By Tom White
6/22/04

Delaware, Ohio--Metropolitan and Kikikatie are the morning line favorites for the first ever Little Brown Jug and Jugette future win wagering which will get underway at noon Thursday, June 24 at racetracksand internet sites throughout the United States.

Metropolitan, runner-up in last Saturday's $1.6-million North America Cup at Woodbine Raceway, is 3-1 in the morning line. Juvenile filly queen Kikikatie is also listed at odds of 3-1.

There will be three separate future wagering periods. The first starts at noon Thursday and runs through 11:30 p.m. Sunday, June 27. The second is July 22-25 and the third is August 26-29. Each period will have its own odds as determined by wagering by the public. There is a $2 minimum bet and all wagers are win-betting only.

A panel of harness racing analysts established the group of 23 colts and 23 fillies. The rest of the horses for the two races were packaged together into one "field" wager in each category. The field will open at 5-1 odds in both the Jug and Jugette pools. Past performance information is available on the U.S. Trotting Association bulletin board.

Every three-year-old pacer in North America is included in the Jug field because if a colt wins both the Cane (Sept. 6) and Messenger (Sept. 14) Triple Crown events he can be supplemented into the Little Brown Jug. The Jug is the final leg of this year's Pacing Triple Crown. No supplements are allowed in the Jugette.

Racetracks accepting Jug and Jugette future wagers include Scioto Downs, Northfield Park, Lebanon Raceway, River Downs, Beulah Park, Ocean Downs, The Meadows, Hoosier Park, Indiana Downs, Rosecroft, Freehold, Delaware Park, Pompano Park and Raceway Park. Also, America Tab, The Racing Channel, Youbet and US-Off Track.