Making the winning move with a three-wide rush down the backstretch the final time, driver David Miller guided post time favourite Rodeo Drive Deo to victory in the first of two $34,722 elimination heats of the Jugette for three-year-old pacing fillies at Delaware County Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Leaving from the outside post seven, Miller landed in fifth position with Rodeo Drive Deo as an early tussle for the top spot ensued off the gate. Skywalker Sea (Austin Hanners) fired from mid-field but was left parked three-high into the first turn as inside starters Millie May Hanover (Todd McCarthy) and Rose Run Aimee (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) pressed on. Supplemental entry Rose Run Aimee cleared Millie May Hanover as they raced by the quarter in :27.2 with Odds On Hialeah (Dexter Dunn) in the mix third and Skywalker Sea taking back into fourth.
Odds On Hialeah angled out off the turn towards the grandstand as Rose Run Aimee continued to lead the fillies to the half in :56.1. Skywalker Sea followed the cover with 3-5 favourite Rodeo Drive Deo tracking third-over ahead of her big backstretch brush.
As Odds On Hialeah matched strides with Rose Run Aimee, they were joined by a three-wide Rodeo Drive Deo at three-quarters in 1:23.4. The bettors' choice gained the advantage on the outside of Odds On Hialeah and those two took off turning for home. Rodeo Drive Deo drew clear into the stretch and won by a widening 2-3/4 lengths in 1:51 flat. Odds On Hialeah finished second, with Vel Cinderella (Tim Tetrick) taking third and Skywalker Sea fourth.
Trained by four-time Jugette-winning trainer Ron Burke, Rodeo Drive Deo surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings.
"She was something," said assistant trainer Mickey Burke Jr. in a post-race interview. "When she tipped off three-wide, she really took off. And like David said, she's got a motor.
"He couldn't have driven her any better. He had to do it that way. And when he put her in gear, she just took off. Now it's just get her ready for the next one."
The Captaintreacherous-Miss L A filly is owned by Burke Racing Stable of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, Weaver Bruscemi of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Beasty of Las Vegas, Nevada and Jandt Silva - Purnel And Libby of Ocean Ridge, Florida.
Rodeo Drive Deo paid $3.20 to win.
Odds On Chesapeake ($2.80) delivered as expected in the second $34,722 elimination, taking a new lifetime mark of 1:49.3 in the faster of the two elims.
Driver Dexter Dunn landed the 2-5 choice in third early behind Lily White Hanover (Jason Bartlett) and Rose (Yannick Gingras) before right-lining Odds On Chesapeake down the backside for the first time. Clearing through a :26.3 opener, Odds On Chesapeake maintained a confident lead under a snug hold from Dunn while managing middle fractions of :53.3 and 1:21.1 and then opening up to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Rose stayed for second with Time Of The Season (Andy McCarthy) and Papi Grad (Todd McCarthy) punching their tickets to the final by finishing third and fourth, respectively.
"She's feeling pretty good," said trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. after the victory, noting the strong hold Dunn had on the pacing filly. "He said that's all he could hold her so that's a good thing, but we've got to keep it controlled."
A homebred daughter of Downbytheseaside-Macaroon owned by her breeder Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, Florida, along with Operation Horsepower of Edmonton, Kentucky, Odds On Chesapeake now sports 13 wins in 21 career starts — nine wins in her 11 sophomore starts — with more than $600,000 in earnings.
The top four finishers from each elimination will advance to the $388,889 final later today in race 22. Post positions for the Jugette final are listed below with final driver changes.
1. Odds On Chesapeake - Dexter Dunn
2. Rodeo Drive Deo - David Miller
3. Rose - Yannick Gingras
4. Odds On Hialeah - Luke Hanners
5. Time Of The Season - Andy McCarthy
6. Vel Cinderella - Tim Tetrick
7. Papi Grad - Todd McCarthy
8. Skywalker Sea - Austin Hanners
AE1. Millie May Hanover
AE2. Allegra Hanover
AE3. Lily White Hanover
More Jugette coverage to come.
Watch The 2025 Jugette
The 55th edition of the $458,333 Jugette for three-year-old pacing fillies headlines Wednesday's 22-race card at the Delaware County Fair and live streaming of all the action will be available.
The $388,889 Jugette final will cap off the action-packed afternoon as race 22, featuring the top four finishers from a pair of $34,722 elimination heats contested earlier in the day (races 18 & 19).
Sixteen three-year-old pacing fillies were entered in the Grade 1 stakes event. Supplemental entry Rose Run Aimee is the 5-2 morning line favourite from post two in the first elimination with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. listed to drive for trainer James Ehrsam while Odds On Chesapeake is the 9-5 favourite from post four in the second elimination with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.
The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will present a live stream of Wednesday’s 22-race card, which will be available below. Post time for the first race is 11 a.m.
The complete elimination fields are listed below in post position order.
Jugette Elimination Heat #1
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Millie May Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Andrew Harris - 9-2
2. Rose Run Aimee - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - James Ehrsam - 5-2
3. Vel Cinderella - Tim Tetrick - Rob Rittof - 9-1
4. Skywalker Sea - Austin Hanners - Todd Luther - 7-1
5. Highland Delight - Yannick Gingras - Ben Hollingsworth - 20-1
6. Odds On Hialeah - Dexter Dunn - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 3-1
7. Rodeo Drive Deo - David Miller - Ron Burke - 7-2
8. Dirty Diana - James MacDonald - John Pentland - 20-1
Jugette Elimination Heat #2
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Lily White Hanover - Jason Bartlett - Andrew Harris - 4-1
2. Allegra Hanover - David Miller - Brian Brown - 7-1
3. Rose - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke - 7-1
4. Odds On Chesapeake - Dexter Dunn - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 9-5
5. Time Of The Season - Andrew McCarthy - Tim Twaddle - 6-1
6. Papi Grad - Todd McCarthy - Steve Carter - 8-1
7. Gigglingonthebeach - James MacDonald - Juan Cano - 12-1
8. Sammy Jo Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Scott Di Domenico - 10-1
Click here for free program pages.
(Standardbred Canada)