For the next six weeks Jay Wolf, Assistant Publicity Director of the Little Brown Jug, will rank the Top 10 Contenders for the 67th edition of the three-year-old pacing classic to be held on September 20, 2012.
Week #1 - August 7, 2012
1. A Rocknroll Dance
Owners: James Mulinix (OH), Diamond Creek Farm (KY), Denny Miller (OH) and J & T Silva Stables (NY)
Trainer: Jim Mulinix
Driver: Yannick Gingras
Career Earnings: $1,514,750
Career Mark: 1:48.1 M
The son of Rocknroll Hanover has overcome a slow start to his three-year-old season to stamp himself as the horse to beat in the late summer classics.
2. Hurrikane Kingcole
Owners: Jeffrey Kuhen (PA), John Levy Racing Stable (ONT), Klee Cohen Brewer & Gordon (NY) and Hurrikane Racing (NJ)
Trainer: John McDermott
Driver: Yannick Gingras
Career Earnings: $475,407
Career Mark: 1:47.3 M
This colt has shown wicked speed including a 1:47.3 victory in the Meadowlands Pace Consolation (7/14) and a defeat by just a head in 1:47.2 his last time out (8/4).
3. Michaels Power
Owners: Jeffrey Snyder (NY)
Trainer: Casie Coleman
Driver: Scott Zeron
Career Earnings: $652,802
Career Mark: 1:49.2 Moh
This son of Camluck is Canada’s best sophomore pacer. He has won nine of 10 starts in 2012, but struggled in his only start against North America’s best in the NA Cup Elimination on June 9.
4. Sweet Lou
Owners: Burke Racing Stable (PA), Weaver Bruscemi LLC (PA), Lawrence Karr (NJ) and Phillip Collura (NJ)
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Dave Palone
Career Earnings: $1,096,864
Career Mark: 1:47.4 Moh
He rebounded from his Adios Pace Final disappointment to overpower his Pennsylvania Sires Stakes foes last Saturday at The Meadows in a crisp 1:49.4.
5. Bolt The Duer
Owners: All Star Racing (NJ)
Trainer: Peter Foley
Driver: Mark MacDonald
Career Earnings: $649,901
Career Mark: 1:47.4 Mea
Used a perfect two-hole trip to score the upset in the $500,000 Adios Pace Final on July 28 in a world record 1:47.4.
6. Dapper Dude
Owners: Robert McIntosh Stables (ONT) and Al McIntosh Holdings (ONT)
Trainer: Robert McIntosh
Driver: John Campbell
Career Earnings: $454,243
Career Mark: 1:49.3 Moh
The homebred son of The Panderosa has won his last two starts, both at the Meadows. He gives the Hall of Fame driver John Campbell a shot at his fourth Jug title.
7. Thinking Out Loud
Owners: Robert McIntosh Stables (ONT), CSX Stables (OH) and Al McIntosh Holdings (ONT)
Trainer: Robert McIntosh
Driver: Randy Waples
Career Earnings: $891,138
Career Mark: 1:47.3 Moh
He was the winner of the $1.5 million North America Cup Final (6/16) giving Bob McIntosh his first NA Cup title. The Fall of Famer now looks to get his first Jug title.
8. Bettors Edge
Owners: Brittany Farms (KY) and Val D’Or Farms (NJ)
Trainer: Linda Toscano
Driver: David Miller
Career Earnings: $169,061
Career Mark: 1:49 Mea
He won last Sunday’s Empire Breeders Championship elimination at Tioga Downs in an easy 1:51 1/5. Toscano recently became the first female trainer to win the $1.5 million Hambletonian Final (8/4).
9. Time To Roll
Owners: Lothlorien (ONT)
Trainer: Jimmy Takter
Driver: Andy Miller
Career Earnings: $510,595
Career Mark: 1:50 M
Won the New Jersey Classic elimination on July 28 but turned in a poor performance in the $250,000 final last Saturday.
10. Allstar Legend
Owners: Brittany Farms (KY) and John Cherveny (IL)
Trainer: George Teague, Jr.
Driver: Jim Morrill, Jr.
Career Earnings: $312,612
Career Mark: 1:48.2 Phl
The son of Four Starzzz Shark was scratched sick out of the $500,000 Adios Pace Final on July 28.
(Little Brown Jug)