In the final three and a half hours of his three-year-old campaign, 2011 Little Brown Jug champion Big Bad John was able to add one more major achievement to his memorable season
, setting a divisional track record at Pompano Park, eclipsing a mark set in 1990 by Beach Towel.
In the New Year's Eve card at The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, Big Bad John wasn't bothered one bit by starting outside in the field of seven horses as he front-stepped his way to victory in 1:51.1, edging the November 1990 three-year-old colt pace category track record of Beach Towel by one-fifth of a second.
"He looked like he might have slowed up a bit in the final 20 yards or so but that was only because he hadn't raced in so long," said owner Edward Telle of Winchester Baye Acres based in Ocala, Florida. "Hopefully, he'll get one more start here in Florida and get to $1 million in career earnings before we ship him off to his stallion career at Midland Acres in Ohio.
"He danced all the big dances and he won his starts for us late in the year at The Red Mile and I couldn't be any prouder of what he's done" said Telle of his prized lifetime winner of $994,559 (U.S.).
With Wally Hennessey in the bike, the Western Hanover-Trulyawork Of Art colt seized command in the opening strides from Dragons Blood, in rein to Mike Micallef, and sailed through the fractions of :27, :55.3, and 1:22.4 en route to becoming the fastest three-year-old pacing colt in the Pompano's 47 year history with the 1:51.1 effort.
Ricks Sign, with Fern Paquet Jr., closed stoutly for second and Red Star Paylater, partnered by Dan Clements, was third.
"There is an element of pressure getting a horse like this in your barn, but it's been a real pleasure and honour since I got the call about it just over a month ago," said trainer Dan Hennessey, who took over in Florida for Big Bad John's original developer and conditioner Ron Potter in Delaware, Ohio. "I was totally happy with the way he raced tonight considering how long he'd been off and there had even been a two week gap since he last qualified on December 17. I've been involved with horses that started in the Breeders Crown and Matron Stakes, but never anything like a Little Brown Jug winner. For Wally, I'm sure it's one of two best he's driven in his career along with Moni Maker."
(With files from Pompano Park)