by Tom White, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — World champion Dancinwiththestarz and Fan Hanover winner Western Silk lead a field of 16 sophomore pacing fillies into the $353,400 Jugette on Wednesday (Sept. 22) at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.

The fillies will battle in two $56,544 eliminations with the top four finishers in each elimination returning for the $169,632 second heat. If neither elimination winner captures the second heat, the three winners will return for a race-off.

Dancinwiththestarz finished three-quarters of a length behind division leader Put On A Show in last Monday’s $171,000 Nadia Lobell at The Red Mile. These two finished many open lengths ahead of their nearest rivals. Brian Sears will again be in the sulky when Dancinwiththestarz goes postward in the Jugette.

The daughter of Four Starzzz Shark has three wins and three seconds in her last six starts, including a world record 1:48.4 victory over Put On A Show in the $275,000 Mistletoe Shalee at the Meadowlands. Dancinwiththestarz has earnings of $618,006 in 2010.

Rock N Soul, with Yannick Gingras in the sulky, could give the favorite a tough battle off her neck victory over Full Picture in the $130,000 Shady Daisy at Freehold Raceway. Gingras won the 2007 Jugette with Western Graduate in a 1:51.3 stakes record.

Western Silk comes into the 40th Jugette with four victories in her last five starts, including a 1:50.1 decision over Put On A Show in the $646,020 Fan Hanover at Mohawk. The Western Hanover filly, who will be driven by Mark MacDonald, has six wins in eight starts this season and winnings of $609,925.

Full Picture has finished second in three of her last four starts, all in major stakes races. Ron Pierce will be in the sulky. Dancin Barefoot (Daniel Dube) and Panagler (Dave Palone) will also offer stiff competition.

This is the second richest Jugette in the 40-year history of the race, topped only by the $358,175 purse in 2003. Dave Palone guided Numeric Hanover to a win that year.

Below is the field for the two eliminations.

$56,544 First Elimination
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Berschet-Chip Noble-Billy Walters
2-Holiday Shopper-David Miller-Duke Sugg
3-Western Royalty-Dan Charlino-Jim Mulinix
4-Rock N Soul-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
5-A And Gs Princess-George Brennan-Mark Capone
6-Dancinwiththestarz-Brian Sears-Mark Harder
7-Seriously-Jody Jamieson-Tony O’Sullivan
8-Artcam-Yannick Gingras-Joe Seekman

$56,544 Second Elimination
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Dancin Barefoot-Daniel Dube-Jimmy Takter
2-Native Doll-David Miller-Mark Capone
3-Dance Until Dawn-Douglas McNair-Gregg McNair
4-Western Silk-Mark MacDonald-Casie Coleman
5-Sand Windsor-Brett Miller-Jim Arledge, Jr.
6-Panagler-Dave Palone-Robert McIntosh
7-Full Picture-Ron Pierce-Jerry Silverman
8-Queen Me-Jody Jamieson-Patrick Medors