The connections of 18 three-year-old colt and gelding pacers entered the box for the 78th edition of the $1 million Little Brown Jug to be held on Thursday, Sept. 21 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
The third $50,000 elimination will feature three of the top ranked sophomore colt pacers, Cannibal, Its My Show and Stockade Seelster.
Cannibal comes into the Jug with $444,978 in career earnings and a lifetime mark of 1:48.1. The winner of the $350,000 Adios on July 29 at The Meadows is owned by Diamond Creek Racing and trained by Nancy Takter.
Its My Show won the $1 million North America Cup on June 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and is the fastest in the field based on a 1:46.4 win at the Red Mile. The Sweet Lou gelding, who has career earnings totalling $813,465, is trained by Linda Toscano for Richard and Joanne Young.
Dr. Ian Moore trains Stockade Seelster for Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald. The State Treasurer colt has more than $1.3 million in career earnings. Dr. Moore trained the 2008 Little Brown Jug champion, Shadow Play.
Voukefalas will headline the first elimination. The Lazarus N colt comes into the Jug off a 1:49.2 win in the $150,000 New Jersey Classic. He is owned by Michael Pagonas and trained by Michael Russo.
The second $50,000 elimination includes Thunder Hunter Joe and the pair of $45,000 supplemental entries, Huntinthelastdolar and Burnout.
Thunder Hunter Joe is coming off a second-place finish in the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final to Huntingthelastdolar. He is co-owned by David Hamm, Glenn Phillips, Christopher Ciaccio and DeVita Racing. The Huntsville gelding is trained by Nicholas DiVita.
Huntinthelastdolar is co-owned by trainer Gregg McNair, George Kerr and Brad Grant. The gelded son of Huntsville has won six of eight 2023 starts and has $475,057 in career earnings.
Burnout is a sophomore son of Racing Hill and will come to Delaware off a second-place finish in the $300,000 Ohio Sire Stakes final on Sept. 9 at Scioto Downs. He is owned by Greg Luther Racing and trained by Todd Luther.
The top three finishers in each elimination will complete in the second heat, the $850,000 final of the Little Brown Jug.
With the 25-race card now scheduled, the first race post time as been moved to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.
The complete elimination fields follow.
$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination #1
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Voukefalas - Jordan Stratton - Michael Russo
2. Loubet - David Miller - Ron Burke
3. Hungry Angel Boy - Todd McCarthy - Tony Alagna
4. Blue Hunt - Andrew McCarthy - Deborah Daguet
5. Moment Is Here - Tim Tetrick - Bob McIntosh
6. Ants Matching - Dexter Dunn - Nancy Takter
$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination #2
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Thunder Hunter Joe - Tim Tetrick - Nicholas DeVita
2. Huntinthelastdolar - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair
3. Ervin Hanover - David Miller - Ron Burke
4. Ken Hanover - David Miller - Roland Mallar
5. Burnout - Sam Widger - Todd Luther
6. Seven Colors - Dexter Dunn - Andrew Harris
$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination #3
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Cannibal - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter
2. Its My Show - Scott Zeron - Linda Toscano
3. Redwood Hanover - James MacDonald - Anthony Beaton
4. Stockade Seelster - David Miller - Dr. Ian Moore
5. Bamboozler - Tony Hall - Virgil Morgan Jr.
6. Bugaboo Lou - David Miller - Ron Burke
(With files from Little Brown Jug)