by Jay Wolf, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — This is the seventh and final week on the “Road to the Little Brown Jug.”

Little Brown Jug Top 10 Contenders (Week #7– Sept. 10)

1. Vegas Vacation (Last Week #2)
Owners: West Wins Stable (ONT), Adriano Sorella (ONT), Anthony Beaton (ONT) and Phyllis Saunders (ONT)
Trainer: Casie Coleman
Drivers: Brian Sears and Scott Zeron
Career Earnings: $646,516
Career Mark: 1:48.3 TgDn
He won the $114,948 Simcoe Stakes (Sept. 7) at Mohawk Raceway in 1:48.3, equaling his lifetime best.

2. Sunfire Blue Chip (Last Week #5)
Owners: Christina Talker (NJ), John & Jim Fielding (ONT), Brixton Medical AB (SWE) and RAW Equine Inc. (ONT)
Trainer: Jimmy Takter
Driver: Yannick Gingras
Career Earnings: $476,819
Career Mark: 1:48.3 Mea
The son of American Ideal was third in the Simcoe Stakes on Sept. 7.

3. Sunshine Beach (Last Week #6)
Owners: Hudson Standardbred Stable (QUE), Conrad Leber (QUE) and Diane Bertrand (ALB)
Trainer: Mark Steacy
Drivers: Chris Christoforou, Jr. and George Brennan
Career Earnings: $531,565
Career Mark: 1:47.4 PcD
He was second to Vegas Vacation in the Simcoe at Mohawk Raceway on Sept. 7.

4. Johny Rock (Last Week #8)
Owners: William C. Wiswell (WI), Jean A. Goehlen (IL) and Eugene W. Schick (IL)
Trainer: John Butenschoen
Driver: Andy Miller
Career Earnings: $387,498
Career Mark: 1:48 PcD
He set a new lifetime mark with a 1:48 win at Pocono Downs (Sept. 7) in a conditioned event.

5. Lucan Hanover (Last Week #NR)
Owners: West Win Stable (ONT) and Christine Calhoun (ONT)
Trainer: Casie Coleman
Driver: David Miller
Career Earnings: $232,284
Career Mark: 1:48.3 M
Finished third in a $114,948 division of the Simcoe Stakes on Sept. 7.

6. Twilight Bonfire (Last Week #7)
Owners: Robert J. Key (PA)
Trainer: Danny Collins
Driver: David Miller
Career Earnings: $681,489
Career Mark: 1:50.1 Mea
Took the fifth spot in the Cane Pace final at Tioga Downs on Sept. 2.

7. Wake Up Peter (Last Week #3)
Owners: Wake Up Peter Partners (IL), Brittany Farms (KY), Louis Willinger (KY) and Eagles Soar Partners (NY)
Trainer: Tony Alagna
Driver: Ron Pierce
Career Earnings: $532,680
Career Mark: Q1:50 M
The son of Rocknroll Hanover has yet to win in 2013. He could set Jug history with a win.

8. Word Power (Last Week #9)
Owner: Bradley Grant (ONT)
Trainer: Larry Remmen
Driver: Jody Jamieson
Career Earnings: $225,802
Career Mark: 1:49.4 M
He was just a nose short of an upset of Captaintreacherous in the Cane Pace final.

9. Odds On Equuleus (Last Week #NR)
Owners: Odds On Racing (IL)
Trainer: Tony Alagna
Driver: John Campbell
Career Earnings: $622,801
Career Mark: 1:50 M
Recently moved to the Tony Alagna barn. He only has a couple of weeks to straighten him out.

10. Lonewolf Currier (Last Week #10)
Owners: Francis Azur (PA)
Trainer: Kevin McDermott
Drivers: John Campbell and Jason Bartlett
Career Earnings: $274,495
Career Mark: 1:48.4 Mea
Did not race last week.

This week’s celebrity selections come from Dave Briggs. Briggs is the publisher and editor for the Canadian Sportsman magazine. He was presented the Harness Tracks of America’s Dan Patch Award for exceptional media, publicity and public relations contributions to the sport of harness racing earlier this year.

1. Vegas Vacation inherits top spot after winning the Simcoe and the connections of Captaintreacherous elected not to race in Delaware. Can trainer Casie Coleman win back-to-back Jugs?

2. Sunshine Beach was a solid second to Vegas Vacation for trainer Mark Steacy and has a 1:47.4 mark set a month ago beating Captaintreacherous in the Battle of the Brandywine.

3. Sunfire Blue Chip has been a consistent money-maker all year for trainer Jimmy Takter and topped Vegas Vacation in the Adios on July 27.

4. Lucan Hanover, Casie Coleman’s other horse, won the New Jersey Classic on Hambletonian Day and has been a solid producer all year.

5. Word Power was just a neck behind Captaintreacherous in the Cane Pace and the Larry Remmen trainee has cashed a check in all but one start this year.

6. Twilight Bonfire was second to Captaintreacherous in the Pepsi North America Cup in June and the Danny Collins pupil has cashed a check in six of the seven starts since.

7. Johny Rock has been a solid performer in his last five starts for trainer John Butenschoen.

8. Wake Up Peter is, perhaps, the best winless sophomore pacing colt on the continent. Though a little on the inconsistent side, when he is on, he’s near the front-runners.

9. Emeritus Maximus is a sizable longshot, yet the Alagna trainee has been on the board nine times this year in 14 starts against stakes competition and sports a 1:48.4 mile at Pocono.

10. Lonewolf Currier has won a third of his starts, but has been either on or out of it too much to be a serious Jug threat.