by Jay Wolf, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — The final drivers have been announced for the 68th Little Brown Jug.

In the second elimination, David Miller has selected Lucan Hanover (post four). Beach Memories (post five) will have the services of Yannick Gingras. Urbanite Hanover (post seven) will be driven by Ron Pierce.

In the final $58,939 elimination, Andy Miller will stay with Johny Rock (post four), allowing Corey Callahan to pick up the drive with Resistance Futile (post two).

Below is the full field, with the final driver changes:

$58,939 First Elimination
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Eddie Sweat-Dan Noble-Edward Zubkoff, Jr.-20-1
2. Lonewolf Currier-Dave Palone–Kevin McDermott-4-1
3. Rockin Amadeus-Yannick Gingras–Jimmy Takter-5-2
4. Right Touch-Ray Paver-Ray Paver-6-1
5. Vegas Vacation-Brian Sears–Casie Coleman-2-1
6. Wake Up Peter-Ron Pierce-Tony Alagna-8-1

$58,939 Second Elimination
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Ilikeitrealhot-Matt Kakaley-Ron Potter-15-1
2. Mach It So-Scott Zeron-Nifty Norman-4-1
3. Emeritus Maximus-Tim Tetrick-Tony Alagna-8-1
4. Lucan Hanover-David Miller–Casie Coleman-5-2
5. Beach Memories-Yannick Gingras-Brian Brown-6-1
6. Word Power-Jody Jamieson-Larry Remmen-5-1
7. Urbanite Hanover-Ron Pierce-John Williamson-12-1

$58,939 Third Elimination
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Twilight Bonfire-John Campbell-Danny Collins-5-2
2. Resistance Futile-Corey Callahan–Blair Burgess-10-1
3. Sunfire Blue Chip–Yannick Gingras–Jimmy Takter-2-1
4. Johny Rock-Andy Miller-John Butenschoen-4-1
5. Odds On Equuleus–Tim Tetrick-Tony Alagna-8-1
6. Only The Lonely-Matt Kakaley-Nick Surick-15-1

Jug undercard filled with millionaires

Six millionaires are scheduled to compete in the LBJ undercard on Thursday (Sept. 19).

A Rocknroll Dance with career earnings of $2,411,629 is the richest of the millionaires. He will take on Pet Rock ($1,632,397) in the $51,250 Winbak Farm Pace. Pet Rock established a new world record of 1:47.2 in his last start in the $125,000 Jim Ewart Memorial at Scioto Downs. The win snapped A Rocknroll Dance’s three-race win streak, all in 1:47.4 or better.

The $125,000 Miss Versatility Trot final will be a showdown between Maven ($1,148,219), Cedar Dove ($1,101,080) and Beatgoeson Hanover ($1,123,580).

Fred And Ginger is the lone millionaire in the $10,000 Won The West Open Pace.

A look back at Overtrick, winner of the 1963 LBJ
by Tom White, Publicity Director Emeritus

In 1963 Overtrick won the Little Brown Jug against arch-rivals Meadow Skipper and Country Don, setting seven world records. Now, 50 years later, Overtrick is enshrined as an Immortal in Harness Racing’s Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y.

The bay son of Solicator was bred and owned by Helen R. and Leonard J. Buck of Far Hills, N.J. Foaled in 1960, he was trained and driven by John Patterson, Sr.

Overtrick raced from 1962 through 1964 and had a lifetime record of 50-34-10-0 including 15 2:00 miles and career earnings of $407,483.

He was also voted 2-year-old Pacer of the Year in 1962 and 3-year-old Pacer of the Year in 1963.

In 1962, no 2-year-old Standardbred had a faster race time on a mile track than Overtrick’s 1:59.4 (tied with Meadow Skipper) and he was sole owner of the fastest 2-year-old male on a half-mile track (2:01.3).

Winning efforts that year included the Little Pat Stake, McMahon Memorial and Ohio Standardbred Futurity at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. He finished his freshman season with a 16-10-3-0 record and $40,129 in earnings.

In 1963, Overtrick became the fastest Standardbred to ever race on a half-mile track. His 1:57.1 mark in the first heat of the Little Brown Jug would help set seven world records, including the combined two-heat world record of 3:54.4h.

Other wins during his sophomore season included the Liberty Bell, Battle of Saratoga, Hanover-Hempt, Geers and Messenger Stakes.

Overtrick finished his sophomore campaign with a 23-16-4-0 record and earnings of $208,833, the most ever for a 3-year-old pacer in a single season. Overtrick finished second to Trotting Triple Crown winner Speedy Scot in the voting for Horse of the Year in 1963.

In 1964, Overtrick garnered season’s records for a 4-year-old horse on both a mile track (1:57.2) and half-mile track (1:59.1). Victories that year included the Realization Pace, International Pace (defeating the Immortal Cardigan Bay at 1-1/2 miles) and the 1-1/4 mile Empire Pace. Despite being plagued by various injuries, he finished the season with an 11-8-3-0 record and $158,521 in the bank.

Overtrick retired from the track as the ninth-leading money-winning Standardbred of all time.

With each season, Overtrick’s winning and in-the-money percentages increased. As a 2-year-old his winning percentage was 63 percent and he was in-the-money 81 percent. As a 3-year-old, 70 percent and 87 percent, and as a 4-year-old, in spite of injuries which led to his premature retirement, his winning percentage was 73 percent and he was first or second in all 11 starts.

Overtrick’s lifetime winning percentage of 68 percent topped several of his Immortal contemporaries, such as Meadow Skipper (44 percent), Cardigan Bay (54 percent in U.S.), and Bye Bye Byrd (52 percent).

Overtrick retired to stud at Lana Lobell Farm in Pennsylvania. He sired winners of more than $22 million with one in 1:55 — Shadydale Trixie p,6,1:54.3 ($255,223) — and 81 in 2:00.

But his legacy was through his daughters. He was a top broodmare sire with more than 600 2:00 credits. His daughters have produced winners of more than $68 million, including Falcon Seelster p,3,1:51h ($1,121,045) and trotter Sandy Bowl 4,T1:54.1 ($1,299,199).

Overtrick is the sire of Gidget Lobell, dam of No Nukes p,3,T1:52.1.

In 1975, Overtrick was exported to Australia where he died in 1982 at the age of 22.