The Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio is hosting one of the greatest shows in harness racing Thursday afternoon, with 23 three-year-old pacers battling in the 65th Little Brown Jug.
A year ago, driver Ron Pierce was able to enjoy the cheers of the crowd at the Delaware County Fairgrounds after steering Well Said to the Little Brown Jug crown.$604,100 LITTLE BROWN JUG
$64,437 First Elimination (Race 13)
Post position, name, driver and morning odds
1. Kyle Major (Mark McDonald) 7-2
2. Rock N Roll Heaven (Daniel Dube) 2-1
3. Fred and Ginger (Dave Palone) 6-1
4. Dreamland’s Art (George Brennan) 12-1
5. Razzle Dazzle (John Campbell) 15-1
6. Foreign Officer (Ron Pierce) 10-1
7. We Will See (Brett Miller) 4-1
8. Aracache Hanover (Doug McNair) 8-1
$64,437 Second Elimination (Race 14)
1. Delmarvalous (Brian Sears) 3-2
2. Classic Rock NRoll (Campbell) 7-1
3. Piece of the Rock (Paul McDonald) 5-1
4. Doc’s Yankee (Dan Noble) 10-1
5. Fools Gold (Tim Tetrick) 20-1
6. Versado (Palone) 7-2
7. Just Crowned (Dan Charlino) 25-1
8. Urgent Action (David Miller) 15-1
$64,437 Third Elimination (Race 15)
1. Valentino (Brennan) 6-1
2. Four Starz (Trace Luc Ouellette) 8-1
3. I’m Gorgeous (Andy Miller) 4-1
4. Allthatgltrsisgold (Dave Magee) 10-1
5. Malicious (D. Miller) 12-1
6. Rockin Image (Yannick Gingras) 7-2
7. One More Laugh (Tetrick) 2-1
$289,969 Little Brown Jug Second Heat (Race 18)
Top three finishers in each elimination returns for second heat. An elimination winner that wins second heat also wins the Little Brown Jug.
$120,820 Little Brown Jug Third Heat (Race 20)
If needed, four heat winners return for final race-off.
DELAWARE, Ohio -- The Delaware County Fairgrounds in central Ohio is hosting one of the greatest shows in harness racing Thursday afternoon, with 23 three-year-old pacers battling in the 65th Little Brown Jug.
It's a unique athletic contest for the sophomore pacers, a test of both a horse's speed and stamina and the expertise of trainers and drivers. While each mile contest will last less than two minutes, it will take a hot afternoon of racing to decide a winner of the $604,100 Jug, the second jewel of harness racing's Triple Crown.
The 23 standardbreds are split into three divisions, races 13 through 15 on a program that will have 19 races -- and possibly one more if the Jug demands it. It takes a pair of victories for a sophomore pacer to win the Little Brown Jug.
The top three horses in each of the $64,437 Jug divisions return to battle in the $289,969 second heat, the 18th race on the card. If a horse other than the three division winners makes it to the winner's circle, it's race-off time, sending the four heat winners out in a $120,820 final to determine this year's champ.
Division favorites are Cane Pace winner One More Laugh, Delmarvalous and Rock N Roll Heaven. The local favorite has to be Doc's Yankee, an unheralded Ohio-bred son of Yankee Cruiser that won his last start on Sept. 5 in an Ohio Sires Stakes race at Northfield Park. While the powerhouse pacers come from all over the country, Doc's Yankee is the very first hometown hero.
Doc's Yankee is owned by Bud and Janet Bay and trained by Ron Potter, all from Delaware. The gelding has won seven of 13 this year with four seconds, a race record of 1:52.3 and career earnings of $150,984. The top driver in last year's Grand Circuit races at Delaware with eight wins, Dan Noble, 27, gets his first Jug assignment behind Doc's Yankee.
Favored Western Silk paced to a pair of wins for driver Mark McDonald to capture Wednesday's $353,400 Jugette for three-year-old pacing fillies, taking the final in 1:53.1. Trained by Ontario-based Casie Coleman, Western Silk horse is owned by Coleman and Tom Hill of Great Britain.
Western Silk took the first elimination by two lengths in 1:52.1. Yannick Gingras drove Rock N Soul to victory in the second elimination with a 1:52 mile as favored Dancinwiththestarz had early problems and finished third.