Delaware, Ohio--Reigning two-year-old colt champion Bettor's Delight and his two contending rivals, Real Desire and Pro Bono Best, lead the list of eligibles for the $550,000-estimated Little Brown Jug.

The 56th renewal of the Little Brown Jug will be raced Thursday afternoon, September 20th at the Delaware, Ohio County Fairgrounds. The 2001 Delaware Grand Circuit also has been expanded to six afternoons beginning Saturday, September 15th and continuing through Thursday, September 20th.

The top eight ranked colts on Stan Bergstein's Experimental Championship Ratings are among the 179 three-year-old colts and geldings eligible to the 2001 Jug. The Experimental Championship Ratings were announced in the March, 2001 issue of Hoof Beats magazine. Bergstein, executive vice-president of Harness Tracks of America, has been an expert observer of harness racing for more than four decades.

John Grant's Bettor's Delight was North America's finest two-year-old colt pacer in 2000. The son of Cam's Card Shark received the Dan Patch award from the U.S. Harness Writers; the Nova award from Harness Tracks of America; and Standardbred Canada's Joe O'Brien award.

Bettor's Delight captured the $571,475 Breeders Crown and the $545,300 Governor's Cup. The colt's winnings of $804,661 last season topped all colts. He is trained by Scott McEneny.

Despite the fact that Bettor's Delight beat Real Desire in the Breeders Crown and Governor's Cup, Bergstein ranked Real Desire No. 1 in his Experimental Ratings. Bettor's Delight was picked second and Pro Bono Best third in the ratings first commissioned in 1965 by the U.S. Trotting Association.

Real Desire, owned in partnership by Brittany Farms, Robert B. Burgess, Perretti Farms and Karin B. Olssonburgess, won eight straight before losing twice to Bettor's Delight. Bergstein picked Real Desire over Bettor's Delight "on his spectacular miles at Lexington last fall....he first aired a phenomenal mile over an off track in 1:53.4 under Trevor Ritchie's guidance, and then returned to breeze to the season's fastest performance by a two-year-old in 1:50.4 for Randy Waples."

Bergstein added, "the mile for Ritchie may have been the most impressive performance by a two-year-old at the historic Red Mile since Jate Lobell's amazing romp in the slop in 1:53 fifteen years ago."

Among the Life Sign colt's victories were the $150,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes Final, $94,505 Champlain, $100,000 Nassagawea, and the Breeders Crown elimination. Trained by Blair Burgess, Real Desire earned $453,088.

The third of this year's triumvirate is Pro Bono Best, a Cambest colt that won in 1:51 at Woodbine. This Desmond Tackoor-trained colt won seven straight in mid-season, including the $661,800 Metro, $100,000 division of the Nassagawea, $84,505 Champlain, Reynolds and Arden Downs. He was also runnerup to Bettor's Delight for two-year-old honors.

Rounding out the top five in the USTA Experimental Ratings are Lotsa Clout and Capital Request. Lotsa Clout, a James Campbell-trained son of Jenna's Beach Boy, earned $322,766 with wins in the $195,900 Matron and $100,000 Metro Consolation. Capital Request is another Life Sign Jug contender trained by Alan Riegle. This colt won twice at Lexington, the $143,500 International Stallion Stakes and $100,000 Bluegrass along with a division of the $92,505 Champlain.

Other solid Jug hopefuls are International Sires Stakes winner Klingon Hanover ($347,971), Woodrow Wilson winner Whitefish Falls ($384,358), Bluegrass Stakes victor Bagel Beach Boy ($110,258), Running Start ($131,203), LCB ($102,803), and Ameripan Gigolo ($158,545). Ameripan Gigolo actually finished first in the Woodrow Wilson but was placed 10th for interference. Whitefish Falls was awarded the victory by the Meadowlands' judges.

The Jug is the middle jewel in Pacing's Triple Crown Series and the se cond leg of the new Grand Slam of Pacing. The Triple Crown starts with the Cane Pace eliminations at Freehold on August 25th, the Jug September 20th, and Messenger Pace October 27th at Ladbroke at The Meadows.

The Grand Slam, which carries a $1-million bonus if a colt wins all four events, begins with the $1,000,000 North America Cup eliminations June 16; eliminations for the $1,000,000 Meadowlands Pace July 7th at The Meadowlands; the Jug on September 20th; and the $400,000 Breeders Crown elims on October 13th at Woodbine.