Webb hopes for best with Jug starter Nob Hill High

Trainer Bill Webb admits his excitement for having his first Little Brown Jug starter on Thursday in Nob Hill High was tempered a bit when the colt drew in arguably the toughest of the two eliminations, he is hoping for the best. Nob Hill High, a son of McArdle out of the $1.4 million-winning mare Anniecrombie, drew post six in the elim against the likes of North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace winner Well Said, Adios and Cane Pace winner Vintage Master, and world champion Sheer Desire.

 

“I was all excited, but the draw kind of took the wind out of my sails,” said Webb, who conditions Nob Hill High for owners Robert Mondillo and Donald Robinson. “But sooner or later, if you make the final, you have to race all the good ones anyway, so you might as well get it over with.”

 

Nob Hill High has five wins in 14 starts this year with earnings of $145,460. He took his mark of 1:51.1 in an overnight at Balmoral Park in July, following that up with a 1:51.3 win in a Hanover division over that same track the following week. Nob Hill High won a Hayes division at Du Quoin on Sept. 5, with a final Jug prep coming via a third-place finish in an overnight against older horses at Indiana Downs on Sept. 11.

 

Webb noted that most of Nob Hill High’s adversity on the track has come from poor starting positions.

 

“He is the worst drawing horse I’ve ever had,” he said, noting some of the starts included the trailing post 11 in the Hoosier Cup, post seven in a Burlington division, post eight in the North America Cup elim and post nine in the North America Cup consolation. Nob Hill High drew post six in his Jug elimination on Thursday. Tim Tetrick has been named to drive.

 

“The colt gives 100 percent every start, but the draw Gods just haven’t been with us,” he said.