Burke/Miller team up for $280,000 55th Jugette glory

Rodeo Drive Deo (Captaintreacherous) used a perfect pocket trip from harness racing driver David Miller in the second heat to win the 55th Jugette for three-year old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 17) at the Delaware County Fair.

When the field of eight was sent on their way in the $280,000 final, the fillies paced in numeric order with Odds On Chesapeake (Dexter Dunn) leading the field past the opening quarter in :28.1.

Time Of The Season (Andrew McCarthy) was the first to challenge, forcing Miller’s hand by taking Rodeo Drive Deo out of the pocket past the half-mile station in :56.4.

The field paced in pairs through the three-quarters in 1:23.1.

Rodeo Drive Deo cleared the lead in the final turn and used a :27 final quarter to score the 1:50.1 victory.

RODEO DRIVE DEO REPLAY

 

Odds On Chesapeake was 4 ½ lengths behind the winner. Rose (Yannick Gingras) took third in a photo over Odds On Hialeah (Luke Hanners).

The sophomore daughter of Captaintreacherous is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Beasty and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby.

The Jugette title capped a big day for trainer Ron Burke. Burke extended his record to five Jugette titles and had a total of five wins on the card.

“I had all the confidence in the world in her,” said Burke. “She didn’t start the season like we hoped, but she is finishing strong now.”

Rodeo Drive Deo was bred by the partnership of Deo Volente Farms and Cool Cat Racing.

She was purchased as a yearling for $170,000.

Rodeo Drive Deo has now won ten of 26 starts lifetime. With her $152,500 payday, her career earnings jump to $865,638.

With the Jugette win, Miller moves into a second-place tie with four driving titles.

“When I crossed the wire, I got emotional,” said the 60-year-old native Ohioan.

“Me and Ronnie and Yannick had a talk and a couple different plans,” said Miller. “(Trainer) Virgil (Morgan, Jr.) had an entry, too, and at the very end Ronnie said, ‘just get away in the two-hole and pull when you have to.’”

The first elimination was an off the pace effort for Rodeo Drive Deo in 1:51. The winner used a three-wide move in the final turn to swoop past the field to win by 2 ¾ lengths over Odds On Hialeah. Vel Cinderella (Time Tetrick) was another length back in third and Skywalker Sea (Austin Hanners) held on for the fourth and final advancing spot.

The $25,000 second elimination saw Lily White Hanover get the first call, but Dexter Dunn had Odds On Chesapeake on the lead well before the 3/8 mile pole and she cruised to a 2 ½ length score over Rose and Time Of The Season. The winning time was 1:49.3.

Odds On Chesapeake is trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr. for Odds On Racing and Operation Horsepower.

The 55th Jugette was presented by UMH Properties.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Jay Wolf, for the Little Brown Jug