by Tom White, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — The 2009 2-year-old North American pacing champion Sportswriter and his Breeders Crown nemesis All Speed Hanover are the early favorites in a wide-open 65th Little Brown Jug. A total of 148 3-year-old colts and geldings remain eligible to the $550,000 classic which will be raced on Thursday afternoon, September 23, at the Delaware, Ohio County Fairgrounds.

Sportswriter was voted the Dan Patch Award as the best 2-year-old male pacer of 2009 by the U.S. Harness Writers and the son of Artsplace also received the O’Brien Award as Canada’s top juvenile colt pacer. The Casie Coleman-trained colt, who raced only in Canada in 2009, won the $920,000 Metro Pace in a world record 1:49.2s at Mohawk Racetrack.

All Speed Hanover swept divisions of the Bluegrass and International Stallion Stakes in October at Lexington’s Red Mile and followed that with a huge triumph over Sportswriter in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final at Woodbine Racetrack. All Speed Hanover is trained by Noel Daley. Ron Pierce, who has four Jug wins including Well Said in 2009, drove All Speed Hanover in 2009.

The Little Brown Jug is the second leg of Pacing’s Triple Crown. The first leg is the Cane Pace, scheduled for September 6 at Freehold Raceway. If a horse wins the Cane, but is not eligible to the Jug, his owner(s) may pay a $45,000 supplemental starting fee. Yonkers Raceway will play host to the Messenger Pace on October 25, the third leg of the Triple Crown.

For the complete list of all horses eligible to the 2010 Little Brown Jug, click here.

Following is a brief summary of the leading 2010 Jug contenders. Jay Wolf, assistant publicity director for the Little Brown Jug, will compile a weekly “Road to the Jug” list of current favorites beginning in mid-July.

2010 Little Brown Jug Early Favorites

Sportswriter–bc–Artsplace-Precious Beauty
2009: 8-7-1-0–1:49.2s–$815,680
Owners: Steve Calhoun, West Wins Stable and Southwind Farm
Breeder: Jim Avritt
Trainer: Casie Coleman
Driver: Mark MacDonald
2009: 2-year-old Dan Patch (USA) and O’Brien (Canada) winner and world champion. Won $920,000 Metro but finished second to All Speed Hanover in Breeders Crown.

All Speed Hanover–bc–Cam’s Card Shark-All American Cool
2009: 7-5-0-1–1:50.3–$486,950
Owners: Adam Victor & Son Stable and John Fielding
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms
Trainers: Noel Daley and Michael Vanderkemp
Driver: Ron Pierce
2009: Climaxed terrific season by beating Sportswriter in the Breeders Crown. He also won both the International Stallion Stakes and Bluegrass at Lexington’s Red Mile.

One More Laugh–bg–McArdle-Fancy Creek Funny
2009: 12-9-2-0–1:49.2f–$594,306
Owners: Mathias Meinzinger, Jerry Silva and Ray Schnittker
Breeder: Mathias Meinzinger
Trainer: Ray Schnittker
Driver: Tim Tetrick
2009: Captured the $600,000 Governor’s Cup Final in a world record 1:49.2f over Rock N Roll Heaven and Malcious. He also captured three divisions and the $200,000 PA Sires Stakes Final.

Rock N Roll Heaven–bc–Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision
2009: 9-4-4-2–1:50.2–$592,626
Owner: Frank Belino
Breeders: Steve Stewart, Charles (Cotton), Julie and Francene Nash
Trainer: Bruce Saunders
Driver: Daniel Dube
2009: Finished second in the Metro and Governor’s Cup finals but won a division of the Bluegrass Stakes.

Blue Rock–bc–Rocknroll Hanover-Lady Indigo
2009: 4-3-1-0–1:52.2–$109,965
Owners: Burke Racing Stable, Randy Ringer, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stable
Breeders: Stephen Perrine Day and David Hayes
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Brian Sears
2009: Won a pair of New Jersey Sires Stakes at the Meadowlands and the Goshen Cup.

Rockin Image—bc–Rocknroll Hanover-Kikikatie
2009: 8-3-1-1–1:50.4–$285,636
Owner: Lothlorien Stable (Susan Grange)
Breeder: L & L Devisser
Trainer: Jimmy Takter
Driver: John Campbell
2009: Swept the International Stallion and Bluegrass Stakes at Lexington and finished fourth in both the Breeders Crown and Governor’s Cup.

Malicious–bc–Bettor’s Delight-Silky
2009: 12-9-1-1–1:51.3f–$328,341
Owners: Dr. Ian Moore, RG McGroup and Serge Savard
Breeder: Linwood Higgins
Trainer: Dr. Ian Moore
Drivers: Paul MacDonell, David Miller
2009: Won Nassagaweya and elimination of the Governor’s Cup. Also was a strong third in $600,000 Governor’s Cup Final.

Windfall Blue Chip–bc–Art Major-Beach Dancer
2009: 6-4-0-0–1:51–$260,602
Owners: Kovach Stable, George Teague, Jr. and Ted Gewertz
Breeders: Blue Chip Farm and Enviro Stable
Trainer: George Teague, Jr.
Driver: Brian Sears
2009: Won the $455,400 Woodrow Wilson

OK Commander–bc–Art Major-Double Creme
2009: 13-2-2-2–1:51.4–$212,133
Owners: William Switala and James Martin
Breeder: Oak Knoll Stables
Trainer: Gregg McNair
Driver: Doug McNair
2009: Ended an 0-for-11 start with victories in the $180,000 American-National and Abe Lincoln Stakes.

Just Crowned–bc–Artsplace-Princess Justice
2009: 10-3-0-1–1:54.1f–$27,773
Owner: Miller Stable, Inc.
Breeder: Miller Stable, Inc.
Trainer: Jim Arledge, Jr.
Driver: David Miller
2009: The Lebanon, Ohio homebred won a division of the Arnold Green Memorial Standardbred Stake in 1:56 on Jug Day at the Delaware County Fairgrounds. He took his record of 1:54.1f at Scioto Downs.