Jug winner named Ohio 3YO Pacing Colt of the Year

Grove City, Ohio – For the second straight year, the top sophomore harness racing colt pacer in Ohio gave the fans a year to remember.

Bythemissal (Downbytheseaside) became the first Ohio-bred to win the Little Brown Jug in 34 years and captured the Ohio Sires Stakes Championship on the way to being named Ohio’s 3-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year.

Regarded as one of the top 3-year-old pacing colts in the country, the gelding hit the board in all 16 starts winning 13 and earning $1,165,925 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing LLC, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.  Bythemissal was bred by Stephen Dey lll.

In addition to winning the Little Brown Jug and the Ohio Sires Stakes Championship, Bythemissal won three legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes, the Ohio State Fair Stakes, the Delvin Miller Adios, the Carl Milstein Memorial and the Monument Circle.  Bythemissal also finished third in the Breeders Crown final.

Trainer Ron Burke said Bythemissal is as good as any 3-year-old he has ever trained.  “The horse has the great ability to want to win.  He just wants to win.”

Bythemissal will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet January 14, 2023, at the Hilton Columbus-Polaris in Columbus, Ohio.

The 2022 Ohio Horse of the Year will be announced at the annual awards banquet.

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA