The 2011 Little Brown Jug winner, Big Bad John, could be facing the starting gate for the final time in his career if he comes up a winner again at Pompano

on the Saturday, January 7 program. He'll again start outside in a field of seven horses in the $12,000 purse Open Handicap Pace.

A win this time out will push his earnings past $1 million lifetime as he now stands at $994,559 USD. Last Saturday night on New Year's Eve, Big Bad John stepped into the track record chart with a 1:51.1 effort in his final start as a three year old. In a live TV trackside interview, owner Edward Telle of Winchester Baye Acres based in Ocala, Fla. stated his prized possession would be starting his stallion career in Ohio after achieving millionaire status.

During his two month stay in Florida, Big Bad John has been headquartered in the Dan Hennessey Stable and Hall Of Famer Wally Hennessey is handling the driving duties. Florida's Open class standouts in the 2011-12 campaign, Ricks Sign and Dragons Blood, will again start inside of Big Bad John in the January 7 contest.

'Winter' Arrives At Pompano

With the temperature plummeting to below 50 degrees (10 C.) for the first time in almost a year, a short lived cooler spell prevailed over the Tuesday card of harness racing on January 3 and it's expected to persist through Wednesday night as well.

By Thursday, the South Florida forecast is calling for a recovery to near 70 degrees and almost 80 degrees for the high temperatures into the weekend. During the Tuesday evening program, post parades were shortened to less than four minutes as the thermometer registered 47 degrees at post time.

Horseman Tim Maier, who has relocated to Pompano from California after a Summer campaign at Minnesota's Running Aces, was caught off guard by the sudden 'cold' spell. He was granted permission from the judges to wear his son Jason's winter suit with a primary color of orange instead of his customary green for his four drives on the Tuesday evening card.

Post time is 7:15 p.m. Eastern every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday at The Winter Capital Of Harness Racing.

(Isle Pompano Park)