John Berry takes a look at the Little Brown Jug

Well, we are just hours away from one of my favorite events in all of harness racing—The Little Brown Jug.

It’s so rich in history that one could gain weight just looking at the entries while eating those great French Fries, you know, the ones that hang over the side of the cup.

With three divisions, here’s a look at the fields for this historic 2023 event that is just one reason that harness racing is so great!

FIRST DIVISION

1. VOUKEFALAS .(Lazarus N)  …Driver-Jordan Stratton…Trainer- Michael Russo….M/L 2/1

Top Notch horse comes off a 1:49.2 lifetime best win at The Meadowlands in the $150,000 NJ Classic. After being parked to a :54 half and using a :26.3 kick home to win handily—-this off of a winning qualifier the week before. POSITIVES…is very versatile…has five near gate-to-wire wins, two this year…has drawn the coveted inside post. NEGATIVES……never been on a half-miler before…fastest three final quarters in races (25.3, :25.2 and :24..4 have all been in qualifiers!!!)

2. LOUBET (Sweet Lou)… Driver—David Miller…Trainer—Ron Burke…M/L 5/1

Plenty of starts on five-eighths mile track and a win in last in 1:51 in Philly. Has one near gate-to-wire win…but that was last season at age two. POSITIVES…a win last start…NEGATIVES…that last win was against much lesser company…faced “big boys” in North America Cup at Woodbine and Adios Elias at The Meadows and was soundly beaten…has faster win mark at two than at three.

3. HUNGRY ANGEL BOY (Stay Hungry)…Driver-Todd McCarthy…TR—Tony Alagna…M/L 9/2

Been consistently solid this year and finally got a win in Tompkins—1:48.2 beating Voukefalas, among others. Very good performance in the Cane at The Meadowlands three starts back from second tier post. Cut the mustard at Red Mile in last and came home in :26.3 but out kicked during his :26.3 final panel. Sharp send in Meadowlands Pace against Confederate used both ends of the mile. POSITIVES…consistently solid and has gotten checks every start against top company…has paced final quarter in as fast as :25.3. NEGATIVES…that :25.3 quarter was against NW2 company 2 1/2 months ago…doesn’t win often, only one win this year in 11 starts.

4. BLUE HUNT (Huntsville)…Driver-Andrew McCarty….Trainer-Deborah Dagger.  M/L  6/1

Warmed up for biggest test of career with a qualifier in Philly in 1:50.4—:53.2—:26.4. Had similar qualifier few weeks before at Vernon Downs gate-to-wire in 1:51—:53.4—:26.3. Had a decent two-year-old season winning three of 12 starts ($170,623) and has one wire-to-wire win over a half mile oval last year. POSITIVES…fresh legs with only nine starts this semester and that above mentioned equally was very sharp…also has experience on half-milers with three starts. NEGATIVES…is winless this year so far…facing this type of company for first time…hasn’t won any of those starts on half-miler tracks this year.

5. MOMENT IS HERE (All Bets Off)… Driver-Tim Tetrick…Trainer-Bob McIntosh. M/L  4/1

First trip south of the Canadian border and has even a model of consistency being 1-2-3 in 13 of 15 starts and has missed only one (legitimate) check in 26 career starts at two and three—that one (legitimate) check was in the NA Cup where he finished eighth but got 1% of the purse. Took short lead in Simcoe at Woodbine in last and gunned down late though pacing final quarter in :26.2. POSITIVES…Consistency. NEGATIVES…never been on a half mile oval…has tried this type of company only one other time in N/A Cup and finished eighth to It’s My Show.

6. ANTS MARCHING (Downbytheseaside)…Driver-Dexter Dunn…Trainer.-Nancy Takter. M/L 9/2

Started the season off at The Meadowlands with three straight wins in “lesser” company, cooled off, paced sharp final quarter (26.2) finishing fast closing fifth in NA Cup Consolation and finally won again after 10 race drought. Scored nice in last with sweeping double-bubble bing at Scioto to win in a lifetime best 1:49.4f. Draw didn’t do him any favors this time around.

POSITIVES…Looked outstanding in Scioto win with that huge brush regaining good form in time for the Jug. NEGATIVES…Drew outside against other leavers and will have to be many seconds better the final three-quarters.

MY PICK…VOUKEFALAS

SECOND DIVISION

1. THUNDER HUNTER JOE (Huntsville)…Driver-Tim Tetrick…Trainer-Nicholas Devita.   M/L  5/2

Had a so-so year at two winning $51,950 in five starts with no wins but was close in some NYSS races and missed by a neck in a 1:52.1 mile. This season became very formidable with a 6-2-1 scorecard in 10 starts, good for $272,826. Has been racing mostly in NYSS but did put in a very sharp performance in the MGM Messenger in that lengthened race from a tough post (6) at Yonkers. Second tier post in Cleveland’s Milstein demolished his chances in Seven Colors’ 1:48.1 mile but has proven worthiness when conditions are right. POSITIVES…two wins in last three starts and rugged performance in NYSS Final at Yonkers while hung out to dry like wet laundry but still finishing second…has most experience on half-mile tracks…drew one post. NEGATIVES…has limited experience in this very top class.

2. HUNTINTHELASTDOLAR (Huntsville)…Dr-Doug McNair…Trainer-R Gregg McNair.  M/L 3/1

Decent year at two winning early on and winning some NYSS event on half-milers and just missed winning the $225,000 final at Tioga. Big year in 2023 with six wins in eight starts—three of those wins on half mile tracks coupled with a 1:49.2 mark over the larger Vernon Downs track. Comes to Delaware, Ohio on a three race winning streak including the NYSS Final at Yonkers in 1:52 from a troublesome post there—number six. Is always aggressive when the gate folds its wings. POSITIVES…Experience on half mile ovals…three race winning streak coming in…favorable post. NEGATIVES….had a very tough trip at Monticello few starts back and lost composure…but that’s a rarity.

3. ERVIN HANOVER (Captainreacherous)…Dr—Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.. Tr…Ron Burke. M/L  6/1

Won $200 G’s last semester in 12 starts but “only” $83,000 and change so far this year in 13 starts. Did win last in warmup for Jug on Yonkers half-miler in 1:52.1 but against NW6 class. Has mark of 1:49.2 in Philly and another 1:50 (DH) win there, too, but that was well over two months ago and really hasn’t been that close in recent against this type of company. POSITIVES…comes off a win on a half-mile oval. NEGATIVES…many of the starters in the Jug this year have put some distance between him.

4.   KEN HANOVER (Captaintreacherous)…Driver—David Miller…Trainer—Roland Mallar, Jr.   M/L  5/1

Consistent and looks like he tries very hard every start and has only missed two checks in his career measuring 25 starts. Had a rough journey in the PASS Championship last start and hasn’t raced since while resting up for The LBJ. Sharp 1:49 win in the $200,000 Hempt three starts back, surviving after getting to the half in :53.1 and 3/4s in 1:20.2. POSITIVES…high percentage of wins…seems to give all every start. NEGATIVES…Couldn’t handle Seven Colors and It’s My Show in last start…has no experience on a half-mile trail.

5.   BURNOUT (Racing Hill)…Driver-SAM WIDGER….Trainer-TODD LUTHER.  M/L  9/2

All of a sudden, Burnout has come alive! After a decent two-year-old year ($82,165) and a 1:58 mark over a half-mile Greenville oval, this gelding has come alive by winning over $125,000 in the last four starts over the past month. He took the lead grinding hard at Scioto in their $300,000 OHSS Final and couldn’t quite sustain finishing second but he’s shown gameness over recent races. POSITIVES…recent form and half-mile track experience. NEGATIVES…hasn’t been tested against this kind of company and many others in this event can leave well and he’ll have to prove he’s six lengths better than the competition here over the final 3/4s of a mile on the Jug half-miler.

6. SEVEN COLORS (Stay Hungry)…Driver-Dexter Dunn.…Trainer-Andrew Harris  M/L  7/2

One of the blossoming stories of 2023 is Steven Colors that, after a lackluster two-year-old campaign of only six starts, has been a terror of late with three straight wins—one over the Northfield half-miler in the Milstein in 1:48.1.—even after being forced to grind his way through the final five-eighths of a mile. His last win was also in that same time in the PASS Championship in Philly, out in :54.3 and back home in :53.3. Post position make this test a supreme one but he’s shown he gulp a lot of oxygen. POSITIVES…Three race winning skein coming in…a 1:48.1 mark on a half-mile  track…ability grind away ”forever.” NEGATIVES…just the unlucky draw of an outside post on this speed favoring track.

MY PICK-SEVEN COLORS

THIRD DIVISION

1. CANNIBAL (Sweet Lou) …Driver-Yannick Gingras…Trainer—Nancy Takter.  M/L. 2/1

Has become a monster in recent starts with late-blooming wins in the Adios (1:49) and at Lexington’s Red Mile (two wins in 1:48.4.) His win in a KYSS event was auspicious featuring a final half in :52.2 and final quarter in :25.2. He’s 8-for-10 this season and $250,000 of his earnings have been in his last four starts! POSITIVES…overall ability…current form…drew slightly better than main rival. NEGATIVES…no half-mile track experience…off for 2 1/2 weeks, if you can call that a negative.

2. IT’S MY SHOW. (Sweet Lou)…Driver-SCOTT ZERON…Trainer—Linda Tuscano…M/L  9/5

A so-so two-year-old that has become one of the great horses of this season. Started the season at The Meadowlands in NW2 before winning some PASS events and then the NA CUP in 1:47.4—:53—:26.2. If that wasn’t enough, he recently won a KYSS event in 1:46.4 contributing to a three-way-rivalry between It’s My Show, Seven Colors and Cannibal.  POSITIVES…gameness and consistency…good draw here. NEGATIVES…never been in an event on a half mile track.

3. REDWOOD HANOVER (Stay Hungry)…Dr-James Macdonald…Tr-Anthony Beaton. M/L 4/1

Started the season on fire with a pair of wins at Woodbine in April and another in May and one more in June taking his mark of 1:49 in the Somebeachsomewhere Stake. Is winless in since in last seven starts. Was a good closing fourth in the Simcoe at Woodbine in last and, in a rare event, left the gate with alacrity in the Milstein and clocked an opening quarter on the NFLD half-miler in :25.3 and then finished fourth to Seven Colors. POSITIVES…paced his fastest final quarter in career in last start :26 at Woodbine. NEGATIVES…Rarely shows early foot off the gate…steep company to get by in this event.

4. STOCKADE SEELSTER (State Treasurer) Driver-David Miller.…Trainer-Dr. Ian Moore. M/L 7/2

Million dollar winner has sterling two-year-old season while winning the $666,000 Metro at Woodbine in 1:50.1. He also had a 1:49.3 mark at two. This year, 6-2-2 in 12 starts with a recent 1:48.4 mark at Woodbine in ONSS action. Last start tried cutting the mustard in the Simcoe but out-kicked home in a 1:49.3 mile beaten almost two lengths. Has several gate-to-wire wins. Usually likes to join the fray from the get-go. POSITIVES…Tough, grinding sort that can swallow a lot of oxygen—like in the recent Hempt. Negatives…first start on a half-mile oval.

5. BAMBOOZLER. (Captaintreacherous)… Driver-Tony Hall…Trainer-Virgil Morgan, Jr. M/L 8/1

Started career in Pennsylvania last year but didn’t do too well and went to Kentucky to compete in their SS events and won over $170,000 and took a mark of 1:51.1 at The Red Mile. The year, stayed up north a bit longer and earned checks in Pennsylvania. Cut the mile in It’s My Show’s 1:46.4 mile carving out three quarters in 119.3 finishing well back.Last start against NW4 at Scioto the tuneup for the Jug and winning handily in 1:51.3. POSITIVES…Comes in off a win. NEGATIVES…has faced the likes of It’s My Show, Cannibal, Voukefalas and some others here and hasn’t been too successful…draw didn’t help.

6. BUGABOO LOU (Sweet Lou) Driver- Chris Page…Trainer-Ron Burke. M/L. 20/1

Last two starts in Pennsylvania in SS action were good showing willing late kick in both. Just a single win this year in 11 starts—that in a much softer NW2 class—in 1:53.3 but, having stated that, he has been clocked in 1:50 even last two stats in much improved efforts in PASS events, both last quarters in :27.1 and :27.3, respectively, finishing second and third. POSITIVES…Improved recent form with strong closing kick. NEGATIVES…very tough company complicated rare ability to leave the gate with alacrity and the outside post doesn’t help.

MY PICK-CANNIBAL

PICK IN THE FINAL…THE HORSE THAT DRAWS THE ONE POST!!!

MAY THE HORSE BE WITH YOU!

by John Berry, for Harnesslink