How big a deal would it be if Delaware hometown favourite Beeeyouuuuuu wins Thursday’s $551,225 Little Brown Jug?
Bred and owned by retired Delaware veterinarian Dale Walters and trained by son Billy, Beeeyouuuuuu comes into the Jug as a longshot mystery horse. In his last start on September 6th at Scioto Downs, Beeeyouuuuuu was on the lead, but broke stride in mid-stretch to finish 8th in the $80,000 Ohio Sires Stakes Championship.
“He got steppy and hit his ankle in the final turn and then took some bad steps in the stretch,” said his trainer. “We trained him here last Thursday and he was very good. I feel he is ready to race in the Jug.”
Beeeyouuuuuu had not started since July 19th at Scioto Downs when he paced in 1:50.1, a fifth of a second off Gallo Blue Chip’s track record. “He got sick shortly after that race and he had not started in seven weeks. But he was fine before his last start.”
The son of Yankee Cruiser has won four of seven starts this season with 2008 earnings of $82,000 and $111,008 in his career.
Dr. Walter’s two-year-old great grandson Will McLead was responsible for the unusual name. He also named Beeeyouuuuuu’s yearling sister Peeeeyouuuuuuuu.
The Walters’ Jug starter also has an interesting pedigree. Dale Walters bought Beeeyouuuuuu’s granddam Sugar Valley Dee Dee but she broke an ankle and never raced. Dale then bred her to his stallion Sugar Valley Dudly and she produced three foals. The Walters’ kept only Beeeyouuuuuu’s dam Fava. During her racing career Fava won 14 of 42 starts including the two-year-old Ohio Breeders Championship at Delaware in a stakes record 1:55.
Bill Walters has had success at Delaware with 21 driving wins during grand circuit week and in 1973, he became the youngest driver to compete in the Jug (18 years, 5 months and 27 days) when he piloted Honey Cane to a fifth place finish in an elimination.
Beeeyouuuuuu will leave from post 6 in the second elimination on Thursday afternoon.
(Little Brown Jug)