by Tom White, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Lexington, KY — Big Bad John, a central Ohio owned, trained and driven Little Brown Jug contender, will make his first 2011 start in a division of Saturday’s (May 7) $211,036 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Harrah’s Chester.

“He seems ready to go,” said trainer Ron Potter of Delaware, Ohio. “He’s won two qualifiers at The Meadows including a 1:53 effort last week on a cool, rainy day. That was right where I wanted him to go.”

Big Bad John will face five colts in Saturday’s $52,559 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes division. Among his rivals will be Jug eligibles Reckless Ric and Something For Doc.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Big Bad John equaled the world record for a 2-year-old pacing colt on a half-mile track in winning the $65,300 Standardbred for freshman pacing males last fall at Delaware.

A son of Western Hanover, Big Bad John won seven of nine starts last year and earned $222,750 for owner Edward Telle’s Winchester Baye Acres of Ocala, Fla. He won the Standardbred during Delaware’s Grand Circuit last year, plus Bluegrass and International Stallion Stakes divisions at The Red Mile, an Arden Downs split at The Meadows and a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. He took his race record of 1:50.4 at Lexington’s Red Mile in the International Stallion Stakes.

Big Bad John was ranked fifth in the annual U.S. Trotting Association’s Experimental Ratings for 3-year-old pacers.

“He was at his best at the end of last season. He was so sharp, just great. He has tremendous quick speed at the start and he can grind it out. He never gets tired,” said Potter.

Big Bad John was purchased as a yearling (then named Black Canvas) for $130,000 from breeder Kentuckiana Farms at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Dave Palone drove Big Bad John in his two Red Mile victories last year but the decision was made to switch to Brett Miller for the colt’s sophomore campaign.

“We made the decision to get a driver who would commit to driving him all season,” said Potter. “Plus, Brett’s a Buckeye (from Columbus), I’m a Buckeye and his owner is a Buckeye.”

During the winter months Big Bad John was trained in Ocala, Fla., under the supervision of Brett Merkle.

“Brett did an excellent job and deserves to be part of the story,” added Potter. “Brett shipped Big Bad John up to Delaware in February and I trained him down to 2:20 before shipping him to The Meadows.”

After this week, Potter plans to start Big Bad John in an overnight race at The Meadows and then on June 3 in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, also at The Meadows.

“Then we’ll head to Mohawk Raceway in Canada for the North America Cup eliminations on June 11.

“Our goal is to win the Little Brown Jug. That would be the ultimate experience of a lifetime for all of us Buckeyes.”