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
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#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: $2,218,438
Well Said returned to action in the Simcoe Stakes on September 12 in Ontario with a quarter length victory over Carnivore in 1:50.2. All systems appear to be a go for the Well Said team.
#2 (Last Week #2) Vintage Master
Owners: Brittany Farms (Kentucky) and Brian Monieson Trust (Illinois)
Trainers: Jimmy Takter
Drivers: Daniel Dube
Career Mark: 1:49.2f
Career Earnings: $1,135,522
Won the $325,000 Cane Pace by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:50.4 on September 7. “He is absolutely the strongest three-year-old I’ve ever been around. Heats will definitely not bother that horse at all,” Takter recently told the Horseman and Fair World.
#3 (Last Week #3) If I Can Dream
Owner: Bulletproof Enterprises (Florida)
Trainer: Tracy Brainard
Driver: Jim Morrill, Jr.
Career Mark: 1:49.4f
Career Earnings: $1,029,263
Has raced 14 times in 2009 and is currently enjoying some rest before the Jug.
#4 (Last Week #4) Sheer Desire
Owner: Burke Racing Stable, Randy Ringer (Pennsylvania), JJK Stables (Florida) and Lawrence Karr (New Jersey)
Trainer: Ron Burke
Driver: Matt Kakaley
Career Mark: 1:49.2m
Career Earnings: $323,192
The Real Desire colt is on a four-race win streak, all at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.
#5 (Last Week #7) Carnivore
Owners: Jack Darling Stables (Ont.)
Trainer: Noel Daley
Driver: Jody Jamieson
Career Mark: 1:50.3
Career Earnings: $465,546
He punched his ticket to Delaware with a solid effort against Well Said in the Simcoe. His last quarter was in :27.1. “I’ve never raced him on a half-mile track but I think he’ll like it," noted Darling.
#6 (Last Week #5) 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: $808,787
The Badlands Hanover son is one of Teague’s top challengers.
#7 (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: 1:51.1m
Career Earnings: $500,209
The Panderosa son may just get Teague his long awaited Jug victory.
#8 (Last Week #8) Clear Vision
Owners: John Fielding (Ont.) and David McDuffee (New Hampshire)
Trainers: Richard Norman
Drivers: David Miller
Career Mark: 1:49.3f
Career Earnings: $275,995
Was the beaten favourite in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes final by a neck in 1:51.4 on September 12 at Pocono Downs.
#9 (Last Week #NR) Doubleshotascotch
Owner: David Sharf, Adam Victor and Son (New York), Lindy Farms of Conn (Connecticut) & Kenneth Tucci (New Jersey)
Trainer: Noel Daley
Driver: Jim Morrill, Jr.
Career Mark: 1:51.4f
Career Earnings: $222,982
Winner of six of 15 starts in 2009. Last time out won the $200,000 PASS final on September 12 in a lifetime best 1:51.4.
#10 (Last Week #10) River Shark
Owner: El Lobo LLC (New York), Aaron Waxman (Ont.) and VIP Internet Stable (New Jersey)
Trainer: Tracy Brainard
Driver: Luc Ouellette
Career Mark: 1:50.4m
Career Earnings: $301,779
Won a qualifier at Pocono Downs on September 3 by more than 15 lengths in 1:53.2.
He will qualify again on September 17.