Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Big Bad John captured the 2011 Little Brown Jug, the second leg of pacing's Triple Crown in a career highlight, on Sept. 22, 2011 at Delaware, Ohio, clocked in 1:50.0 for the mile. He became the first Ohio-trained horse to win the race at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, where Potter is stabled.
Big Bad John Flowers Walk

Big Bad John with his blanket of flowers after winning the 2011 Little Brown Jug

The key for most of the 19 races on the overcast afternoon card was to get the lead early. That’s what Miller did with Big Bad John, taking him immediately from the second post into the lead for a wire-to-wire victory.

"I really thought he would be better in the second heat than the first," Potter said. "I told Dave I thought he would be really good in the second heat and he would be ready to roll. I was ready right after the first race to just go ahead and get it over with."

"I never thought there would be that much speed in the first turn," Miller said. "My horse got the job done and I was very confident at the three-quarters. This is always such a thrill to win this race. Most of all I'm so happy for the connections that are a part of this horse."

Big Bad John had finished third in the Battle of the Brandywine in August and fifth in the Hoosier Cup at the end of June. Potter's colt entered his Jug elimination heat as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. He was bet down to 1-5 by the crowd, who numbered at 49,234.

“Big Bad John is a lady’s man,” Sheila Napier, the colt's groom, admitted. “Whenever a guy comes around, he’ll try to bite him. But if it’s a girl, he’s more gentle, more affectionate.”

Big Bad John had set a world record for 2-year-olds during Jug week 2010 by pacing a mile in 1 minute, 53 seconds.

Big Bad John's Career Statistics Through October 1, 2011
Year   Starts Wins 2nds 3rds Earnings           Record
2011       13      10      0      1      $ 753,809      3, 1:49.0M M 08/06/2011
2010       9       7        2      0      $ 222,750      2, 1:50.4M Lex 10/23/2010
Total      22      17      2      1      $ 976,559      3, 1:49.0M