Captain Albano Takes Little Brown Jug

Captain Albano received a text book drive from Todd McCarthy and defeated a deep field of three-year-old pacers to capture the 79th edition of the Little Brown Jug, presented by the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on Thursday evening (September 19).

When the field of eight was sent on their way in the $525,000 final, a four-wide battled ensued for the early lead.

When the early dust settled it was Captain’s Quarters (Jody Jamieson) who protected his rail spot, forcing Captain Albano into the two-hole and Total Stranger (Dan Noble) in third, leaving Mirage Hanover (Dexter Dunn) hung on the outside.

Captain’s Quarters continued to lead past the opening quarter in :27.2 and the half in :55.2.

As the field straightened down the backstretch for the final time, McCarthy moved Captain Albano out of the pocket to challenge the leader past the three-quarters in 1:22.4.

The eventual winner put a head in front midway around the final turn and sprinted home in :27.2 to score a three length win in 1:50.1.

Captain Albano gave the Australian natives McCarthy and veteran trainer Noel Daley their first Jug titles.
 

The son of Captaintrecherous is owned by the partnership of Patricia Stable, L A Express Stable, Sjoblom Racing and Matt Dolan.

“It’s just amazing, said co-owner Dolan. “Captain (Albano) has been a great horse all year, a lot of bad luck. He finally got to show what he could do. The horse is a great horse and I have great partners, they are like family.”

Captain Albano now has 15 wins in 22 career starts and is 8-for-13 this year.

The owners paid $150,000 for Captain Albano as a yearling and with his $287,500 Jug payday, his career earnings exceed $1.2 million.

He was bred by Frederick Hertrich III.

In the first elimination, McCarthy hustled Captain Albano out of post #5 and grabbed the early lead and was able to cruise to a 1:49.2 victory in gate-to-wire fashion.

The pocket sitting Captain Luke was 3 ½ lengths back in second. A hard charging Mirage Hanover was third and Huntingforchrome (Matt Kakaley) finished in the last advancing spot.

The heavy favorite, Nijinsky (Louis-Phillipe Roy) couldn’t get closer than third during the miles and faded to last.

The Canadian invader Captain’s Quarters used his rail position and went gate-to-wire in the second $50,000 elimination in 1:51.3.

The 38-1 longshot Total Stranger made a valent effort in the stretch but came up a head short. The bettor’s choice, Legendary Hanover (James MacDonald) was forced three-wide at the three-quarter pole and edged Sweet Beach Life (Matt Kakaley) for third.  

Captain’s Quarters is trained by Herb Holland for owner Rich Stiles. 

Jug Day Undercard

$90,000 Ms Versatility Final (Aged Mare Trot)
The Norwegian bred Nelsonbriteagle No benefited from early breaks in stride by HP Mama B (Louis Roy) and Tipsy Money (Yannick Gingras) and was able to coast to a 7 ¾ length romp in 1:52.3.
 
The six-year-old Bold Eagle mare is co-owned by trainer Ake Svanstedt and breeder Nils Munkhaugen.
 
Adare Castle (James MacDonald) was second and Tactical Mounds (Scott Zeron) was third.
 
 
$92,150 Old Oaken Bucket (Three-Year Old Colt Trot)
Four Sixes (Yannick Gringras) minded his manners and went gate-to wire in a lifetime best 1:54.
 
Vangard (Todd McCarthy) and Elhelpsky (Peter Wrenn) both overcame breaks in stride to secure the place and show spots.
 
The winning son of Six Pack is co-owned by William Hartt and trainer Melissa Beckwith.
 
 
$50,000 Standardbred (Two-Year Old Colt Trot)
Arrowhead Hanover received a patient drive from Anthony MacDonald and won the Standardbred by 1 1/2 lengths over Abraham Hanover (Mike Wilder) and Lefties Righties (Scott Zeron).
 
The International Moni gelding is owned by the fractional ownership group, The Stable.
 
The winning time of 1:55.2 was a new lifetime mark for Arrowhead Hanover who has now won $82,170 this season.
 
 
$47,000 Standardbred (Two-Year Old Colt Pace)
Dreamboat Hanover (Andy Miller) capitalized on an early quick pace by Railroad Station (David Miller) and swept by the tiring leader around the final turn to win in 1:51.2.
 
Fasting (Jeremy Indoff) was 4 ¼ lengths back in second, Waitingforguffman (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) third and Railroad Station was fourth.
 
The Papi Rob Hanover gelding is trained by co-owner Todd Schadel, Christine Schadel, Timothy Hayes and Dr. Megan Moschgat.
 
 
$145,000 (div.) Ohio Breeders Championship (Two-Year Old Colt Pace)
The undefeated Rick Wink (Chris Page) took control of the field of six at the quarter-mile and pole sprinted six lengths clear of Extra Suds (Brett Miller) and House Of Brix (Trevor Smith) to take the second division.
 
The 1:50.2 final time established a new stakes record and was just 2/5 of a second off the world mark.
 
The Bit Of A Legend N colt is conditioned by Ron Burke for the Burke Racing Stable, R A S Stable, Knox Services, J&T Silva-Purnel-Libby. He was bred by Larry R. Miller.
 
The Bit Of A Legend N colt is conditioned by Ron Burke for the Burke Racing Stable, R A S Stable, Knox Services, J&T Silva-Purnel-Libby. He was bred by Larry R. Miller.
Rick Wink, who was a $27,000 yearling purchase, has not tasted defeat in seven seasonal starts and now has earned $207,250.
 
Bars And Notes and Tyler Smith skimmed the pylons in the stretch to go from worst to first in the first division.  
 
The pacesetting Downbythewater (Chris Lems) was second and Fabio Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) was third.
 
The winner is co-owned by trainer Joseph Lucas and At The Wire Farms.
 
The final time of 1:53.1 was a new lifetime best for the gelded son of Racing Hill who was bred by Kevin Greenfield and Michael Creps.
 
 
$131,200 Ohio Breeders Championship (Three-Year Old Colt Pace)
Outer Banks (Chris Page) kept the challenging Paris’s Dragon (Dan Noble) in the pocket long enough to score a neck victory in the second division in 1:52.1.
 
The Downbytheseaside gelding is owned by Burke Racing Stable, R A S Stable, J&T Silva-Purnel-Libby and Weaver Bruscemi.
 
The winner was purchased for $50,000 as a yearling from the breeder Frank Nanna.
 
Janelle Granny (Dexter Dunn) used a three-wide move in the final turn and wore down the leading Clever Cody (Aaron Merriman) in the first $65.600 division. Hundred Dollar Man (Montrell Teague) was a closing third.
 
Trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. continued his hot streak with this Fear The Dragon colt, who is owned by Betty Jo Clegg.
 
Janelle Granny lowered his lifetime mark with the 1:49.4 victory.
 
 
$118,200 Ohio Breeders Championship (Three-Year Old Filly Pace)
Calyspo Pearl (Dan Noble) survived a two-prong stretch challenge from the outside Seaside Diva (Chris Page) and the inside Katies Up (Yannick Gingras) to score a neck win in 1:51.2.
 
Christi Noble trains the homebred winner for Sandra Burnett.
 
The Fear The Dragon filly won for the fifth time in 2024 after going unraced at two.  
 
 
$115,200 Ohio Breeders Championship (Three-Year Old Colt Trot)
Spaaaanzano (Aaron Merriman) and Tennessee Tom (Chris Page) has been battling each other for the past two years and this time Spaaaanzano came out on top by three lengths in 1:53.2.
 
Tennessee Tom edged Royal Precedent (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) in a place photo.
 
The Coraggioso gelding is trained and co-owned by Chris Beaver who he shares ownership with Spaaaartners, Bill Manes and Leo Fleming.

Connections Take A Shot with Soft Shot and Take Jugette Title

Soft Shot, a supplemental entry, equaled the world’s record in her elimination and used a gate-to-wire effort in the final to win the $310,000 Jugette for three-year old filly pacers on Wednesday at the Delaware County Fair.
 
When the field of eight was sent on their way in the $260,000 final, they paced the first three-eighths of a mile in post-position order with Soft Shot (David Miller) and My Girl EJ (Dexter Dunn) pacing one and two.
 
As the field passed the grandstand the first time, the pocket sitting My Girl EJ experienced an equipment break, broke stride and was taken to the outside.
 
The break caused confusion in the back of the pack and gave Soft Shot a five-length lead at the half in :56.1.
 
A Few Choice Words (Jim Marohn, Jr.) tried to close the gap at the three-quarters in 1:23.4, but Miller and Soft Shot used a :27.1 final panel to score the 1:51 victory.
 
A Few Choice Words edged out Odds On Platinum (Todd McCarthy) for second, 2 ½ lengths behind the winner.
 
My Girl EJ was pulled up and did not finish.
When asked if this was the greatest day in his racing career, the winning owner, Paul O’Neil of Saratoga Springs, NY noted, “By far. Nothing even close, we were three-for-three today.”
 
Trainer Jessica Roegner and O’Neil won an Ohio Fair Racing Conference pace earlier on the card.
 
The connections of Soft Shot made the $15,000 entry payment just to make the Heston Blue Chip filly eligible for the 54th edition of the pacing classic.
 
“We were here for the fun,” exclaimed Roegner. “She was just amazing.”
 
The first elimination was a gate to wire effort for Soft Shot in 1:49.3, a time that equaled the stake, track and world record set by Party Girl Hill in 2020.
 
A Few Choice Words came out of the pocket to challenge, but couldn’t get closer than the final margin of 1 ½ lengths.  
 
The field’s other supplemental entry, Dandy’s Mercy (Scott Zeron) was third and Donegal Spirit (Todd McCarthy) was the final horse to advance to the final.
 
The field’s other supplemental entry, Dandy’s Mercy (Scott Zeron) was third and Donegal Spirit (Todd McCarthy) was the final horse to advance to the final.
The only bad news for Soft Shot’s connections today was that their piece of the world record lasted only about 35 minutes.
 
In the second $25,000 elimination, My Girl EJ lowered the mark to 1:49.1.
 
The heavily favored homebred daughter of Sweet Lou used her rail position and towed her stablemate Lou Lou (Yannick Gingras) through the first three-quarters of the mile.
 
Odds On Platinum (Todd McCarthy) came off the rail in third as the field headed down the backstretch the final time and finished second. Lou Lou was third and Hunting Hula (Andrew McCarthy) was fourth.
 
My Girl EJ is trained by Ron Burke, who co-owns with Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Elizabeth Novak.
 
With the Jugette win, Miller moves into a second-place tie with three driving titles.
 
Soft Shot has now won eleven of 14 starts this season and is 13-for-20 lifetime. With her $142,500 payday, her career earnings jump to $245,078.
 
When asked what was next for her and the filly, a jubilant Roegner noted, “to just get through the night.”

Jugette Day Undercard

$80,000 Buckette (Three-Year-Old Filly Trot)
Sadbirdstillsing (Todd McCarthy) used a backstretch, three-wide move and swept past Nymeria (Matt Kakaley) and HL Omaya (Harry Landy) to score a 1:54 victory.
 
Nymeria held on for second and Pizza Bianca (Andy Miller) rounded out the trifecta.
 
The winner is trained by Tony Alagna for Crawford Farms Racing and the Pryde Stables. With the win, Sadbirdstillsing increased her career bankroll to $371,984.
$55,000 (div.) Standardbred (Two-Year-Old Filly Pace)
Odds On Hialeah (Dexter Dunn) used a perfect pocket trip and sprinted past Papi Grad (Brett Miller) by three-quarters of a length in the first division.
 
The final time of 1:51.4 established a new stakes record.
The homebred daughter of Lather Up is owned by Odds On Racing and Let It Ride Stable. She won for the fifth time in six career starts.
 

The second $27,500 division, Odds On Chesapeake (Dexter Dunn) came from off the pace to collar the pacesetting Blessed Hanover (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) by a length in a lifetime best 1:52.4.

 
The daughter of Downbytheseaside won for the third time this year for Odds On Racing.
 
Virgil Morgan, Jr. trained both winners.
 
$53,000 (div.) Standardbred (Two-Year-Old Filly Trot)
Nikki Strikes (David Miller) established a new stakes record of 1:55 in the second division of the Standardbred for freshman filly trotters.
 
The Father Patrick filly is owned and trained by Burlin Brower.
 
The pacesetting Country Victory (Scott Zeron) was 3/4 lengths back in second and Blueberry (Todd McCarthy) rounded out the trifecta.
 
Can It Be Magic received a patient drive by Mike Wilder and scored a 3/4 length victory over Payback Moni (Brady Brown) in 1:57.4 in the first division.
 
Dan Altmeyer trains the Cantab Hall filly for Ruth Altmeyer, June & Thomas Durand and Heather Wilder.
 
 
$133,000 (div.) Ohio Breeders Championship (Two-Year-Old Filly Trot)
Dream Something (Tyler Smith) continued her recent streak of 
 
 
winning every-other start when she crossed the line a half-length ahead of Mega Money (Aaron Merriman) in 1:56.3.
 
Mocha Hill (Chris Page) finished third, but was off-stride. Travel Nurse was promoted to third and Mia Sangria (Dan Noble) was elevated to fourth.
 
The winner is trained by Miles Wollam who also co-owns with Julie Ann and Dale Sweet.
 

She was bred by Johanna Beaver, Michael Carter and Mary McLaughlin.k Farm.

 
In the second $66,500 division, trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr. continued his hot day by scoring an upset win with 11-1 Aunt Laura (Brett Miller) in 1:58.
 
The Uncle Peter filly took a new lifetime mark for owner/breeder Joyce McClelland.
 
Up (Chris Lems) was less than a length back in second. Triump Over You (Trevor Smith) was third.
 
 
$36,000 (div.) Ohio Breeders Championship (Aged Trot)
Refined (Dan Noble) defeated six opponents and took the OBC Aged Trot by 2 lengths over a pocket sitting Caviar Gold (Aaron Merriman) and My Pal Sparky (Cameron McCown).
 
The final time of 1:53.2 equaled the stakes record.
 
The eight-year-old Uncle Peter mare is owned by the partnership of Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills, She is trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr. and bred by Walnut Hall Stock Farm.

Odds and Ends for the Little Brown Jug

TV Coverage
Fox Sports will broadcast the 79th Little Brown Jug, presented by the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association.
The coverage will be on FS2 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM and from 4:30 PM until 7:00 PM.
The Otten sisters – Jessica and Jenna – will lead the coverage from the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
 
Post Times Announced
The eliminations for the Jug are scheduled for 5:00 and 5:30 PM and the $525,000 final for 6:43 PM. The first race post will be 11:00 AM.
A Pair of First Time Drivers
Ohio based driver Austin Hanners and Quebec native Louis-Philippe Roy will be making their first LBJ start.
Hanners will pilot Rose Run Zane from post #4 in the second elimination. Hanners has won 178 races this season and has amassed earnings of $3 million.
Roy has the first elimination morning line favorite, Nijinsky (Post #4). Roy has earned $4 million with 230 wins in 2024.
The last driver to hoist the Jug in their first attempt was Scott Zeron in 2012 with Michael’s Power.
The field has four past winning drivers, who have won a combined 11 Jug titles – David Miller (5 wins), Yannick Gingras (3 wins), Scott Zeron (2 wins) and Jody Jamieson (1 win).

Scrappy Was Just That In OBC

Scrappy’s Love withstood extended pressure from Lt Loverboy and scored a nose victory in the $137,000 (div) Ohio Breeders Championship for freshman colt trotters in Tuesday action at the Delaware County Fair.

Drive Mike Wilder used his rail position and established control of the field and fractions of :29.1 and :58.4.

Nearing the half, Brett Miller pulled Lt Loverboy out of the three-hole and pressured Scrappy’s Love past the three-quarters in 1:27.4.

Scrappy’s Love and Lt Loverboy raced in tandem the final quarter and the two appeared to hit the line together in 1:56.2. The photo finish showed Scrappy’s Love held on.
 

Whats Shakin (Ronnie Gillespie) and Rose Run Ari (Austin Hanners) rounded out the top four.

Scrappy’s Love is the son of Long Tom and was bred by Walter S. Fister. He is owned by Gil Short and Jeffrey Bankey and trained by Chris Beaver.
 

He has now been first or second in six of seven seasonal starts.

Battle Hill and Chris Lems benefited from a couple of opportune breaks in stride by a challenger and a leader and won the first $68,500 division.

When the gates wings folded, the eventual winner grabbed the lead in the first eighth of the mile and relinquished control to Hilltop Sonar (Chris Page) past the opening quarter in :28.3.

As the field of eight approached the half in :58.2, Stud Muffin T (Tyler Smith) was the first to challenge Hilltop Sonar, but broke stride going into the 5/8-mile pole.

Oso Fast (David Miller) found himself first over and applied pressure on the leader past the quarter in 1:27.2.
 
As the leading Hilltop Sonar turned for home, he broke stride and was pulled inside the pylons. Battle Hill inherited the lead and victory in 1:57.1. Uncle Moneybags (Aaron Merriman) was promoted to second and Power Hill (Austin Hanners) was ascended to third.
 
The Marseille gelding is trained by Matthew Burkholder for William A. Hartt. He was bred by Galliers Racing.

Top Photo: Scrappy’s Love
Bottom Photo: Battle Hill
Photo Credit: Brad Conrad Photos

Filly Was
Sweet
In OBC

Left photo: Undefeated Sugar Instead at the Delaware County Fair.

Photo courtesy of Brad Conrad Photos

Sugar Instead continued her undefeated season by winning the $113,640 Ohio Breeders Championship for sophomore filly trotters in Monday action at the Delaware County Fair.

When the field of eight was sent on their way, Jurassic Hattie (Tyler Smith) was hustled out of post five and grabbed the early lead.

Legacy Affair (Ron Wrenn, Jr.) took the lead past the opening quarter in :27.4.

The field raced in a straight line past the quarter in :57.1.

 
Brett Miller eased the eventual winner off the rail in third past the three-quarters in 1:26 and stuck a neck ahead at the top of the stretch.
Sugar Instead used a :28 final quarter to secure the 1:54 win, which equaled the stakes record.
Legacy Affair was second, ¾ of a length back. Jurassic Hattie was third.
 
The daughter of Volstead is conditioned by Virgil Morgan, Jr. for Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. She was bred by Elmer Dean Miller.
She is undefeated in 10 seasonal starts and has earned $712,839 lifetime.
Signature Series Final Goes Global
Global Girl went gate-to-wire and captured the $12,000 Signature Series Final for aged trotters in 1:55.3
The four-year-old lost her first seven starts of the year, but has now won seven straight races.
The Global Republic S mare is owned by Sue Stockwell and piloted by the Ohio Hall of Famer, Don Irvine, Jr.
Dontforgetmaster (Dan Noble) was a 1 ¼ lengths back in second and Lane Of Stone (Jeff Nisonger) was third.

The Two-Year-Old OBC Colt Trot Headlines Delaware’s Tuesday Card

Two divisions of the $137,000 (div.) Ohio Breeders Championship for freshman colt trotters will highlight the Tuesday card (September 17) at the Delaware County Fair.
 
The first division will feature Hilltop Sonar (Post #3 with Chris Page), a winner of three of five 2024 starts.
 
The What The Hill gelding has won $88,500 for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty and Rich Lombardo Racing.
 
The first $68,500 division looks to be a battle between Lt Loverboy (Post #6 with Brett Miller) and Whats Shakin (Post #4).
 
Lt Loverboy has not finished worse than third in seven career starts and has earned $105,230 for Wayne Mast Jr. and Callam Racing. The Long Tom colt is trained by Darne Harvey.
 
Whats Shakin was the winner of the $150,000 Next Generation event in May and has amassed $119,800 this season.
He is owned by W J Donovan and is trained/driven by Ronnie Gillespie.
 
Jugette and Jug Day Post Time Changes
Post time for the Jugette (Wednesday) and Jug Day (Thursday) cards have been moved up to 11:00 AM.
 
Ladies Take Center Stage
The final of the Spring Haven Farm’s Lady Drivers Championship will be held during the Tuesday card.
 
The final brings together the top eight female drivers that participated during the 18-leg series.
 
Defending champion, Devan Miller will look to repeat with Seeing Eye Single from post #5.
 
5,000 reasons to play the Pick 4
The Tuesday Pick Four will feature a $5,000 guaranteed pool. The segment will include races 14 through 17. Past performance pages will be available, free of charge, at LittleBrownJug.com.
Author Visits Delaware
Wisconsin based driver-trainer, Amber Sawyer will be on hand in the grandstand on Jugette (Wednesday) and Jug Day (Thursday) to sell copies of her children’s book, Love to Race.
 
The book is based on Sawyer’s relationship with veteran pacer Derek Bromac N, who enjoyed a long career on racetracks in both his native New Zealand and the United States.
 
Sawyer, captivated by Derek Bromac N’s sheer drive to compete, put the gelding’s gallant story into words — words that turned the lifelong harness racing participant into a published author.
 
Love to Race features mixed-media illustrations from Sawyer’s longtime friend, painter and art therapist Tami Joe DeLisle.

Stablemates Headline 79th Little Brown Jug

Top photo credit: Nijinsky (Louis-Philippe Roy) winning the North America Cup on June 15 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. (New Image Media)

Bottom photo credit: Legendary Hanover (James MacDonald) winning the Meadowlands Pace on July 13 at the Meadowlands. (Lisa Photo)
Nijinsky and Legendary Hanover headline a field of 14 in the $625,000 Little Brown Jug on Thursday, September 19 at the Delaware County Fair.
 
Nijinsky (1st Elimination – Post 4) comes into Delaware on three-race win streak, all over the Woodbine Mohawk oval in Ontario. He has a career mark of 1:47.3 and earnings of $876,905.
Legendary Hanover (2nd Elimination – Post 3) is the fastest in the field based on his 1:46.2 effort in the $248,000 Cane Pace (August 3). He has amassed $1 million in career earnings.

The two have squared off three times this season. Nijinsky won the North America Cup (June 15) and Simcoe Stakes (September 7) and Legendary Hanover came out on top in the Meadowlands Pace (July 13).

West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain own both and they share ownership in Nijinsky with Eric Good and in Legendary Hanover with John Fielding. Anthony Beaton trains both.

Louis-Philippe Roy will drive Nijinsky and James MacDonald will pilot Legendary Hanover.

Captain Albano, winner of $955,223, will provide a major challenge in the first elimination. He will leave from post six and will have the services of Todd McCarthy.
 
He won the $350,000 Adios Pace Final at The Meadows (August 27). The second $50,000 elimination will have Captain’s Quarter’s leaving from the coveted rail spot. He was second to Nijinsky by a length and a half in the North America Cup. The 21-race card will kick off at 11:00 AM.
 
 
First Elimination – $50,000
HD          Horse (Listed Driver/Trainer)
1                     Timeisonmyside (Anthony MacDonald/Tim Twaddle)
2                     Captain Luke (Scott Zeron/Tony Alagna)
3                     Escape To America (Dexter Dunn/Deborah Daquet)
4                     Nijinsky (Louis-Philippe Roy/Anthony Beaton)
5                     Huntingforchrome (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
6                     Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy/Noel Daley)
7                     Mirage Hanover (Dexter Dunn/Jake Leamon)
Second Elimination – $50,000
HD          Horse (Listed Driver/Trainer)
1                     Captain’s Quarters (Jody Jamieson/Herbert Holland)
2                     Total Stranger (Dan Noble/Virgil Morgan, Jr.)
3                     Legendary Hanover (James MacDonald/Anthony Beaton)
4                     Rose Run Zane (Austin Hanners/Dan Venier)
5                     Solid Character (David Miller/Ron Burke)
6                     Play Action Pass (Dexter Dunn/Brian Brown)
7                     Sweet Beach Life (Matt Kakaley/Travis Alexander)
Second Heat – $525,000
Top four finishers from each elimination

Luther’s Sweep Ohio Breeders Championship for Freshman Filly Pacers

The Luther brothers – owner Greg Luther and trainer Todd Luther – and driver Austin Hanners swept the $133,600 (div.) Ohio Breeders Championship for two-year-old filly pacers on Sunday at the Delaware County Fair.

In the second $66,800 division, Hanners fired Skywalker Sea out of post position #5 and grabbed the early lead and sprinted past the quarter in :27.3.

The field of six raced in single file past the half in :56.3.

Lilly Grace Hill (Kayne Kauffman) was the first to challenge, but was parked past the three-quarters in 1:24.3. Skywalker Sea used a 28.1 last quarter to win by 7 ¼ lengths in 1:52.4.

The homebred daughter of Downbytheseaside went to the winner’s circle for the third time in 2024 and pushed her earnings to $115,600.

The completion of the first division changed when the heavily favored The Word Is Out (Chris Page) made a break in stride at the start, allowing Prolific Fire to grab the early, winning in gate-to-wire fashion in 1:53.3.

The winner is from the first crop of Catch The Fire and was bred by Spring Haven Farm.
 
Queen Of Fear (Brett Miller) was a length back in second. The Word Is Out rebounded to take the show spot.

Top photo: Seafire – Seafire (middle) defeated Act Fast (inside) and Charlie May (#7) in the final strides of the OBC Aged Pace. 
Middle photo: Seafire (#5) grabbed the early lead.
Bottom photo: Prolific Fire grabbing a win.

Photo Credits: Brad Conrad Photos
Seafire Takes OBC Aged Pace
Chris Page gave Seafire a patient steer and was able to wear down the pacesetting Act Fast (Aaron Merriman) in the final strides in the $36,000 OBC Aged Pace.
 
The four-year-old Downbytheseaside stallion sat second behind Act Fast through the quarters in :26.4, :54.2 and 1:21.1. Page angled the eventual winner off the rail in the final turn to score by a nose in 1:50.
Seafire is conditioned by Brian Brown for Country Club Acres, Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz, and Scott Davis. He was bred by Enos A. Weaver. Charlie May (Dan Noble) was third in the three-horse win photo.
 
Oldford Takes Fouts Memorial
Driver Steve Oldford, substituting for the Southern Tier Amateur Club at Tioga Downs, won the $5,000 Tim Fouts Memorial Standardbred Driving Championship.

Oldford steered JK’s Champ to a 1:54.4 victory. The winner is owned by Robert A. Rodrigues and trained by Walter Haynes, Jr. The event brings the top amateur drivers from around the country.
 
Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association Trots to Ferrari and Johnson
Christina Johnson watched a pair of dueling leaders and benefited from the quick pace and guided Nothingbutadreamer to a 1:55.1 victory in the second division of the amateur trot.
 
Larry Ferrari and Lmc Mass Gem took the first division in 1:58.

Twelve Enter $310,000 Jugette

Twelve three-year-filly pacers entered the 54th Jugette to be raced on Wednesday (September 18) at the Delaware County Fair forcing two eliminations.
 
The first elimination will feature A Few Choice Words (Jim Mahron, Jr.) and Dandy’s Mercy (Scott Zeron).
 
A Few Choice Words (Post 2) is the daughter of Little Brown Jug Champion Courtly Choice and is a winner of $354,767 for Clancy Farms.
 
She has won seven times in 13 seasonal starts, all in the state of New York.
 
She is conditioned by Blake MacIntosh.
 
Dandy’s Mercy, who was supplemented into the Jugette for $15,000, will leave from post 3.
 
She was the runner-up in last weekend’s $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stake Final at Pocono Downs.
 
The daughter of Captain Crunch has five wins this season and has finished outside the top three just once in 11 seasonal starts.
 
She is trained by John Butenschoen for co-owners Hart Walker, Dandy Farms Racing, Ft Racing Stable and Douglas Overhiser.
 

The second elimination will have My Girl EJ (Dexter Dunn) and Odds On Platinum (Todd McCarthy).

 
My Girl EJ (Post 1) is coming off a win in the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championships (September 9) in 1:49.2.
 
The homebred daughter of Sweet Lou has been on the board in 21 of 23 career starts and has amassed $1 million in career earnings.
 
She is conditioned by Ron Burke for co-owners Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Ronald Burke and Elizabeth Novak.
 
Odds On Platinum (Post 6) won the $250,000 Lynch Memorial at Pocono Downs on August 17 in a lifetime best 1:49.
 
She is conditioned by Dr. Ian Moore for co-owners Let It Ride Stables and Odds On Racing.
 
The first four finishers in each $25,000 elimination will come back for the $260,000 Jugette final.
 
Wednesday’s twenty-two race card will start at 11:00 AM.
 
First Elimination – $25,000
HD          Horse (Listed Driver/Trainer)
1                     Soft Shot (David Miller/Jessica Roegner)
2                     A Few Choice Words (Jim Mahron, Jr./Blake MacIntosh)
3                     Dandy’s Mercy (Scott Zeron/John Butenschoen)
4                     Pass Line (Ron Wrenn, Jr./Ron Burke)
5                     Caviart Belle (Yannick Gingras/Nancy Takter)
6                     Donegal Spirit (Todd McCarthy/Andrew Harris)
 
Second Elimination – $25,000
HD          Horse (Listed Driver/Trainer)
1                     My Girl EJ (Dexter Dunn/Ron Burke)
2                     Lou Lou (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)
3                     Blue Pacific (Corey Callahan/Scott Di Domenico)
4                     Hunting Hula (Andy McCarthy/Bruce Lauer)
5                     Leanne’s Choice (Scott Zeron/Erv Miller)
6                     Odds On Platinum (Todd McCarthy/Dr. Ian Moore)
Second Heat – $260,000
Top four finishers from each elimination

Grand Circuit Racing at the Delaware County Fair to Kick Off on Sunday

Two $66,800 divisions of the Ohio Breeders Championship (OBC) for two-year-old filly pacers will feature the opening day (Sunday, September 15) of the five-day Delaware County Fair meet.
 
The word is out on The Word Is Out, a Well Said filly, who has won 5 of her six career starts and earned $229,750. She will be the bettor’s choice despite the fact she drew the outside post #5 in the first division.
 
Ron Burke trains and co-owns the filly with Knox Services, Beasty and R A S Racing. Chris Page will drive.
 
Prolific Fire (Austin Hanners) and Queen Of Fear (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) will provide the main challenge.
 
Prolific Fire has earned nearly $85,000 this season, while Queen Of Fear has a lifetime mark just a fifth of a second off The Word Is Out’s best time of 1:52.2.
 
The second division is headed by Skywalker Sea, a winner of two races and $82,200 this season. Austin Hanners will drive the homebred daughter of Downbytheseaside for Greg 
Luther Racing and trainer Todd Luther.
 
Race #15 will be the $36,000 OBC for aged pacers.
 
The 2021 ‘Ohio Horse of the Year’ Charlie May (Dan Noble) must overcome post seven in this deep field.
 
The six-year-old gelded son of McArdle is owned by Don R. Tiger and has earned $2.2 million lifetime with a lifetime mark of 1:47.1 taken in 2023.
 
The Brian Brown trainee, Seafire is the 5/2 morning line second choice and will leave from post #2. The son of Downbythseaside recently won the $100,000 #senditin Invitational on August 17 at Eldorado Scioto Downs in a swift 1:48.
 
Seafire is owned by Country Club Acres, Joelyn Ridder, Mark Kantrowitz, and Scott Davis.
 
Charlie May defeated Seafire by a half-length in the $85,000 Ohio Sires Stake Championship on August 30 at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Jugette and Jug Day Post Time Changes
Post time for the Jugette (Wednesday) and Jug Day (Thursday) cards have been moved up to 11:00 AM.
 
Three Amateur Races to be Held
Sunday’s 17-race card will have three races for amateur drivers. Two divisions of the Great Lakes Amateur Driving events will be held along with the $5,000 Tim Fouts Memorial Standardbred Driving Final. The Fouts Memorial brings together representatives from the nation’s top amateur driving clubs and honors the former Presiding Judge at the Delaware County Fair.
 
5,000 reasons to play the Pick 4
The Sunday Pick Four will feature a $5,000 guaranteed pool. The segment will include races 14 through 17. Past performance pages will be available, free of charge, at LittleBrownJug.com.

Two Fillies are Supplemented to the Jugette

The connections of two fillies have made the supplemental payment and will be racing in Wednesday’s (September 18) Jugette for sophomore filly pacers at the Delaware County Fair.
 
A $15,000 payment was made to include Soft Shot and Dandy’s Mercy in the filly classic.
 
Dandy’s Mercy was the runner-up in last weekend’s $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stake Final at Pocono Downs.
 
 
The daughter of Captain Crunch has five wins this season and has finished outside the top three just once in 11 seasonal starts.
 
She is trained by John Butenschoen for co-owners Hart Walker, Dandy Farms Racing, Ft Racing Stable and Douglas Overhiser.
 
Soft Shot comes into Delaware off a gate-to-wire win in the Filly and Mare Open Pace at The Meadows (September 4) in a lifetime best time of 1:51.
Earlier this year, the Heston Blue Chip lass had an eight-race win streak.
 
The New York bred is owned by Paul O’Neil and conditioned by Jessica Roegner.
 
The rest of the Jugette field and the entire Wednesday card will be drawn on Sunday (September 15) after the entry box closes.

Supplemental Entry Reminder

Just a reminder that any three-year-old pacer not currently eligible for the 79th Little Brown Jug may, with a payment of $45,000, supplement to the 2024 Little Brown Jug. Supplemental entries are due by Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Those currently eligible must submit their entry by Monday, September 16, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Any three-year-old filly pacers not currently eligible for the 54th Jugette may, with a payment of $15,000, supplement to the 2024 Jugette. Supplemental entries are due by Friday, September 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Those currently eligible must submit their entry by Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. The 2024 Little Brown Jug is sponsored by the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association and the Jugette by Crawford Farms.

2024 Lady Pace Honor to Lisa Schwartz

Lisa Schwartz, the long-time racing official, will be saluted as the 2024 Lady Pace honoree by the Delaware County Fair.

Schwartz has been Involved in harness racing her entire life. Her parents and grandparents on both sides raced Standardbreds, primarily trotters. Schwartz and her husband, Dr. Bob Schwartz, breed and sell Standardbred yearlings.
 
The Schwartz’s were honored by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association for their years of service to the industry with their Special Recognition Award earlier this year. Schwartz worked 25 years as a commercial 
construction chief estimator and project manager and in 2018 she became a USTA licensed Clerk and Charter.

She is the Secretary/Treasurer for the Ohio Colt Racing Association, the administrator of the Signature Series and the scholarship administrator for the Christian Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Buckeye Fair Racing Consortium. She has been the Assistant Charter for the Delaware County Fair since 2019.

Schwartz will be honored after the Ohio Breeders Championship for three-year-old filly pacers in a winner’s circle ceremony on Jug Day (Thursday, Sept. 19).

The 2024 Neville Award to Herve Filion

Top Right Photo: Herve Filion brings Hot Hitter back to salute the Delaware fans after wining the 1979 Little Brown Jug. Photo Credits: USTA Photos

Herve Filion, the Hall of Fame driver and two-time winner of the Little Brown Jug, will be honored as the 2024 Joseph Neville Memorial Award recipient by the Little Brown Jug and the Delaware County Fair.
 
Filion, a native of Angers, Quebec, started driving standardbreds at the age of 12 and won his first race at the age of 13. He would conclude his career in 2012 with 15,179 wins and $88.4 million in earnings.
 
He won two Little Brown Jug titles. In 1971, Filion guided Nansemond in an upset victory over the heavily-favored Albatross in an epic, three-heat battle. In 1979, Hot Hitter and Filon enjoyed an easier day, winning in straight heats.
 
Filion, who won the inaugural World Driving Championship in 1970, was North America’s leading driver 16 times, earning his first title in 1968 and final dash crown in 1990. 
He topped the purse standings seven times. He was voted the Harness Tracks of America’s ‘Driver of the Year’ a record ten times.
 
Filion was the youngest person ever elected to harness racing’s Living Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY and Canada’s Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Herve Filion passed away on June 22, 2017 at the age of 77.  

LBJ Wall of Fame to Welcome Yannick Gingras

 Yannick Gingras, a three-time Little Brown Jug winning driver, has been selected as the 39th Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame honoree by the Delaware County Fair.
tember 19).
The third-generation horseman and native of Quebec began jogging horses at the age of five, training at ten and driving at 18 years of age. He moved to the United States in 2001 and he has never looked back.
Gingras has won more than 9,000 career races and $238 million in earnings to rank fourth on the all-time list.
Gingras first hoisted the Little Brown Jug in 2014 with Limelight Beach, in 2017 behind Filibuster Hanover and finally in 2021 with Lou’s Pearlman.
 
He has turned the Delaware County Fair half-mile track into his personal playground. Along with his three Jug wins, Gingras has also captured the Jugette thrice, the Old Oaken Bucket four times, the Buckette and 15 divisions of the Standardbred.
Gingras is a two-time Dan Patch ‘Driver of the Year’ (2014 & 2017) and led the sport in earnings five times (2014-2017 and 2023).
He achieved the sport’s greatest honor when he was elected into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2022.
Yannick Gingras will be honored the Tuesday evening (September 17) before the 79th edition of the $800,000 (est.) Little Brown Jug and in the winner’s circle on Jug Day (September 19).

Photo Credits: Yannick Gingras head shot (USTA Photo) and Lou’s Pearlman (Conrad Photo)

The Ohio Chapter of the USHWA is offering a scholarship to the Hirt Journalism Workshop

The Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) is offering one Ohio based journalism student the opportunity to participate in the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop from July 31 – August 3, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The college or grad student will be learning through writing and editing sessions, tours and reporting drills.

Students will be asked to file stories focusing on one of harness racing’s biggest events, the $1-million Hambletonian (August 3).

There is no cost to the student during the workshop – meals and lodging expense are covered by USHWA and travel expenses (up to $500) will be covered by the Ohio Chapter.

 

Any Ohio college journalism student or resident interested is asked to submit an application and writing samples by July 3, 2024. For an application, please contact Jay Wolf at jugpublicity@outlook.com.

Dr. John C. Mossbarger Elected
to Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame

Dr. John Mossbarger, a veterinarian and president of Midland Acres, Inc., has been elected as the 50th member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame by a vote of the members of the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.

Dr. John Mossbarger and his family have bred horses in the Buckeye State for half a century at Midland Acres, which was established by Mossbarger’s father Dr. Don Mossbarger, who was a 1994 Ohio Harness Hall of Fame honoree.

The younger graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in 1972 and a D.V.M. degree in 1977.

Dr. Mossbarger’s gift is more than as a breeder, His service to for the industry has been extensive. He has served is a past president of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Ohio Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He is a member of the Hambletonian Society, Fayette County Harness Horsemen’s Association, a Director of the United States Trotting Association, and serves as a state trustee on the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

 

He was honored as the Maynard and Stella Hagemeyer Significant Contribution Award (2021) and as 2005 Rambling Willie Achievement Award winner by the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association. honoree.

His wife, Kyle, is retired from the Madison County Schools. They have two daughters that are married, Jamie Lee (Kyle) Butts and Jill Ann (Chris) Cottrill, and are blessed with six grandchildren.

Mossbarger will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s annual banquet on Saturday, January 14 at the Polaris Hilton in Columbus.

Photo Credit: OHHA

The Ohio Chapter of USHWA
to Hand Out 2023 Awards

The Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association will hand out its annual awards at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association banquet on Saturday, January 13 at the Marriott Columbus OSU.

The Ohio Chapter will honor Ronnie Gillespie as the recipient of the Winner’s Circle Award for outstanding achievement during the past year; Edward Miller as the Peter Haughton Memorial Award winner for being the young Ohioan who is an “up-and-coming” star among harness horsemen; Earl Bowman into the Immortal Hall of Fame; Overcomer into the Standardbred Hall of Fame; and Steve Bateson as the winner of the Rambling Willie Award for the Ohioan who has done the most for harness racing over the past two decades.

Gillespie, a 51-year-old native of Mississippi, came to Ohio in 2020 and has established himself on the Buckeye fair and sire stakes circuits. He was the regular driver for Sugar Instead, who swept the five legs of the OSS and the $300,000 final on her way to $373,925 in season earnings. As a driver, Gillespie owns a .370 UDRS and a career best $ 786,934. As a conditioner, he had a .430 UTRS.

 

Gillespie, a 51-year-old native of Mississippi, came to Ohio in 2020 and has established himself on the Buckeye fair and sire stakes circuits. He was the regular driver for Sugar Instead, who swept the five legs of the OSS and the $300,000 final on her way to $373,925 in season earnings. As a driver, Gillespie owns a .370 UDRS and a career best $ 786,934. As a conditioner, he had a .430 UTRS.

Edward Miller, the a 26-year-old resident of Polk, Ohio, is excelling in the job cart, as well as the race bike. He currently ranks seventh in the trainer’s standings at MGM Northfield Park. He has conditioned 108 winners this season, earning a career best $1.6 million. He is the trainer of the World Champion, Jet Hill. As an amateur driver, Miller has a lifetime .397 UDRS with more than 50 wins and nearly $300 thousand in career earnings. 

Earl Bowman was a well-respected driver/trainer of more than 50 years. Bang The Door ($257,844), Ruff Door ($213,212), Perfect Door ($203,353), Cervantes Osborne ($123,553) and Sweet Potato Chips ($129,993) were among the many fine horses that Bowman trained during his career. Mr. Bowman was 

a 1988 inductee into the Medina County Sports Hall of Fame and was placed on the Northfield Park Wall of Fame in 1993. He passed away on March 18, 2006, just a couple of days short of his 81st birthday.

The stallion Overcomer stood 14 seasons in the Buckeye state. He had 1,017 registered foals, 162 in 2:00 and 65 who earned $100,000 or more. As a racehorse, the son of Speed In Action finished on the board in 45 of 53 career starts, earning more than $400 thousand dollars. He was a three-time Ohio Sire Stakes Champion trotter.

Steve Bateson, a resident of Bowling Green, Ohio, has been involved with Standardbred horses since 1981 and bought part of his first racehorse in 1986. A director of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association since 2011, Bateson served as vice president of the organization for four years and is its currently in his fifth year as president. He was the driving force behind the implementation of the Buckeye Stallion Series events for 2- and 3-year-olds, which added another valuable classification for staking many outstanding Ohio-bred foals.

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