Trainer Casie Coleman never stops learning; at least when it comes to the nuances of racing at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
“We’ve done well there, but you learn more every time you go there,” said Coleman, who has won both the Little Brown Jug and the Jugette twice. “There are definitely different things with how you’ve got to shoe them and how you’ve got to rig them.
“I’m only at that track a couple of days a year, but we’re getting more used to it and getting them rigged right and shod right when they go there. I’ve been learning as I go. Hopefully I’ll have everything down here soon.”
Coleman trains this year’s Little Brown Jug favourite, Betting Line, who will put his 11-race win streak on the line Thursday. Betting Line, with three-time Jug winner David Miller in the sulky, is the 3-5 morning line favorite in the first of two opening heats.
Betting Line has won 11 consecutive races since beginning his season with a second-place finish against older horses. His victories include the North America Cup, Battle of the Brandywine, and Carl Milstein Memorial Invitational. He heads to the Jug off a win in the Simcoe Stakes on September 10 at Mohawk Racetrack, where he rallied from an eight and a quarter-length deficit on the final turn to beat Lyons Snyder by a half-length in 1:49.1.
His win in the Milstein was at Northfield Park, which is a half-mile track, such as the oval at the fairgrounds. Betting Line overcame a brief break of stride on the final turn to win by four lengths.
“Obviously everyone knows he had a little issue at Northfield when he made the little skip around the last turn,” Coleman said. “We know that was an issue, but we’re working on changing his rigging just a little bit to help him get over the half better. Delaware is the best half-mile track I’ve ever been on. I’m hoping he will be fine.”
Coleman, who got married last week, won the Jug with Michaels Power in 2012 and Vegas Vacation in 2013, and would join four other trainers with three triumphs if Betting Line is victorious. Billy Haughton holds the record for training wins with six. Stanley Dancer, with four Jugs, is the only other trainer with more than three.
“The triple would be pretty awesome,” Coleman said. “I thought we had a shot at it with McWicked (in 2014) and it just didn’t quite work out. He just wasn’t quite himself. Now hopefully this guy has a good chance. Betting Line looks pretty good coming into it.”
The fields for the opening heat of the Little Brown Jug appear below.
First elimination-Purse $92,320
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1. Dr J Hanover-Scott Zeron-Tony Alagna-6/1
2. Stolen Glimpse-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-15/1
3. Lyons Snyder-Sylvain Filion-Jimmy Takter-8/1
4. Check Six-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-2/1
5. Betting Line-David Miller-Casie Coleman-3/5
6. Fernando Hanover-Tim Tetrick-Ron Burke-12-1
Second elimination-Purse $92,320
HN-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1. Western Fame-Mark MacDonald-Jimmy Takter-4/1
2. Racing Hill-Brett Miller-Tony Alagna-3/5
3. Big Top Hanover-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-15/1
4. Manhattan Beach-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-6/1
5. Spider Man Hanover-Andy Miller-Nick Surick-20/1
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.