Field of 12 drawn for Little Brown Jug
September 17, 2011,by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager
Delaware, OH — A field of 12 sophomore pacers have dropped into the box for the $526,800 Little Brown Jug, the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown, set for Thursday (Sept. 22) at the Delaware County Fair. The dozen horses entered marks the smallest Jug field since 1980, when only eight horses entered the event which was won by the legendary Niatross.
USTA/Ed Keys photo
Big Bad John has banked $668,732 in his career.
Leading the field of pacers is the hometown favorite Big Bad John. Owned by Ed Telle of nearby Powell (as Winchester Baye Acres) and trained by Delaware’s Ron Potter, Big Bad John is seeking to become the first horse stabled year round on the Delaware Fairgrounds to ever win the Jug.
The son of Western Hanover-Trulyawork Of Art posts an impressive resume with 14 wins in 19 lifetime starts and earnings of $668,732. Big Bad John heads to the Little Brown Jug with wins in three of his last four starts, including a 1:49.4 score in his most recent effort, the $200,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final on Sept. 5 at Harrah’s Chester.
Big Bad John has drawn the two hole in the first elimination and will have the driving services of native Ohioan David Miller, a two-time winner of the race. He is the 8-5 favorite on the morning line.
”It’s nervous, exciting and wonderful,” said Big Bad John’s owner Ed Telle after the draw. “We just can’t wait until Thursday. We won’t be able to sleep.”
“How could you not like it,” added trainer Ron Potter of the draw. “I am very excited and everybody in Delaware has been so supportive. I like to see a six horse field — every horse in the race has a chance to win. There are a lot of nice colts, but we think we have a shot. I don’t like to brag on my horses, I like them to prove it.”
Chris Gooden photo
Custard The Dragon will score from post five in the first Jug elimination.
Another top contender in the first elimination for the Jug will be Custard The Dragon, winner this year in the $500,000 Hoosier Cup and $300,000 Max Hempt. Owned by Ted Gewertz, Robert Feldman, Fannin Racing and George Teague Jr. Inc., the son of Dragon Again-Eternal Justice has earned $631,238 this year with five wins in 14 trips to post.
Trained by George Teague Jr. and driven by his 20-year-old son, Montrell, Custard The Dragon will start from post five in the elimination and will open on the board at odds of 5-1.
Roll With Joe, the richest 3-year-old pacer in 2011 with earnings of $1,220,080, will also be a force to be reckoned with and headlines the second elimination. The Cam’s Card Shark-Classic Wish bay has four wins in nine starts this year for Ed Hart, who trains the colt for Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Stephen Demeter, Not To Worry Stable and Winbak Farm.
Roll With Joe’s resume includes wins in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace and the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine. Ron Pierce, a four-time Jug winner, will get the call when Roll With Joe scores from post five in the second elimination. He is the morning line favorite at odds of 2-1.
“I’m very surprised there were so few horses entered (in the Jug),” said trainer Ed Hart. “It’s not horrible. I’d rather be on the inside and Betterthancheaddar is on the inside. That’s a factor. We’ll work it out.
“He’s really in good shape right now. I was very happy with how he came out of his last race. He seems very good. I think my chances are pretty good. It’s a good competition, but I’m really optimistic.”
Millionaire Up The Credit heads to Delaware off a 1:49.1 score in a $117,644 Simcoe Stakes division on Sept. 10 at Mohawk. The son of Western Terror-Cantbuymehappiness has won seven times in 13 starts this year with $1,027,349 in his bank account.
New Image Media photo
Up The Credit has earned more than $1 million so far in 2011.
Trained by Carl Jamieson, Up The Credit was at his best earlier this year in winning the $1.53 million North America Cup at Mohawk. He is owned by Jamieson along with Thomas Kyron, Brian Paquet, and Joanne Morrison. Carl’s son Jody will be in the bike when Up The Credit scores from the outside post six in the second elimination. He’ll open on the tote board at 4-1. Jody Jamieson won the Jug with Tell All in 2007.
Cane Pace champion Betterthancheddar will look to add the second leg of the Pacing Triple Crown when he starts from the hole in the elimination on Thursday. Betterthancheddar was not eligible to the Jug, but was allowed to be supplemented to the race for $45,000 by virtue of his win in the $342,875 Cane Pace on Sept. 10 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. That win for Betterthancheddar was his fifth in 11 season’s starts and pushed his earnings to $249,932.
“He was just awesome,” trainer Casie Coleman said. “He couldn’t have been any better. He’s been a good colt since day one. I’ve always praised him and he’s finally right and peaking right now. Hopefully we’ll have some luck in the coming week.”
Betterthancheddar, owned by Coleman’s West Wins Stable and Steve Calhoun, is a son of Bettor’s Delight-Lady Ashlee Ann. He is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Ashlee’s Big Guy and 2007 Breeders Crown champ Artist’s View.
George Brennan, last season’s Driver of the Year, will handle Betterthancheddar and is seeking his first Jug trophy. They will start from post four in the second elimination and are 3-1 on the morning line.
The top four horses in each of the elimination races will advance to the $252,864 second heat. If an elimination winner scores in the second heat, he will be the Jug winner. Otherwise, the three heat-winners will return for a $105,360 race-off.
The exact race numbers and post times for the LBJ will be announced after the balance of the Thursday program is drawn on Monday.
Be sure to visit the USTA’s Little Brown Jug mini-site all week long for the latest news and exclusive photos and videos.
Below is the field for the $526,800 Little Brown Jug, in post position order, with drivers and morning line odds.
$84,288 First Elimination
HN-Horse-Driver-Line
1. Something For Doc-Tim Tetrick-10-1
2. Big Bad John-David Miller-8-5
3. Powerful Mist-John Campbell-7-2
4. Foreclosure N-Tim Tetrick-8-1
5. Custard The Dragon-Montrell Teague-5-1
6. High Noon-Mark MacDonald-15-1
$84,288 Second Elimination
HN-Horse-Driver-Line
1. Rollwithitharry-Brett Miller-8-1
2. Hugadragon-Yannick Gingras-10-1
3. Wink N Atcha-Yannick Gingras-6-1
4. Betterthancheddar-George Brennan-3-1
5. Roll With Joe-Ron Pierce-2-1
6. Up The Credit-Jody Jamieson-4-1
- Name change has worked for Big Bad John (Monday, September 19, 2011)
In the fall of 2009, Ed Telle of Powell, Ohio, purchased the yearling pacing colt Blank Canvas for $130,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
- Coleman seeks rare Jug-Jugette double (Monday, September 19, 2011)
Casie Coleman won the Jugette last year with Western Silk. This year, she is aiming to win the Jugette again and has one of the top contenders — Betterthancheddar — in the Little Brown Jug.
- Steadily improving Hugadragon gives Burke chance in Jug (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)
For a horse that was reluctant to go forward, Hugadragon has shown signs of advancing for trainer Ron Burke.
- New connections seek Jug glory with Foreclosure N (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)
The same connections that sent out last year’s Dan Patch Award winning 3-year-old pacing filly Put On A Show have a Little Brown Jug entry, just in time for Thursday’s race.
- Jug win with Up The Credit would be extra special for Jody Jamieson (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)
Jody Jamieson knows what it is like to win the Little Brown Jug. Still, a victory in Thursday’s 66th edition of the storied race for 3-year-old pacers would carry additional meaning.