By Tom White
5/02/04

Delaware, Ohio--Three-year-old colt pacers launched their long and grueling trip down the "Road to the Little Brown Jug" in Saturday's two $25,000 eliminations of the Berry's Creek at The Meadowlands. Jug contenders Brandon's Cowboy and Four Starzzz King won their way into this Saturday's $260,000 Final.

In qualifying action at The Meadowlands involving Jug candidates, juvenile colt champion and Breeders Crown winner I Am A Fool won his 2004 debut in 1:53.4 in a come-from-behind performance for Ron Pierce; Breeders Crown runnerup Modern Art lost to Timesarechangin in 1:54; Metropolitan won a qualifier in 1:53.2; and the top filly and Jugette co-favorite (along with Kikikatie) Glowing Report scored in 1:54.4. At Balmoral in Chicago, Droppinthehammer paced his last half in :56.2 enroute to a 1:57 clocking.

Brandon's Cowboy, owned by Martin Scharf, trained by Mark Ford and driven by Daniel Dube, breezed to an early lead and defeated Georgia Peach by three-quarters in a season's record 1:50.4. Card Holder finished third followed by Driven To Win. The victory was the Cowboy's fourth in a row.

Four Starzzz King, trained by Dave Sabatelli for the Four Starzzz Stable, captured his seventh decision of 2004 in 1:51.2 for Mike Lachance. Four Starzzz King responded to a challenge in deep stretch from Nineteenth Hole, winning by two lengths over Spirit Of The Shark and Western Prince.