Anthony Beaton stable stars Nijinsky and Legendary Hanover headline a field of 14 three-year-old pacers set to contest the $625,000 USD Little Brown Jug on Thursday, Sept. 19 at the Delaware County Fair.
Nijinsky (Elimination 1, Post 4) comes into Delaware on three-race win streak, all over Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Bettors Delight colt has a career mark of 1:47.3 and earnings of $1,197,582.
Legendary Hanover (Elimination 2, Post 3) is the fastest in the field based on his 1:46.2 effort in the Cane Pace on Aug. 3 at The Meadowlands. The colt by Huntsville has amassed $1,378,243 in career earnings.
The two have squared off three times this season. Nijinsky won the North America Cup (June 15) and Simcoe Stakes (Sept. 7) and Legendary Hanover came out on top in the Meadowlands Pace (July 13).
West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain own both and they share ownership in Nijinsky with John Fielding and in Legendary Hanover with Eric Good. Beaton trains both.
Louis-Philippe Roy will drive Nijinsky and James MacDonald will pilot Legendary Hanover.
Captain Albano, a winner of $1,146,531, will provide a major challenge in the first elimination. He will leave from post six and will have the services of Todd McCarthy. Trained by Noel Daley, the Captaintreacherous colt won the Adios Pace at The Meadows on Aug. 27.
The second elimination will have Captains Quarters and driver Jody Jamieson leaving from the coveted rail spot. Trained by Herbert Holland, the son of Captaintreacherous was second to Nijinsky by a length and a half in the North America Cup.
The complete fields for the $50,000 USD elimination heats are listed below. The top four finishers from each elimination will advance to the $525,000 USD final later in the day. The 21-race card will kick off at 11 a.m.
$50,000 USD Little Brown Jug First Elimination
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Timeisonmyside - Anthony MacDonald - Tim Twaddle
2. Captain Luke - Scott Zeron - Tony Alagna
3. Escape To America - Dexter Dunn - Deborah Daquet
4. Nijinsky - Louis-Philippe Roy - Anthony Beaton
5. Huntingforchrome - Matt Kakaley Travis Alexander
6. Captain Albano - Todd McCarthy - Noel Daley
7. Mirage Hanover - Dexter Dunn - Jake Leamon
$50,000 USD Little Brown Jug Second Elimination
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Captains Quarters - Jody Jamieson - Herbert Holland
2. Total Stranger - Dan Noble - Virgil Morgan Jr.
3. Legendary Hanover - James MacDonald - Anthony Beaton
4. Rose Run Zane - Austin Hanners - Dan Venier
5. Solid Character - David Miller - Ron Burke
6. Play Action Pass - Dexter Dunn - Brian Brown
7. Sweet Beach Life - Matt Kakaley - Travis Alexander
(With files from Little Brown Jug)