (*)
2. Betterthancheddar (Brett Miller)
3. Up The Credit (Jody Jamieson) (*)
4. Grams Legacy (Brian Sears) (*)
5. Eighteen (Paul MacDonell) (*)
6. Lookinforadventure (Brett Miller)
7. Townslight Hanover (Scott Zeron)
8. Shadyshark Hanover (Tim Tetrick) (*)

Third Elimination – Race 6:
1. Mystician (Jody Jamieson)
2. Roll With Joe (Randy Waples) (*)
3. Keystone Velocity (Jody Jamieson)
4. Western Alumni (Randy Waples) (*)
5. Dutch Richman (Tim Tetrick)
6. Wink N Atcha (Brian Sears) (*)
7. Big Bad John (Brett Miller) (*)
8. Foreclosure N (Sylvain Filion) (*)