Bettor's Delight Wins Jug

By Tom White
September 20, 2001

    Delaware, Ohio--"It doesn't get any better than  this, "exclaimed Mike Lachance following Bettor's Delight's victory in Thursday's $646,050 Little Brown Jug at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair. A crowd of 52,025 turned out to see 2001 Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame Honoree Lachance outduel fellow Canadian John Campbell through the final half-mile of the final heat.

    Bettor's Delight won the final heat in 1:51.4 by 1 1/4 lengths over Real Desire with Four Starzzz Shark third. The victory by Lachance was his fifth, tying him with Billy Haughton for the most Jug victories.

     In earlier eliminations, Running Start ($99.20) scored a huge upset in the first elimination, beating Four Starzzz Shark by a neck in 1:52.4 with Ameripan Gigolo third. Bettor's Delight captured the second elim in 1:52, by two lengths over Real Desire with Quality Of Life third. Equisite Art won the final elimination heat in 1:53.2 by 6 1/4 lengths over McGwire and Place To Be.

    "I felt much better about the second heat. I was confident we could get him in the stretch," said Lachance. "This colt almost had his career ended over a month ago. But to bring him back this good you need a lot of teamwork. I would like to give all of the credit to trainer Scott McEneny and his groom Cory (Costa)."

    Trainer McEneny conceded the Jug triumph was "Awesome." Owner John B. Grant of Hornby, Ontario called his colt's victory "Our biggest of the year. I am so pleased and thrilled."

    Bettor's Delight drew the rail for the final heat while arch rival Real Desire had Post 5. Real Desire, racing fifth at the three-eighths pole, surged to challenge and the two colts raced head-to-head through deep stretch before Bettor's Delight pulled away for the victory.

    "At the top of the stretch, I knew I couldn't get him. This is the best Real Desire has gone all year," said John Campbell. 

    "I made him work for it," said David Miller, driver of Four Starzzz Shark. "If we fought him at the quarter, neither of us would have won. After he went by me, I knew it was over. I had to race for the better paycheck."

    Bettor's Delight was voted Two Year Old Champion a year ago.  This season he has won 8 of 13 starts including the $1,1000,000 North America Cup. he pushed his 2001 earnings to $1,458,344 and his career total is $2,273,005.