Surprises in jug elims

Mr. Feelgood, Cactus Creek and Texas Shootout won their respective Little Brown Jug eliminations at the Delaware (Ohio) County Fairgrounds Thursday afternoon. Cactus Creek set a world record for 3-year-old gelding pacers with a 1:50.3 effort, Mr. Feelgood set a first-heat world record of 1:50 flat, while Texas Shootout lit up the toteboard with a $112.40 payoff, just $2 short of the all-time Jug record.

Mr. Feelgood and driver Mark MacDonald led the way through the first elim, besting Armbro Dynamic and driver John Campbell and Doonbeg and driver Jody Jamieson, who made a bold three-wide move in the final turn.

Cactus Creek, who sprung a 20-1 upset in the Adios at The Meadows Aug. 12, paid off at odds of 7-1 in the Jug elim. Driver Mike Lachance took no prisoners early from the two hole with Cactus Creek as he put both Total Truth and driver Ron Pierce and True North Hanover and driver Dave Palone into the two and three hole. That's the way they crossed the finish line to earn spots in the second heat.

Texas Shootout took advantage of a speed duel between Armbro Deuce and Jereme's Jet and rallied late to edge the former at the wire, returning a payoff that just missed George Scooter's payoff in the second heat of the 2000 Jug. Palone was in the sulky. Western Ace finished third for Brian Sears. Contender Took Hanover was ranging into position in the final turn but broke stride and then went extremely wide and could only finish fifth.

Trainer Mickey Burke said afterward that Palone would remain in the bike behind True North Hanover in the second heat, while Yannick Gingras would pick up the mount on Texas Shootout. Trainer George Teague Jr. also qualified two for the second heat with Western Ace and Total Truth.

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