Art Official, Badlands Nitro, Lonestar Legend Jug elim favorites

September 13, 2008

Art Official, a $45,000 Little Brown Jug supplemental entry off his win in the Cane Pace, landed post one and the status as favorite in the third of three eliminations for the second jewel of pacing's Triple Crown Thursday at the Delaware, Ohio County fairgrounds. Twenty sophomore male pacers were entered for this year's $551,225 renewal, with Badlands Nitro and Lonestar Legend being named the morning-line choice in the other two elims.

James and Joyce Jesk's Sawgrass Farms paid the supplemental fee for Art Official following that colt's 1:51.1 victory in the Cane Pace at Freehold on Sept. 1. Trained by Joe Seekman, Art Official catapulted himself into the divisional spotlight when he upset the previously undefeated Somebeachsomewhere in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace in July in a world-record 1:47.

Ron Pierce has once again been named to drive Art Official, who was installed the 7-5 morning-line choice. The race is the third elim, each of which carries a purse of $58,797.

Also in that elim is Santanna Blue Chip, who is coming off a 1:52.2 win in a Simcoe division at Mohawk. Trainer Carl Jamieson shares ownership with Jeffrey Gillis, George Arthur Stable and 1140545 Ontario Ltd. Jody Jamieson will drive from post two.

Recent Battle of the Brandywine winner Badlands Nitro is the 7-5 choice in the first of the trio of Jug elims. Trained by George Teague, who shares ownership with his sister, Brenda, and John Celii, Badlands Nitro brings a seasonal bankroll of more than $1.2 million to Delaware. Brian Sears will drive from post three.

Lonestar Legend, owned by Royal Wire Products and United Process Control Co., and trained by Don Swick, is the 5-2 choice in the second elim. David Miller has been named to drive the recent Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final runner-up from post one.

The top three finishers in each elim will return for the $264,589 second heat. If no horse wins two heats, then a four horse race-off will be contested, with a winner-take all purse of $110,245. If a third heat is not necessary, then the winner of the second heat will receive that $110,245.

$551,225 Little Brown Jug

$58,797 First Elimination
Post-Horse-Driver-Morning Line
1-Giddy Up Lucky- Paul MacKenzie-8-1
2-Blueridge Hall-TBA-10-1
3-Badlands Nitro-Brian Sears-7-5
4-Shadow Play-David Miller-5-2
5-On The Brink-Patrick Lachance-12-1
6-Lisfinny-Steve Condren-6-1

$58,797 Second Elimination
Post-Horse-Driver-Morning Line
1-Lonestar Legend-David Miller-5-2
2-Rudy Rednose-Brian Sears-4-1
3-Upfront Hannahsboy-Tim Tetrick-8-1
4-Atochia-Yannick Gingras-7-2
5-Mystery Chase-Brian Sears-6-1
6-Beeeyouuuuuu-Brad Hanners-10-1
7-Deuce Seelster-John Campbell-8-1

$58,797 Third Elimination
Post-Horse-Driver-Morning Line
1-Art Official-Ron Pierce-7-5
2-Santanna Blue Chip-Jody Jamieson-5-2
3-Goddess's Justin-Tim Tetrick-10-1
4-Major General-Andy Miller-8-1
5-Moon Beam-Yannick Gingras-6-1
6-Blueridge Western-Dave Palone-12-1
7-Dali-Luc Ouellette-4-1

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