The runner-up in the 2021 Pepsi North America Cup, pacing colt Perfect Sting is headed to Delaware, Ohio in hopes of his first major victory of the season in the Little Brown Jug one week from today on Thursday, Sept. 23.

Perfect Sting sports a summary of 4-5-1 in 10 starts this season, with four of those bridesmaid finishes coming in some of his division's top events — the North America Cup (by three-quarters of a length), the Max C. Hempt Memorial (by a nose), the Cane Pace (by three-quarters of a length) and the Meadowlands Pace (by half a length). The 2021 North America Cup was first start in his last nine that he wasn't sent to post as the betting favourite.

"He hasn’t put them away but yeah, he’s been right there," trainer Joe Holloway told the USTA. "He needs to get some quality wins under his belt, and this could be one. If he can do that, that’d be good."

The draw for the 2021 Little Brown Jug takes place on Monday (Sept. 20), with the winner of the second heat of Thursday's two-heat event being declared the winner.

"I’m not a huge fan of heats anymore, but if any horse can handle it, he can because he’s big and strong."

A son of Always B Miki - Shebestingin, Perfect Sting boasts a mark of 1:48.1 and with a 14-5-1 summary from 20 lifetime starts for Holloway and breeder-owners Brittany Farms LLC of Kentucky and Val D'Or Farms of New Jersey. His driver will be David Miller, who is currently tied with William Haughton and Mike Lachance for the most Little Brown Jug wins with five.

"A couple weeks ago Joe (Holloway) had mentioned that they were going to take ‘Sting’ to Delaware, and I was like, ‘All right!'" said Miller. "He’s on his way there Monday (Sept. 20) and I’m pretty happy about that."