by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — If you don’t bring him a certain kind of treat, be prepared to not receive any affection from Big Bad John.

“He’s like most stud colts and likes to nip at you,” explained Ed Telle, the 2-year-old colt’s owner. “I enjoy bringing all my horses biscuits and then loving all over them. If you give him one, he’ll let you rub all over him, but if you don’t, he’ll definitely try to take a bite out of you.”

Big Bad John is from the final crop of Western Hanover and is out of the Artsplace mare Trulyawork Of Art. Conditioned by Ron Potter of Delaware, Ohio, the colt has amassed $150,250 in purse money, with a career slate of 8-6-2-0 and a lifetime mark of 1:51.4. He triumphed in a $21,000 division of the Arden Downs Stake at The Meadows on July 31, a $73,280 division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on August 25, and equaled the world record for 2-year-old pacing colts on a half-mile track when he captured the $65,300 Standardbred stake at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in 1:53h on Jug Day.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

Big Bad John equaled the world record for 2-year-old pacing colts on a half-mile track when he captured the $65,300 Standardbred stake in 1:53.

“I had another horse getting ready to go into the second heat of the Jug, so I never went in the winners’ circle after John won,” Potter, who is having a career year with more than $350,000 earned and a Universal Trainer Rating of .423, remembered. “I went straight back to the barn and I found out the time when I heard Roger (Huston) announce it over the PA system. You certainly never expect something like that.”

Big Bad John, who was a $130,000 yearling purchase, finished second in his Breeders Crown elimination at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on October 1 after breaking shortly before the finish line, but the colt had an excuse and was eventually scratched sick from the $600,000 Final on October 9.

“He was coughing after he came back from the race and wouldn’t drink up,” the 61-year-old Potter said. “We treated him with antibiotics for a couple days and scratched him from the race because there is no sense running him if he’s not 100 percent, plus we were eligible for the Bluegrass and International down in Lexington.”

On October 16 the colt dead-heated with Mystic Desire for the victory in a $129,000 division of the Bluegrass Series contested at The Red Mile after an intense stretch duel.

“It looked like we had gotten past Timmy’s (Tetrick) horse, but he fought back just before the wire,” Potter said. “I told Sam McKee he was at about 90 percent when he interviewed me after the race. I couldn’t train him after the Breeders Crown elimination and I knew he would be a little short for that race.”

Telle, who owns about 10 head and has been involved in the sport on and off since 1981, admits when you win it’s definitely fun, but Big Bad John has done far more for his family than simply provide some excitement.

“This horse has meant a lot to my son Daniel, who just started college at the University of Cincinnati,” he explained. “We started him on mucking stalls last winter and over the summer he worked for Ron Potter, kind of as his second assistant. Ron is so good with young people and Daniel has been with this horse every step of the way.

“He invited six buddies of his from high school to watch him at Delaware and they had a hoot,” Telle continued. “They all got in the photo with us and my son sleeps with his Jug blanket. In fact for his fall break, all he wants to do is work with the horses. This horse really means a lot to him.”

Big Bad John’s next performance will be in a $145,000 division of the International Stallion Stake at The Red Mile on Saturday (Oct. 23). He starts from the four hole in the first division, which is carded as race five.

“After this he will be sent back down to Florida to his owner’s farm in Ocala and then I’ll get him back sometime around March 1 to get him ready for the races in May,” Potter said. “He was an athletic looking individual right when I got him and he has a very nice conformation and a great attitude. He’s never done anything wrong and is two fingers to train and drive. He’s a very nice colt.”

$145,000 International Stallion Stake division
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Samandar-George Brennan-Larry Rathbone
2-Lookinforadventure-Daniel Dube-Bruce Saunders
3-Risk Management-Douglas McNair-Gregg McNair
4-Big Bad John-Dave Palone-Ron Potter
5-Sharp West Hanover-David Miller-Don Swick
6-Lizard King-David Miller-Jeffrey Webster
7-Real Special-Mike Lachance-Tony Alagna