Won The West will have numbers on his side when he parades out to take on his rivals in the Little Brown Jug.
Owned by the Strollin Stable, and fellow Ohio residents William Robinson and James Koehler, Won The West had no less than 54 people in the winner's circle when he triumphed in the Jug Preview at Scioto Downs. It would be quite a sight if the Western Hanover gelding could get to the winner's circle at the fairgrounds on Thursday.
Won The West will start from Post 6 with Jug favorite Always A Virgin to his inside at Post 3.
"The No. 6 hole is tough, but if anybody can get him to the winner's circle (driver) Greg Grismore can. He did an awesome job in the Jug Preview," said Dr. James Kantzer, part of the Strollin Stable.
Won The West comes into the Jug with 13 victories in 20 starts this season and earnings of $311,914.
"Our longtime trainer Brian Brown picked him out at the Harrisburg Sale. He trained him early as a two-year-old but he suffered a hairline fracture in his right hind ankle and we quit with him," said Jeff Kantzer, Dr. Kantzer's son.
Brown resumed the colt's training six months later and then moved him to the Mickey Burke Stable. Under Burke's guidance, Won The West captured several Pennsylvania Sires Stakes legs at Pocono Downs and the Meadows and won an elimination of the Max Hempt Memorial on June 12.
Since the Hempt, Won The West has won the Cleveland Classic, Tompkins-Geers Stake, an elimination of the Adios and the Jug Preview over a 'sloppy' track in 1:51.
(With files from the Little Brown Jug)