by Anne Doolin for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH – Won The West stamped his ticket to Little Brown Jug with a half-length victory in Saturday’s $165,000 Jug Preview at Scioto Downs. With Greg Grismore in the bike for North America’s leading trainer Mickey Burke, he scored in 1:51.

The 3-year-old pacing colt is owned by a group of Ohioans – the Strollin Stable, William Robinson and James Koehler – and has now won 13 of 19 starts this season. It was his first start since a gritty second-place finish to stablemate May June Character in the Adios Final at his home track at The Meadows August 11.

The Western Hanover gelding was locked on the rail behind the leaders for much of the mile before breaking loose in deep stretch. “The horse outside of me had been parked a long ways. I figured we’d get room to get out – I was just hoping it would be soon enough,” said Grismore.

“He really tries his heart out,” said Ronnie Burke, who handled the horse for his father. “We’re definitely going to the Jug. “He seemed a little stiff warming up tonight for some reason. We had to score him a second time. I was a little concerned, but once he got locked on the gate, he was perfect. This was a good prep for him.”

Five horses have won the Jug Preview, and then annexed the Jug a week and a half later. The Jug, contested at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, is slated for September 20.

Kinetic Yankee, sent off the slight favorite, held second after cutting the mile, while Artist’s View, who was a $6,000 supplement to the race, was third. Local favorite, last year’s Ohio freshman champion KF St Patrick, never got racing room and finished fifth.

Two races earlier, two drivers were injured in a chain-reaction spill. Tony Hall and Eric Tharps were both transported to Grant Medical Center to be evaluated, but Dave Palone, who also went down, returned to win the next race. Chris Page was also unseated, but was uninjured.