Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Always A Virgin Jug Favorite

September 4, 2007

Cane Pace champion Always A Virgin may be a perfect fit for Delaware’s half-mile track. Saddled with post eight, Always A Virgin powered into the lead just before the :54.3 half and defeated Meadowlands Pace winner Southwind Lynx in 1:51.1 in the Cane Pace Final raced over Freehold’s half-mile oval.

Having to start from post eight with Always A Virgin was not a major concern for trainer Joe Holloway. “Not that I wanted it (post eight), believe me, but he is exceptional on a half-mile track. This horse is just handy. He’s turning into a dominant horse.”

Delaware hasn’t been kind to Holloway in the past. “I’ve had some horrendous draws at Delaware. I’ve gotten the eight hole so often, I think I deserve the rail this year.”

Always A Virgin has seven wins in his last eight starts. His only loss coming in a late break in the Meadowlands Pace Final. “He was not himself in that race. I don’t think he felt real good,” said Holloway, who decided to give his colt some training miles at Freehold, site of the Cane Pace elimination on August 25.

Always A Virgin’s first training mile over Freehold’s half-mile track caught Holloway a bit off guard. “He was just blazing. I got down to the quarter in :30, the half in :59, three-quarters in 1:28 and I wound up going the mile in 1:54.2. He was sprinting through the last quarter.”

Two weeks later Always A Virgin won in a lifetime best 1:48 .4 at The Meadowlands. He followed with victories in divisions of the Oliver Wendell Holmes, Battle of Brandywine and in last week’s Cane Pace elimination.

Holloway trains Always A Virgin for breeder-co-owner Joe Hurley’s Roll The Dice Stable of Delaware, along with Bluewood Stable and Val D’or Farm, both of New Jersey. Brian Sears, who has driven Always A Virgin in all of his 2007 starts, will also drive in the Jug. Sears’ best finish in the Jug was a second with Western Terror in 2004.

Holloway began training Always A Virgin last November, turned him out for about a month, then started back. “After another month, I knew he could be something special.” But, it was Always A Virgin’s third 2007 start on June 2 in the New Jersey Sires Stakes Final that really captured Holloway’s attention. “What a race. He was sick, coughing, but he still finished third in 1:49.4 after racing first over.”

Always A Virgin, and stablemate Fresh Deck, will now head to the Little Brown Jug at the Delaware, OH County Fair on Thursday, September 20.