by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Lexington, KY — The Sunday (Oct. 2) card at The Red Mile featured two divisions in the $202,000 Bluegrass Series for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Hugadragon was a winner in 1:50 in his Bluegrass division.

The $100,500 first division was captured by Burke Racing Stable’s Hugadragon ($8.60) with a wire-to-wire effort in a lifetime best 1:50. Yannick Gingras was in the bike for trainer Ron Burke as the son of Dragon Again-Hip Huggers won for the third time this year in 14 trips to the post. The victory lifted his 2011 earnings to $274,724.

Starting from post four, Hugadragon was out to the front and hit the opening quarter in :27.2. He was challenged by a first over Foreclosure N (Tim Tetrick) at the :56 half-mile marker. Foreclosure N briefly put a head in front, but Hugadragon refused to let him go and by the 1:23 three-quarter pole it was Hugadragon back in front.

Turning for home Hugadragon began to pull away from the field and he reported home an easy winner in 1:50. Lookinforadventure (Brian Sears) rallied to finish second and Rhombus (Ron Pierce) picked up the show dough.

“He’s kind of a funny horse,” said trainer Ron Burke of his homebred colt. “I knew when he got to the front and when Yannick was left alone for awhile that when Timmy came (with Foreclosure N) he (Yannick) wouldn’t turn him loose. The more you grab him (Hugadragon) the more he’ll grab into you and try to pull away from him.

“On the front he’s actually funny; he’s not going to be there all the time, but if he gets there and gets a horse outside of him, he will fight him off. He’s a very fast horse.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Big Bad John scored in 1:50.1 in the second Bluegrass division.

The $101,500 second division saw Little Brown Jug winner Big Bad John hold off a challenge from Feel Like A Fool on the final turn and then draw off to an impressive win in a time of 1:50.1. David Miller was in the bike for owner Winchester Baye Acres and trainer Ron Potter. The win was the tenth of the year in 12 starts for the son of Western Hanover-Trulyawork Of Art. He has now banked $753,809 in 2011.

Big Bad John sat off the leaders at the :27.1 opening quarter, then made a bold move to the front at the :54 half-mile marker. He was challenged by a first over Feel Like A Fool at the 1:22.1 three-quarter pole, but put that one away by the head of the stretch.

Big Bad John paced his final quater in :28 to reach the wire in 1:50.1. Up The Credit (Jody Jamieson) rallied late to be second while Westwardho Hanover (Dave Palone) was third and Feel Like A Fool (Dave Magee) finished fourth.

“It was a pretty tough trip,” said trainer Ron Potter. “Dave (Miller) said he was a little tired at the end. He maybe wasn’t quite as good today as he was at Delaware, because that was two hard trips at Delaware.”