Well Said Wins Little Brown Jug in Two Heats
Western Hanover Colts Prevail in Elims and Overtake Field in Final
Sep 27, 2009
Before his big, double-heat day at the 64th $609,150 Little Brown Jug mile pace for three-year-olds September 24, Well Said relaxed like a big puppy-dog in his stall, neatly propping his head forward for the cameras as he laid in wood shavings. But when it was time to go to the races, Well Said was all business.
He flew through his elim, then returned to prevail in the event's second heat at the Delaware County Fair Grounds in Delaware, Ohio, beating off half brother If I Can Dream in the home stretch after circling four wide at the three-quarters pole.
The day's card of nineteen races was threatened by showers the entire afternoon, but a steady drizzle didn't begin until the two Jug elimination heats took flight. Many fans fled from the mist and scurried underneath the grandstand to watch the racing action via overhead televisions.
Well Said and If I Can Dream Share Sire and Grandsire
The two Western Hanover sons (and Artsplace grandsons) made a game battle of it in the last heat when Ron Pierce steered Well Said around two other foes to catch If I Can Dream's leading pace. The winner steadily edged further in front to capture final victory by one length in 1:51.4 on the rain-soaked track.
Annieswesterncard and Clear Vision, the other two Western Hanover sons, appeared in the day's first elim. In addition, Clear Vision shares Artsplace as a grandsire, along with Bunkmeister, who also competed in the first elim. Vintage Master, a fifth Artsplace grandson in the day's running, qualified for the final heat.
Well Said Adds to Pacing Season's Leading Money
Driver Ron Pierce claimed Well Said is the best pacer he's driven; "unbelievable", he told interviewers after the Jug final, the colt's 10th win from 12 starts this year. Well Said banked the winner's share of $297,265 to boost his season leading earnings to $1,929,015.
Trained by Steve Elliott, Well Said increased his lifetime record to 14 wins from 24 starts, with four seconds and two shows. His career bankroll soared to $2,515,703.
Well Said ranks third in the year's official Standardbred ratings poll. Undefeated trotter Muscle Hill leads all Standardbreds, but trails Well Said in earnings.
This Year's Jug Finalists
The Jug eliminations featured nineteen hopefuls split into two cards. Each card's first four placers qualified for the second heat. They were Race 14 first elim placers:
- Winner -- If I Can Dream (Tim Tetrick)
- Place -- Straight Shooting (Dave Palone)
- Show -- River Shark (Luc Quellette)
- Fourth -- Mr. Wiggles (Corey Callahan)
And Race 15 second elim placers:
- Winner -- Well Said (Pierce)
- Place -- Vintage Master (Daniel Dube)
- Show -- Sheer Desire (Dave Palone)
- Fourth -- Carnivore (Jody Jamieson)
In the first elim, Mr. Wiggles appeared to gain the show spot, but an interference call that went against him reversed his position with River Shark, who had gotten up fourth.
In the final heat, Straight Shooting took third, while River Shark prevailed for fourth, and Cane Pace victor Vintage Master went fifth.
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