Big Bad John Officially Retired
After seizing command of the pace in 27 seconds and reaching the half in :56.3, Big Bad John removed the drama in his quest to join harness racing's millionaire club on Saturday evening, January 7 at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park
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Even with second choice Ricks Sign vacating the pocket going into the final turn, the 2011 Little Brown Jug champion came through the stretch and gave driver Wally Hennessey the luxury of never lifting the whip as they cruised under the wire in 1:52.2. The romping win in the $12,000 purse event pushed the lifetime bankroll of Big Bad John to $1,000,559 in U.S. currency.
"Yes, we're happy to confirm that was his final career start," owner Ed Telle told Pompano's Steve Carpenito trackside after the win. "He'll be on his way to Midland Acres in Ohio to start his second career as a stallion. We had to make a choice among four tracks or so on where he'd get his last couple starts, but Pompano was always at the top of the list since our winter base (Winchester Baye Acres) is up at Ocala, Florida. As a son of Western Hanover, we hope he'll cross well with the broodmare band in Ohio and perhaps get some consideration from folks out of state too.
"In addition to being thankful to the race office and management of Pompano, we also have to say a huge thanks to (trainer) Dan and (driver) Wally Hennessey for the perfect job they did with our horse for the final six weeks of his racing career, in addition to the fabulous work (trainer) Ron Potter did back at Delaware, Ohio in developing and racing 'John' against the best of his generation for his two and three-year-old seasons," added Telle.
Ricks Sign, driven by Fern Paquet, Jr., saved the place prize and Red Star Paylater, partnered by Dan Clements, followed in for third.
(With files from Pompano Park)
he sure did OHIO PROUD whata
he sure did OHIO PROUD whata race tight hopples and all /he show was best in class on half mile track /his name will be etch in that barn for ever
so glad that Little Brown Jug was never sold to big interest groups
at he same time sad that the economy is so bad but thats changing jobs are coming
i belive and have faith MR OBAMA has no oversight here there will be jobs coming back
new rule of the road
good luck in shed
get your work boot ready
j cake
Well the "race at four rule"
Well the "race at four rule" or your sire's offspring aren't elegible to certain stake races certainly worked NOT!!
In reply to Well the "race at four rule" by Dr Wayne Robinski
That ruled has been
That ruled has been waived--- for this year, anyway.
JEFF GURAL CANT BE PLEASED
JEFF GURAL CANT BE PLEASED WITH THIS.
Is this the first of many sires that will race once as a 4 year old to fulfill the JEFF GURAL condition? A $12,000 race on Jan 7 at Pompano is hardly a SWAN SONG. He only raced once cheaper than that and it was his maiden race. One might also argue that he had to make the additional few bucks to go over $1 Million.
BIG BAD JOHN is certainly a fantastic horse and I don't want to take anything away from him or his connections. I'm sure it cost them more to ship the horse and train it to race at Pompano twice, than they made from purses.
In the end it's a business despite what a purist might think. Most (if not all) purists don't have any "skin in the game".
Georg Leber-ICR RACING
Now that he raced at four,
Now that he raced at four, his progeny will be eligible to all stakes at the Meadowlands, Tioga, Vernon and WEG.