Here is the good news regarding Good News Lady: Of the 10 fillies entered in Wednesday's $300,475 Jugette at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio, she is the top money-earner this year. Now, the not-so-good news: She has yet to win a race this season.
Trained by Jimmy Takter and driven regularly by Greg Grismore, Good News Lady was second in the Mistletoe Shalee, the Valley Forge and the Lismore. Those runner-up finishes have helped her bank $360,885 so far in 12 starts this year.
"She's been racing against good fillies," Takter said. "She's going to (win) sometime this year. She's very versatile. She can do anything; leave or sit behind. In Delaware, you need to be up in front."
Last year, Good News Lady won four of 12 races, including a division of the Eternal Camnation and a division of the Bluegrass Stakes. She is coming off a third-place finish in the Nadia Lobell at the Red Mile, where she started from Post 10 and closed with a :25.4 last quarter-mile. She will start from Post 3 in the Jugette.
"I don't know how much speed is inside of her, but she can leave the gate good," said Takter, who won the 2006 Little Brown Jug with Mr Feelgood and is making his first start in the Jugette. "Unfortunately, in her last start she had to come from very far back, but she closed very good. It should be exciting (Wednesday)."
Also in the Jugette field are Cartniverous, who is coming off a win in the Shady Daisy at Freehold Raceway, and Lismore winner Thong. Like the Little Brown Jug, a horse must win two heats to be declared the winner of the Jugette. With only 10 fillies entered in the Jugette, the first heat will involve the entire field.
(Harness Racing Communications)