Jug Starter Tivoli Hanover Recovers From Major Surgery

Three months after major colon surgery,3-year-old gelding Tivoli Hanover is
preparing to race in Thursday’s $480,000 Little Brown Jug at the Delaware, OH
County Fair.

One week after winning his elimination of the Art Rooney Memorial at Yonkers
Raceway, Tivoli Hanover led in the Rooney Final until tiring in the stretch
and  finished fifth.  “He was not himself, I knew something was wrong,” said
trainer Chris Oakes. “He seemed to be in pain so I took him immediately to the
New Bolton  Center.  He was diagnosed with a displaced colon.”

Tivoli Hanover was listed in “critical” condition following  an operation
during the first week of June, “We weren’t even sure he would live.  But he
responded and we were able to resume jogging him in about six weeks.”

By August 30, Tivoli had improved so much that Oakes entered  him in a
qualifier at Pocono Downs, which he won by eight lengths in 1:52, last quarter :27.1
seconds.  “I decided that if everything kept going well, we were pointing him
for the Little Brown Jug.”  Oakes added that following the gelding’s
operation, the veterianians at New Bolton estimated it would be three months before
Tivoli Hanover would be well enough to resume training. 

Tivoli Hanover has finished third twice since winning the qualifier. In his
final pre-Jug start he was third to Adios winner May June Character on
September 13 in a Pennsylvania Sires Stake at Harrah’s Chester, timed in 1:51.3.

Tivoli Hanover has earned $236,567 this season, the big chunk coming from his
victory on May 19 in the $301,032 Max Hempt Memorial at Pocono Downs. He then
set a track record of 1:52.3.  “I think a half-mile track suits this horse,”
said Oakes. 

Tivoli Hanover drew post position eight in the first $76,800 elimination of
the Little Brown Jug.

Charley Barley Making Just 4th 2007 Start In $480,000 Jug

Breeders Crown champion Charley Barley will be making only his fourth start
of the season in the 62nd Little Brown Jug.  He joins Hondo Hanover (1963) and
A Stud Named Sue (1996) with the least amount of starts by a Jug starter
during their three-year-old campaign.

Hondo Hanover finished 7-9 against Overtrick and A Stud Named Sue was second
twice to Jug winner Armbro Operative.

Charley Barley won the $600,000 Breeders Crown on October 28 at Woodbine
Raceway in Ontario.  He was then sent to Morrisville College’s Standardbred
program near his owner’s home in Canastota, NY. 

Trainer Doug Miller, whose sister-in-law, Kimberlie, trained Charley Barley
in 2006, began conditioning the son of Western Hanover in May. The colt had had
only one training mile prior to moving into Miller’s Stable.

After a pair of qualifying wins on August 16 and August 23 at Pocono Downs,
Charley Barley made his pari-mutuel debut on August 29 at Harrah’s Chester,
finishing third.  The colt then underwent throat surgery, but came back a week
later to again finish third.

“We had some problems with his throat and operated on it a couple of weeks
ago,” said Miller.  Charley Barley won a $10,000 Pace in 1:52.2 at Chester in
his final Jug prep on September 12.

“I think we are back on the right track with him, we’ll see what happens. 

Charley Barley will start from post two in the first Jug elimination heat. 
He will be driven by Mike Lachance, who is tied with the late Bill Haughton
with five Jug victories.