by Kimberly Rinker, managing editor, Hoof Beats

Delaware, OH — Much to the delight of her caretakers, the mother-daughter team of Debbie and Brandy Jamieson, Appleoosa Hanover has draw the rail in the first of two $48,000 Jugette eliminations on Wednesday afternoon (September 19) at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled with the post, or to be here,” noted Debbie, who is also the mother of driver Jody Jamieson, who is set to pilot the sophomore daughter of Western Hanover for trainer and father Carl Jamieson.

“Of course, we’re not really thrilled with how our Jug horse drew,” added Brandy and Debbie in tandem.

The Jamiesons are referring to Reserve Forces — another family sophomore pacer who nabbed the eight hole in the first of two $76,800 Little Brown Jug eliminations on Thursday afternoon, September 20.

Appleoosa Hanover — a big rangy mare with a bright white star and a pleasant eye — brings a bankroll of $454,871 with her to Delaware, and most recently finished victorious in a conditioned race at Mohawk on September 7, pacing in 1:52.1 and winning by three lengths with Jody at the lines.

“We got down here Sunday. We shipped in from Princeton, Ontario, at our family farm,” Debbie said. “She seems to enjoy her new surroundings and is doing well.”

Brandy jogged the big brown mare five miles Monday morning over Delaware’s famed half-mile oval for the first time, a process she’ll repeat Tuesday morning.

“She’s a perfect lady on the track,” Brandy explained. “But in the barn, it’s a different story. She’s great if you’re working on her — grooming or picking out her feet, but once you start getting her ready to jog or train, she becomes a bully. She wants to get out there and go. Once she hits the track, she’s all business and just settles right down and jogs like a kitten.”

That recent victory at Mohawk was Appleoosa Hanover’s first win of 2007 in 15 starts. She also has a quartet of third-place finishes to her credit and $21,343 in her seasonal coffers.

“This mare is pretty cool and relatively uncomplicated; she keeps herself in good shape and really enjoys her work,” Debbie noted.

Appleoosa Hanover wears no boots and is simply rigged with a blind bridle, a pair of line poles, with aluminum shoes in front and a pair of steel swedges behind.

“She’s just very nice,” Debbie said. “My husband liked her breeding and he felt she was put together really well, so that’s why he bought her as a yearling.”

Trainer Carl paid just $32,000 for the young filly at the 2005 Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg. She is the first and most prolific foal out of the Artsplace mare Appleonia-Art p,2,1:54.3 ($67,658).

As a freshman Appleoosa Hanover raced exclusively over Canadian ovals, racking up five wins, three seconds and a pair of thirds in 12 starts. She amassed $433,528 in earnings and recorded a mark of 1:53.3 over a sloppy Mohawk Racetrack when she won the $679,050 She’s A Great Lady Final on September 2, 2006, with Jody at the controls.

“The Jugette will be her first start in the United States,” said Brandy. “As a family, we couldn’t be happier. It’s great to have a horse in both the Jug and Jugette.”

Driver Jody, however, also has North America Cup and Simcoe Stakes winner Tell All — who drew post three — in the same Jug elim as Reserve Forces.

“We understand that Jody has to drive Tell All in the Jug elim,” Debbie said. “We’re very proud of him and for his success with that horse.”