Delaware, OH – Fourteen 3-year-old male pacers were entered in the 80th edition of the Little Brown Jug, resulting in two $50,000 eliminations on Thursday (Sept. 18) with the top four finishers from each group advancing to the same-day $500,000 final at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
The first elimination features North America Cup champion Louprint and Adios and Milstein Memorial winner Prince Hal Hanover, who will start from posts five and six, respectively.
Louprint, a Dan Patch Award winner in 2024 and undefeated in seven races this year, is ranked No. 2 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will drive the colt for trainer Ron Burke. In his most recent start Sept. 6, he won the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship for sophomore male pacers by a neck over Prince Hal Hanover at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.
For his career, the son of Sweet Lou-Rockin Racer has won 14 of 17 races and earned $1.36 million.
Prince Hal Hanover, who has five wins and five seconds among 13 starts this season, is ranked No. 8 in the Top 10. Todd McCarthy will drive the colt for trainer Ian Moore. The son of Captaintreacherous-Percy Bluechip has hit the board in 18 of 23 lifetime races, winning seven and finishing second nine times on his way to earning $973,595.
The second elimination features Cane Pace winner Captain Optimistic. He will leave from post five with Dexter Dunn listed to drive for trainer Nancy Takter. The son of Captaintreacherous-Cinamony has won 10 of 21 career races, hit the board an additional seven times, and earned $757,428.
Following are the elimination fields for the 80th Little Brown Jug, with listed drivers and trainers:
Elimination One
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-No Tresspassing-Scott Zeron-Deborah Daguet
2-Papi’s Rocket-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
3-Ayeaye Captain Deo-James MacDonald-Garry Merner Jr.
4-Extra Suds-Dexter Dunn-Virgil Morgan Jr.
5-Louprint-Ronnie Wrenn Jr.-Ron Burke
6-Prince Hal Hanover-Todd McCarthy-Ian Moore
7-Sterling Choice-Yannick Gingras-Blake MacIntosh
Elimination Two
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-D A Love Boat-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
2-Thirsty Thursday-Tyler Buter-Hunter Oakes
3-Lou’s Starr-Fern Paquet Jr.-Scott Warnick
4-Odds On Outlier-Dexter Dunn-Melanie Wrenn
5-Captain Optimistic-Dexter Dunn-Nancy Takter
6-Snack Attack-Jason Bartlett-Joe Bongiorno
7-Will Bill Wyatt-Jason Bartlett-Walter Haynes Jr.