Officials with the Little Brown Jug have released the first installment of the track's 'Road to the Jug' weekly rankings.
This year there will be several harness racing celebrities give their Top 10 picks.
This week’s sections come from Hall of Fame announcer Roger Huston. Huston should know what it takes to win the Little Brown Jug as he’s called every Jug since 1967. He’s also been the track announcer at The Meadows since 1976.
Little Brown Jug Top 10 Contenders (Week #1 – July 30)
By Jay Wolf – Little Brown Jug Publicity Director
1. Captaintreacherous
Owners: Captaintreacherous Racing (KY)
Trainer: Tony Alagna
Driver: Tim Tetrick
Career Earnings: $2,044,421
Career Mark: 1:48.1 M
This colt is undefeated in 2013 (6 for 6). He is currently #1 in the weekly harness racing poll.
2. Vegas Vacation
Owners: West Wins Stable (ONT), Adriano Sorella (ONT), Anthony Beaton (ONT) & Phyllis Saunders (ONT)
Trainer: Casie Coleman
Driver: Brian Sears & Scott Zeron
Career Earnings: $425,351
Career Mark: 1:48.3 Moh
Finished a strong second in the Adios Pace Final (7/27). This gelding has hit the board in 8 of 9 seasonal starts.
3. Sunfire Blue Chip
Owners: Christina Talker (NJ), John & Jim Fielding (ONT), Brixton Medical AB (SWE) and RAW Equine Inc. (ONT)
Trainer: Jimmy Takter
Driver: Yannick Gingras
Career Earnings: $392,464
Career Mark: 1:48.3 Mea
Won the $450,000 Adios Pace Final (7/27) with a lifetime best 1:48.3. The son of American Ideal has won four out of his last five starts.
4. Odds On Equuleus
Owners: Odds On Racing (IL)
Trainer: Robin Schadt
Driver: John Campbell
Career Earnings: $601,221
Career Mark: 1:50 Moh
He was second in the $635,750 Meadowlands Pace Final (7/13).
5. Wake Up Peter
Owners: Wake Up Peter Partners (IL), Brittany Farms (KY), Louis Willinger (IL) & Eagles Soar Partners (NY)
Trainer: Tony Alagna
Driver: Ron Pierce
Career Earnings: $449,455
Career Mark: Q1:50.0 M
Was a disappointing third in the $25,000 New Jersey Classic Prep (7/27) at the Meadowlands. He is still looking for his first win of 2013.
6. Lonewolf Currier
Owners: Fran Azur (PA)
Trainer: Kevin McDermott
Driver: John Campbell/Brian Sears
Career Earnings: $264,994
Career Mark: 1:48.4 Mea
The Panderosa colt had a tough trip in the Adios Pace Final (7/27) at The Meadows finishing fourth.
7. Word Power
Owners: Brad Grant (ONT)
Trainer: Larry Remmen
Driver: Jim Morrill, Jr./Corey Callahan
Career Earnings: $128,250
Career Mark: 1:49.4 M
Has earned cheques in the Adios Final (7/27) and the Hempt Final (6/29).
8. Mach It So
Owners: Bamond Racing LLC (NJ)
Trainer: Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman
Driver: Scott Zeron
Career Earnings: $214,238
Career Mark: 1:50.0 Moh
Winner of four stakes events in-a-row, all in Canada.
9. Johny Rock
Owners: William Wiswell (WI), Jean Goehlen (IL) and Eugene Schick (IL)
Trainer: John Butenschoen
Driver: Andy Miller
Career Earnings: $269,748
Career Mark: 1:50.1 M
The Rocknroll Hanover colt went gate-to-wire in the $25,000 New Jersey Classic Prep (7/27) in a lifetime best 1:50.1.
10. Rockin Amadeus
Owners: Lothlorien (ONT)
Trainer: Jimmy Takter
Driver: Yannick Gingras
Career Earnings: $554,390
Career Mark: 1:49.3 M
He is the last horse to beat Captaintreacherous. He is currently in a sophomore slump with just two seasonal wins.
Little Brown Jug Top 10 Contenders
By Roger Huston – Announcer of the Little Brown Jug
1. Captaintreacherous
- Simply the best at this time
2. Sunfire Blue Chip
- Wins The Adios with brutal fractions on the front end
3. Odds On Equuleus
- Second in The Meadowlands Pace
4. Vegas Vacation
- Second in The Adios, apparently lacks gate speed which cost him the Adios
5. Sunshine Beach
- Could surprise in the future
6. Word Power
- Followed Vegas Vacation in the Adios and was the fastest at the wire
7. Beach Memories
- Early speed, couldn’t withstand the fast fractions
8. Lonewolf Currier
- If his cover had been better may have been closer in The Adios
9. Rockin Amadeus
- Must improve to be a real factor
10. Some Kinda Beach
- Was first up in The Adios and the sacrificial offering in the race
(LBJ)