Cane Pace Eliminations Fail To Clarify Little Brown Jug Field

By Tom White
8/24/03

So much for the Cane Pace being a preview to next month's Little Brown Jug. Few, if any, owners of a three-year-old pacer were scared off by the results of Saturday's two $55,170 Cane Pace eliminations. Only Allamerican Native among Saturday's pre-race favorites will start in next week's Cane Final. Yankee Cruiser and Allamerican Theory failed to qualify.

Allamerican Native, starting for the first time since winning the Meadowlands Pace Consolation on July 12, won his Cane elimination in 1:53.2 by 2 1/2 lengths over Coastocoast Yankee, Lifetime Man and Nvincbl Artist. Meadowlands Pace winner and 3-10 favorite Allamerican Theory was disqualified and placed sixth for interference.

No Pan Intended, who was placed first in the Art Rooney Memorial on July 26 at Yonkers, captured the first elimination in 1:53.3 by one length over Dream Wave, Armbro Animate and Tidal Search. North America Cup and American-National champion Yankee Cruiser attempted a first over move but weakened badly in the stretch and finished fifth. Whatanartist and The Globe were sixth and seventh, respectively.

The top four finishers in each elimination will return for the $350,000 Cane Pace Final on Labor Day afternoon, Monday, September 1 at Freehold Raceway. All eight Cane finalists are Jug eligible. The Cane is the first leg of Pacing's Triple Crown followed by the Little Brown Jug on September 18 and the Messenger Pace on October 18 at The Meadows.

The Jug Preview at Scioto Downs and Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk Raceway, both scheduled for Saturday, September 6, are the final opportunities for three-year-old pacers to impress their owners to ante up the $6,000 starting fee to the 58th Little Brown Jug.