First Future Jug Wager

July 23, 2007

Southwind Lynx, who won the $1 million Meadowlands Pace and the $1 million Art Rooney, and Kinetic Yankee, whose biggest check this year came in a second-place finish in the $500,000 Hoosier Cup, have been installed as 7-1 co-favorites in the first of three Little Brown Jug future wagers. The pool closed Sunday after four days of betting action at racetracks across North America and several internet sites.

North America Cup winner Tell All, New Jersey Sires Stake champ and beaten Meadowlands Pace favorite Always A Virgin, and Hoosier Cup winner Artriverdercie each closed at 8-1 in the first future pool.

The field,which includes all other 3-year-old pacers not among the 23 listed in the first pool, closed at 10-1, the highest the field odds have ever been. The field bet also includes any fillies that may enter the Jug, including Southwind Tempo, who was ranked No. 2 in this week’s Standardbred Poll.

Interestingly, 2006 Breeders Crown Champion Charley Barley, who has yet to make a start in 2007, received enough backing to close the first pool at odds of 9-1. The second future betting pool will be from 12 p.m. August 16 through 11:30 p.m. August 19. This is the weekend after the Adios at The Meadows and the week before the Cane Pace at Freehold Raceway. Every 3-year-old colt in North America is included in the field because if a colt wins the Cane Pace he can be supplemented into the Little Brown Jug. This year that could include Kenneth J and Sutter Hanover.

Jug Future Pool No. 1
# Horse     Odds
1 Always A Virgin 8-1
2 Artriverderci 8-1
3 Artzina 40-1
4 Big Al’s Delight 35-1
5 Charley Barley 9-1
6 Domitian Hanover 99-1
7 Fresh Deck 21-1
8 Hot Rod Mindale 35-1
9 Kinetic Yankee 7-1
10 Mattadultery 35-1
11 May June Character 99-1
12 Mr Apples 25-1
13 Pandoras Sox 35-1
14 Ruff Me Up 50-1
15 Rustys Casino 99-1
16 Southwind Lynx 7-1
17 Spin Rate 25-1
18 Takeshigemichi 23-1
19 Tell All 8-1
20 Tiber Hanover 99-1
21 Watta Hotshot 50-1
22 Won The West 9-1
23 Yankee Skyscaper 25-1
24 Field 10-1