By Jay Wolf, Assistant Publicity Director

No Pan Intended and driver David Miller won the 58th edition of the $605,050 Little Brown Jug in straight heats Thursday afternoon in front of 52,090 fans at the Delaware (OH) County Fairgrounds.

At the start of the second heat, Miller sent No Pan Intended after the early lead, forcing elim winner Pronger (Keith Oliver) to find a spot on the rail in third behind Make It Brief (Ron Pierce). Armbro Animate, who picked up the services of John Campbell in the second heat, was sent first up to challenge the leader, but No Pan Intended turned back the challenge and held off Make It Brief at the wire, a length clear in 1:53.

The win capped off a tremendous day by Miller. The Reynoldsburg, Ohio native recorded ten winning drives including two Jug elims and captured his first Little Brown Jug title. "It's a dream come true," noted the winning driver. "I've been dreaming of this horse my whole life." The bay son of Pacific Fella also gave Ivan Sugg of Deshler, Ohio and Bob Glazer's Peter Pan Stable their maiden Jug victory. "What a great feeling being a part of this Ohio scene," noted Glazer. "It capped a an awesome day for David." With two legs under his belt, No Pan Intended will pay a $35,000 supplemental fee and go after racing history and the Triple Crown on October 18th in the Messenger Stakes.

In the second elimination, No Pan Intended went wire-to-wire in 1:53 2/5. Miller hustled No Pan Intended off the gate and set the fractions of :27, :55 3/5 and 1:24 2/5. Second choice Allamerican Native (John Campbell) broke at the start and finished last. Dr. Drew, the third choice, was parked the entire mile and faded to fifth. First Foxy (Ray Paver, Jr.) used a perfect pocket trip to take the place spot, one length behind the victor. Make It Brief (Ron Pierce) rounded out the trifecta ticket.

Armbro Animate (David Miller) took the first elimination in 1:52 2/5. As the field headed into the first turn, Escape The Ty (Jack Moiseyev) and Allamerican Native (John Campbell) were sent after the lead. Allamerican Native broke stride at the 1/8th mile pole and allowed Armbro Animate to move first up and took control just past the quarter mile pole. The gelded son of Artsplace controlled the pace and led the field through :54 3/5 and 1:23 3/5 fractions and scored a 5 3/4 length victory over Whatanartist (Brian Sears) and Gone West (Ron Pierce). Armbro Animate is conditioned by Jim Campbell for owners Arlene and Jules Siegel of New Hope, PA.

In the final $72,606 elimination, Pronger (Keith Oliver) shook free late in the stretch and scored a one length victory over Yankee Cruiser (Andy Miller) in 1:54 2/5. The battle for the early lead was hotly contested with Pronger, Yankee Cruiser and Allamerican Captor (Brett Miller) going three wide through the first quarter in :26 3/5. Yankee Cruiser cleared Pronger and led the field past the half in :55 1/5. Quality Western (Ron Pierce) made a three wide move before the ¾ mile pole, pressuring Yankee Cruiser past that station in 1:25 2/5. The eventual winner found just enough daylight to score his sixth win in just ten seasonal starts for owner/trainer Ben Wallace of Milton, Ontario.

McArdle wins $113,100 Magical Mike

By Paul Ramlow; USTA Publictity Department

Norman and Gerald Smiley, Anthony Perretti, and Perretti Racing Stable's McArdle dominated a field of seven older pacers in the $113,100 Magical Mike Pace on Thursday at Delaware. 

The son of Falcon Seelster paced the mile in 1:50.3, a national season's best for a four-year-old stallion on a half-mile track.

Mike Lachance was in the sulky for trainer Chris Ryder as McArdle made his seventh visit to the winner's circle in 16 trips to the post in '03, lifting his season's bankroll to $840,822.

Firing out of post position three, McArdle took over the lead just before the opening quarter pole and cut fractions of :27.1, :55, 1:22.4, and 1:50.3. He was in total command, defeating My Pal Mark (David Miller) by nine lengths, with World Harvest (Eric Ledford) finishing third.

Mac's Crown K equals world record in $111,670 Old Oaken Bucket Robert Key's Mac's Crown K continued his impressive sophomore campaign, equaling the world record of 1:54.3 in winning the $111,670 Old Oaken Bucket Trot on Thursday afternoon (September 18) at the Delaware County Fair.

The 1:54.3 time equaled the mark for a three-year-old trotting colt on a half-mile track set by Chip Chip Hooray in winning last year's Old Oaken Bucket.

The victory was the sixth in 18 season's starts for the son of BJ's Mac, who is trained by Charlie Norris and was driven by David Miller. His share of the purse lifted his 2003 bankroll to $389,635.

Solicitor Hanover (Dave Palone) left strongly from post position four, taking the field to the opening quarter in :28.4. Mac's Crown K, parked out second at the first quarter, brushed to the lead at the :57.1 half-mile marker and was in control at the 1:26 three-quarter pole. He trotted an impressive final quarter of :28.3 to finish three and a quarter lengths ahead of the filly Southwind Flanders (John Campbell). Manforallseasons (Michel Lachance) finished third., three and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, while Solicitor Hanover settled for fourth place money.

"He likes a half-mile track, so I knew he'd get around here good," said trainer Charlie Norris of the brown colt.

"The only time I had driven him (before today) was an elimination of the Hambletonian (finishing second)," said Miller of Mac's Crown K. "I got to know him then. He's been a good horse and has gotten stronger since the Hambletonian. When he started to fire and went right on, he just plain got the job done. He will go on to Lexington for next week's Kentucky Futurity."

Pair of Standardbred Two-Year-Old Paces held

Grand Circuit action on Thursday at Delaware also featured a pair of $31,501 divisions of the Standardbred for two-year-old colt and gelding pacers. The first division went to F.T.F. Inc.'s Western Romeo, who broke his maiden with a come from behind score in 1:55.4. John Campbell was in the bike for trainer Ron Potter as the son of Western Hanover improved his lifetime earnings to $20,267 in nine trips behind the gate.

Taking advantage of a break behind the gate by prohibitive favorite Perfect Panderosa, Capt Silverheels (David Hawk) went right to the front and cut fractions of :27.3, :57.3, and 1:27. Western Romeo took advantage of the rail to get a perfect trip in the two hole behind the leader. Campbell pulled the pocket at the top of the lane and got up in the final strides to collar the leader by a scant nose. Herecomesyourpan (David Miller) picked up third place money.

"He's really a nice colt and actually surprised me how he finished," said Campbell. "I wasn't even sure if I did win. I was in a good spot for most of the mile and he took advantage of it."

The other division went to Peter Pan Stables Inc.'s Panlubber with a wire-to-wire performance in 1:56. David Miller steered the son of The Panderosa to his third win in seven season's starts. The Ivan Sugg-trainee has '03 earnings of $47,110.

Starting from post position five, Panlubber cut fractions of :28.4, :59.2, and 1:28. He came home in a final time of :28 to cruise to a four length victory over Caviart Houston (Bob Harper). Taco Hanover (Brett Miller) finished in the show spot.

OBC pacers in Delaware spotlight

Three divisions each of the Ohio Breeders Championships for three-year-old colt and filly pacers rounded out the Thursday program at Delaware.

The $74,712 OBC for three-year-old pacing colts was raced in a trio of $24,904 splits. The first division went to Jenny Belcher's Secret Harbor (Dave Palone) in 1:53.3. The gelded son of In The Pocket posted his 14th win in 20 starts this year. He defeated Laughing Is An Art (Don Irvine, Jr.) and Sid The Squid (Jim Pantaleano).

The second division winner was Mike Medors, Don Hoovler, and Tina Sutermeister's Medoland Big Sam in a 1:54.3 clocking. Jamie Dunlap was in the sulky as the Medoland Sam sophomore defeated Diamond Art (David Miller) and Surf Sam (Luc Ouellette) for his sixth win in 15 '03 starts.

The final division of the OBC for three-year-old colt pacers went to F.T.F. Inc.'s Scoobycantoo with a 1:53.3 performance. David Miller was in the bike (one of his 10 winners on the Thursday program) as Scoobycantoo reached the winner's circle for the sixth time in 14 seasonal starts. Lotsa Guy (Luc Ouellette) was second, a neck behind the winner, and Newsam (Eric Ledford) finished third.

The $68,814 OBC for three-year-old pacing fillies was contested in three splits, each worth $22,938. John Kalfas' Perfek Lady Kalfas posted her seventh win on the 2003 campaign, lowering her lifetime mark to 1:54.2. David Miller piloted the Perfect Art lass to a triumph over Tracy Lou (Bob Harper) and Charge Off (Dan Ross).

The middle division was captured by Chuck Campbell's CC Spice in 1:54.2. The victory was the ninth of the year (and 19th in her brilliant career) for the In The Pocket lass. John Campbell was in the sulky for trainer Robert Harmon as CC Spice knocked off Payton Place (Bob Harper) by a neck, with Jodie Lynne Tup (Jamie Dunlap) third.

Rounding out the trio of OBC sophomore pacing filly winners was Joe Criswell 's Im A Sam Two. David Miller piloted the Delvin Criswell-trainee to her fifth triumph in 14 seasonal outings. She defeated Here Comes Cammie (Dale Hiteman) and A Walkinthepark (Greg Grismore).