Little Brown Jug & Miss Versatility – Grand Circuit $1 Million Challenge
The Little Brown Jug and Miss Versatility highlight a spectacular week at Delaware County Fair tomorrow, and they’re your next chance to go for $10,000 in the Grand Circuit $1 Million Challenge. We’ve assembled a crackerjack group of experts to help you make an informed pick:
Reminder: If you’ve chosen a few horses that didn’t win so far, you could still win $10,000, $5,000 or $2,500 so keep voting!
Roger Huston
LITTLE BROWN JUG- 1ST DIVISION: 7 – 5 – 1
7-Lyonssomewhere-In the first, much softer, division of the Little Brown Jug I’m going to go with number 7, Lyonssomewhere. Yannick Gingras for Jimmy Takter. This horse won the Cane, and I had a chance to speak with his owners during my trip to Ireland, and they told me they had a plan all along to win the Little Brown Jug. First to pay the $35,000 supplement to race in and win the Cane, and then to pay the $45,000 to supplement to the Jug. So far, the plan is right on course, and they’re in the easier division.
5-At Press Time- Ron Burke and Matt Kakaley on this one, and he’s done well as of late. He was second to Somewhere In LA in August, and I think At Press Time has a good shot in the first, and softer division.
1-Let’s Drink On It- Tyler Smith and Let’s Drink On It finally get a decent post position. In his last five starts he’s had posts 8,6,6,5 and 7. Finally with a decent post, I think Let’s Drink On It and Tyler Smith have a big shot in this division.
LITTLE BROWN JUG- 2ND DIVISION: 1 – 2 – 5
1-McWicked- McWicked and David Miller from the rail in the second division. I have liked McWicked since the North America Cup and I have seen absolutely nothing to change my mind. I’ll go with McWicked to win.
2-Limelight Beach- Limelight Beach from post two from trainer Ron Burke. I think from post two he has the best chance at the upset and this horse has really come on as of late since the adding Lasix. In his last outing in Pennsylvania Sires Stakes he only lost by one length to McWicked
5-Somewhere In LA- I’ve had the chance to see many of this horse’s races in PA and I always liked him. He won an elimination of The Adios and was 2nd in the final to McWicked. You’ve got Brett Miller and Jimmy Takter and this horse has been very competitive in every single start.
MISS VERSATILITY: 1 – 5 – 4 – 6
This is the toughest race I’ve had to handicap all year. The Miss Versatility seems to be that way every year.
1-Classic Martine- Tim Tetrick for Chris Oaks, she has the rail and she’s won 8 of her last 12 including a 1:51.1 effort during a 3-race win streak in the Ima Lula and W/O at Harrah’s Philadelphia. In the Miss Versatility at Tioga she was second to Charmed Life, the difference today is that she has the rail, Charmed Life has the 7-hole.
5-Maven- She set the record last year in the Miss Versatility but hasn’t really been that. Her only win has come in a Preferred race at Pocono as of late. I think she’s going to be sharper, but probably not sharper than the 1.
4-Frau Blucher- You just can’t ever pitch Ron Pierce in big races.
6-Bee A Magician- If you’re going for the superfecta, I’d round it out with the six, Bee A Magician. I think she can get up for fourth in here, especially because Jody Jamieson and Charmed Life (post 7) are going to have a long way to go.
Dave Brower
LITTLE BROWN JUG- 1ST DIVISION: 4 – 7 – 1
4 ON GOLDEN PONDER set a track record last year in his lone Delaware start in the Standardbred for Hall of Famers John Campbell and Bob McIntosh. And he did it the hard way, attacking uncovered. Loves the track and can upset.
1. LET’S DRINK ON IT
7. LYONSSOMEWHERE
LITTLE BROWN JUG- 2ND DIVISION: 6 – 1 – 2
6 HE’S WATCHING will have to overcome the post and it certainly won’t be easy, but deep down I just feel he’s a better horse than McWicked. Sometimes, the best horse doesn’t always win on the half, but I’ll go with my gut and take him on top.
1. MCWICKED
2. LIMELIGHT BEACH
MISS VERSATILITY: 1 – 5 – 6
1. CLASSIC MARTINE probably needed a little rest after her Meadowlands efforts and the rail draw here is key. It’s time for her to re-establish herself against Maven and Bee A Magician. From flagfall to finish!
5. MAVEN
6 BEE A MAGICIAN
These statements do not reflect the views of the Harness Racing Fan Zone or the United States Trotting Association