The Little Brown Jug

Heavy Favorite Gallo Blue Chip Draws Post 9
For Saturday's $1,150,000 Meadowlands Pace

By Tom White
July 12th, 2000

Hall of Fame driver John Campbell said it best, "I don't get too excited about the draw for post positions. It's just a starting point."

Campbell will drive Aint No Stop'n Him from post 5 in Saturday's $1,150,000 Meadowlands Pace as he seeks a record sixth Meadowlands Pace victory.

Following the draw for post positions Tuesday afternoon Campbell was asked if North America Cup winner Gallo Blue Chip was the horse to beat despite drawing Post 9 in the 10 horse field. "He deserves to be favored," said Campbell who then made his comments about post positions.

Trainer Joe Holloway picked Campbell to drive Aint No Stop'n Him after Mike Lachance selected San Gimignano for the Final. Lachance had driven both Aint No Stop'n Him and San Gimignano in the elims. Campbell failed to qualify any of his three elim horses, Riverboat King(6th), I Scoot Hanover (6th) and The Firepan (8th).

Six of the 10 starters are expected to race in the 55th Little Brown Jug on September 21 at Delaware, Ohio.

Gallo Blue Chip, who is 8/5 in the morning line with driver Daniel Dube, is on a terror. The son of 1994 Little Brown Jug winner Magical Mike has won the Cleveland Classic, Burlington Stake, $1-million North America Cup elimination and final and an elimination of last week's Meadowlands Pace.

During the press conference following the draw trainer Mark Ford was asked if his gelding had any weaknesses coming into Saturday's Meadowlands Pace. "The ninth post position. He does not lay over this bunch. I just hope everything works out."

Ford said Gallo Blue Chip has been very lucky in his recent wins. "He's been able (driver Daniel Dube) to work out a trip."

Tyberwood, the reigning two-year-old champion, drew the No. 3 post. "That was awesome for us," said trainer Gary Machiz. "We'll have no excuses with No. 3."

Tyberwood was second to Gallo Blue Chip in the NA Cup Final and was second to Mr Prez in his Meadowlands Pace elim. "He came back slowly this season, and we had to regroup. But he rounded into form in the NA Cup and he had an extremely easy race in his elimination of the Meadowlands Pace. But, you need luck in the big races," said Machiz.

Jersey Bouncer, the other Meadowlands Pace elimination winner, also received an inside post for driver Jack Moiseyev. The Larry Remmen-trained colt will start from Post 2.

Draw for Meadowlands Pace

Post Horse Driver Morning Line

1 Astreos * C. Christoforou 5-1

2 Jersey Bouncer J. Moiseyev 12-1

3 Tyberwood R. Silverman 4-1

4 Mr Prez G. Brennan 10-1

5 Aint No Stop'n Him J. Campbell 8-1

6 San Gimignano M. Lachance 6-1

7 High On Emotion * R. Pierce 5-1

8 Aces N Sevens C. Manzi 10-1

9 Gallo Blue Chip D. Dube 8/5

10 Indian Territoryp L. Ouellette 30-1

(*) Brett Pelling entry