Road To The Jug

DR DREW & ARMBRO ANIMATE IMPRESSIVE AT THE RED MILE AND THE MEADOWLANDS; MAGICAL MIKE LEADERS IN HAUGHTON MEMORIAL

By Tom White
6/29/2003

Dr. Drew, a colt trained by Joe Seekman and driven as usual by Dale Hiteman, set a new Red Mile spring record of 1:49.4 in beating Allamerican Captor in the $80,000 Spring Championship Final. Armbro Animate, trained by Jim Campbell and driven by brother John, won the $92,600 Jersey Cup in 1:50.2 over Whatanartist and General Challenge, who dead-heated for second place.

Among the weekend's top six finishers only Largeandincharge is not eligible to the Jug scheduled for Thursday afternoon, September 18 at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.

Dr. Drew, a son of Jenna's Beach Boy, won a pair of stakes at two but had only one victory in 10 starts this season including a third in the Burlington and seventh in the Hoosier Cup Final. Dr Drew's next start will be in the American-National at Balmoral.

Armbro Animate, a colt by Artsplace, provided John Campbell with his first victory since returning from injuries and raced more than two seconds faster than his best previous effort. At two, Armbro Animate won a division of the International Stallion Stakes and was second in a Bluegrass division during Lexington's Grand Circuit.

Next up for most Jug hopefuls are the Maywood Pace eliminations on Friday at Maywood Park and the Meadowlands Pace elims on Saturday at The Meadowlands.

For further information check out the Jug web site: www.littlebrownjug.com

Magical Mike Leaders In Haughton Memorial

McArdle, Four Starzz Shark and Gallo Blue Chip, all eligible to the $100,000-estimated Magical Mike Pace on Delaware, Ohio's Jug Day program, are among the favorites for Saturday's $615,000 W.R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands.

McArdle won his elimination in 1:49.1 while Four Starzz Shark and Gallo Blue Chip finished second and third to Art Major in their elim. Magical Mike eligibles Cheyenne Rei and Yankee Sensation finished fifth in their eliminations and earned starting berths in the Final.

The Magical Mike, named for Thomas Walsh's 1994 Little Brown Jug champion and Blue Chip Farms stallion, is designed for pacers ages four and up.

Past Magical Mike winners were Jenna's Beach Boy, Stand Forever, Gee Gee Digger, Hi Ho Silverheels, Jet Laag, Quick Draw and Art's Challenge. Stand Forever set the stakes record of 1:49.2 in 1996 for John Campbell.

For additional information about the Magical Mike, including a list of 2003 eligibles, click on our web site: www.littlebrownjug.com