The homebred son of Yankee Cruiser from the Ohio Sire Stakes champion filly Noble Marty, Doc's Yankee won the Ohio State Fair Stakes, Ohio Breeders Stake, Hackett Memorial and two Ohio Sire Stakes. He rounded out his 3-year-old campaign under Potter's watchful eye with an 8-5-2 record from 23 seasonal starts and $129,472 in earnings.
                               
                                               Doc's Yankee
Potter, a native of Croton, Ohio (Licking County) and a Delaware homeowner since 1986, saw his stable earn over $455,000 in 2011.  Lifetime, he's amassed $3,727,823 from 415 career training victories.

Following graduation from Northridge High School in Alexandria, Ohio, Potter worked for Nestles candy factory in Sunbury following high school and served in the U.S. Army from 1969-70. He returned to Nestles after his discharge and began training and driving horses for some friends.

“I bought my first horse in 1971 and became a full-time trainer in 1993. I was mostly self-taught but I had a good mentor in Giles Clayton, who trained both at Croton and Delaware. I moved to Delaware in 1986.”

Potter and Delaware, Ohio fair manager Phil Terry were friends throughout junor and senior high school at Northridge Consolidated High School in Sedalia.   He says his dream has always been to win the Jug, especially for a Delaware-based owner. To date he's had three Jug starters, including Doc's Yankee, who finished third his Jug elim and a disappionting sixth ni the final heat in 2011.

“It’s always been my dream to win the Jug. Living here is very special since my friends know how important this is to me and my owners.”

Potter's other standouts last year inlcude the $145,000 International Stallion Stakes and $129,000 Bluegrass Sakes winner Big Bad John p,2,1:50.4M ($222,750) and Cruise On Ashley p,2,1:55.1H ($50,874).

Potter was awarded the 2010 Winner's Circle Award by the USHWA-Ohio Chapter for his outstanding accomplishments last season.