The Little Brown Jug

After missing the Little Brown Jug (live, anyway) the last three years, I am excited to be returning to the hallowed Delaware Fairgrounds for my 27th Jug. Prior to the last three, I had missed only one since 1978. And, for the first time in a long time, I am going as a race fan, not to work. And, with my daughter now attending nearby Ohio Wesleyan as a freshman, I can kill two birds with one stone, dropping off a "care" package from mom and having dinner with her instead of my rowdy racing friends.

I have not really looked at the entire Jug card, but the Jug itself shapes up as a very competitive and interesting race. I like Art Official a lot, and I think he may actually be better than Somebeachsomewhere, but I still wish SBSW was racing onb the saucer.

In the first heat, I have a hunch that Giddyup Lucky may upset Badlands Nitro. He is a speedster who is improvign and has the rail. In the second heat, I will be rooting for a pair of locally connected horses, Ed Mullinax's Upfront Hannahsboy, who won a Cleveland Classic split this spring but whose form has leveled off of late, and Lonestar Lengend, owned by Bill Peshina's Royal Wire Products of North Royalton and trained by former Northfield regular Don Swick. This, to me, appears to be the weakest, but most competitive division of the race.

The last elim looks to be a cold 1-2 exacta. Make no mistake, as good as Art Official has been, he will take pressure throughout (especially with Dali drawing outside, forcing a tough trip). And that means Santana Blue Chip will sit right on his helmet and (if there is room in the stretch) could go by. Remember, there is no passing lane at Delaware BUT there is a huge incentive win your elim and draw 1-2-3 in the final. I think the winner of the Jug comes from the last elim and I will probably be playing a tri that looks something, if not excatly, like this 12/124/all.

In the final, remember one key element. Put the trailer (#9- the 3rd place horse who happens to draw the second tier) on your tri ticket. Also watch the horses ver closely as they parade. Watch for horses that are "blowing," hard. The last elim horses have 40 minutes less time to recover than those in the first split and that might mean we are looking at a third-heat "raceoff" with the four winners.

By the way, I will be smoking Cuban Reject Toros tomorrow, unless somebody brings me something better. With two kids in college, I am on a tight cigar budget these days. Say hi if you see me down there and I will try to post some observations Friday. Good luck.