Each week the Jay Wolf, Assistant Publicity Director of the Little Brown Jug, will rank the Top 10 eligibles for the 64th edition of the Little Brown Jug on Thursday, September 24
.
#1 (Last Week #1) Well Said
Owners: Jeffrey Snyder (New York) and Lothlorien (Ont.)
Trainer: Steve Elliott
Driver: Ron Pierce
Career Mark: 1:47.3
Career Earnings: $1,905,127
Well Said was forced to be the aggressor in the Adios Pace Final when he drew the outside post position (nine). Ron Pierce and the Western Hanover colt led the field past the half (:53.3) and the three-quarters (1:21) before fading to third.
#2 (Last Week #3) Mr Wiggles
Owners: Elmer Fannin and George Teague, Jr. Inc. (Delaware)
Trainers: Brenda and George Teague, Jr
Drivers: Corey Callahan and Jim Morrill, Jr.
Career Mark: 1:49.1f
Career Earnings: $742,787
The Badlands Hanover colt sat behind the pacesetter the entire mile and finished second, just a half length behind Vintage Master in the $677,665 Adios Pace Final.
#3 (Last Week #5) Vintage Master
Owners: Brittany Farms (Kentucky) and Brian Monieson Trust (Illinois)
Trainers: Jimmy Takter
Drivers: Daniel Dube
Career Mark: 1:49.2f
Career Earnings: $913,022
Was the upset winner of the $677,665 Adios Pace Final in a lifetime best 1:49.2. The son of Western Ideal took the lead in the final strides and was $13.90 to one. Has just two career wins in 25 starts, but has nearly $1 million in earnings. After the race Takter noted, “I said a month ago that one of these days, he was going to win one of these big ones, and I’m glad it was in the Adios. The caliber of races he’s been in, those are tough to win. I thought we’d get a good chunk of this at least.”
#4 (Last Week #2) If I Can Dream
Owner: Bulletproof Enterprises (Florida)
Trainer: Tracy Brainard
Driver: George Brennan
Career Mark: 1:49.4f
Career Earnings: $681,858
Finished fourth in the Adios Pace Final at the Meadows, two and a half lengths behind the winner.
#5 (Last Week #6) Chasin Racin
Owners: Elmer Fannin and George Teague, Jr. Inc. (Delaware)
Trainers: Brenda and George Teague, Jr.
Drivers: David Miller
Career Mark: 1:51.1
Career Earnings: $375,209
Chasin Racin was shuffled back in the Adios Final and had to rally for the fifth place finish.
#6 (Last Week #4) Keep It Real
Owner: Wayne Eric Whebby (N.S.)
Trainer: Joey Shea
Drivers: Steve Condren & Brian Sears
Career Mark: 1:50.2s
Career Earnings: $264,525
Encountered traffic trouble during the Adios Pace. He was shuffled to the back of the field and finally found daylight at the top of the stretch, but the damage was already done. The son of Real Artist finished seventh.
#7 (Last Week #NR) Passmaster Hanover
Owners: Jeffrey Snyder (New York) and Brittany Farms (Kentucky)
Trainer: Blair Burgess
Driver: Tim Tetrick
Career Mark: 1:50.2
Career Earnings: $283,409
Won a qualifier at the Meadowlands on July 30 by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:51.3. Next up for the Cams Card Shark colt is the $228,500 Oliver Wendell Holmes at the Meadowlands on August 8.
#8 (Last Week #7) Ideal Danny
Owner: D R Van Witzenburg (Illinois)
Trainer: Tony Alagna and Erv Miller
Driver: Tim Tetrick
Career Mark: 1:50.4
Career Earnings: $311,609
This homebred son of Western Ideal finished a disappointing eighth in the Adios Pace Final.
#9 (Last Week #8) Johnny Z
Owners: Elmer Fannin and George Teague, Jr. Inc. (Delaware)
Trainers: Brenda and George Teague, Jr
Drivers: Jim Morrill, Jr. and Brian Sears
Career Mark: 1:51.1f
Career Earnings: $237,307
Did not race last week.
#10 (Last Week #NR) Fireintheshark
Owner: Arlene and Jules Siegel (Pennsylvania)
Trainer: Jim Campbell
Driver: George Brennan
Career Mark: 1:50.2f
Career Earnings: $316,912
Upset winner of the $50,000 Adios Consolation in 1:50.2. Drew an outside post in the Oliver Wendell Holmes at the Meadowlands.