by Tom White, publicity director, The Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — Well Said and Vintage Master apparently are headed to Delaware, Ohio for a showdown in the 64th Little Brown Jug.

According to a news report on harnessracing.com, Well Said’s trainer Steve Elliott and co-owner Jeff Snyder confirmed that the colt will be entered in the upcoming Little Brown Jug.

“We’re leaning towards it, Steve wants to go, so it looks that way,” said Snyder, who owns Well Said in partnership with Susan Grange’s Lothlorien Stables.

“(Well Said) has never been on a half-mile track before but he had a good tightener the other night,” said Snyder, referring to Well Said’s 1:50.2 Simcoe Stakes victory.

Elliott added, “I thought we were going all along, but my owners wanted to talk about it after the Simcoe. It’s one of the few races I haven’t won and this is my best shot at it.”

Well Said has won the $1.3 million North America Cup and $1 million Meadowlands Pace this season.

Jimmy Takter, who trains Adios and Cane Pace champion Vintage Master, said after the colt’s Cane victory, “I thought he raced very well, especially since it was the first time he’d been on a half-mile track. I think he showed that he is perfectly suitable for the Jug after that win.”

Vintage Master, who is owned by Brittany Farms and the estate of Brian Monieson, defeated Well Said in the Adios Pace Final, then lost to him in the Battle of the Brandywine.

Takter also trained 2006 Jug champion Mr Feelgood.

Both Takter and Elliott have trained Hambletonian winners, the trotting equivalent to the Little Brown Jug. Elliott trained 2006 winner Donato Hanover and Takter conditioned 1997 victor Malabar Man.

Coming into the Jug, Well Said has lifetime earnings of $2.2 million and Vintage Master has accumulated $1,135,522.