A peek at the 2026 Little Brown Jug

by John Berry

Without question, the Little Brown Jug is one of harness racing’s premier events.

It doesn’t get much better, and those French fries. They hang over the side of the cup. Most people put ketchup and salt on them, but there’s always a shaker of vinegar on the counter, if you prefer.

This year’s Jug features just 11 horses — six colts and five geldings — going after the healthiest share of a total purse around $650,000, with the eliminations each worth $50,000 with the final pegged at $550,000.

With the takeout for win wagering in Ohio, the “magic number” for the morning line is 120 with the win pool netting about 99.9 per cent on this morning line total of 119.98.

Here’s a look at the eliminations in post-position order:

FIRST ELIMINATION — RACE 15

1. Frantic Hanover — Driver: Tim Tetrick, trainer: Ron Burke, owners: Burke Racing Stable, Bradley Grant, Knox Services, and Weaver Bruscemi.

This colt is a son of Stay Hungry and is looking for his first win of the year in, this, his 11th start.

Last year, Frantic Hanover fashioned up a 7-2-0 scorecard in 12 starts, good for $543,720 to go along with a 1:49.1 mark in Philly.

This semester, his current bankroll is but $64,004 with a mark of 1:50.3 in a qualifier but, just three starts back, he showed  a :25.4 initial quarter before releasing for a garden journey and then closed in :26.1 to be a fast closing third to Brandon Blvd, pacing his mile in 1:48 in the Tompkins at The Meadowlands.

He cut some fast fractions using a different style in the Hempt consolation at Pocono Downs and was a bit lackluster at The Meadows (sixth) with Aaron Merriman driving. Tim Tetrick is back in the bike for the Jug.

Morning Line Points = 14.28, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 6-1

2. Al Papi — Driver: Yannick Gingras, trainer: Ron Burke, owners: Burke Racing Stable, J. & T. Silva-Purnel & Libby, Lawrence Karr, and Weaver Bruscemi.

This Papi Rob Hanover colt has had two very productive seasons, earning $403,102 as a juvenile on the strength of a 4-4-2 scorecard in 11 starts ($403,102) this semester with another 3-4-3 in 12 starts and $677,143 in bounty last year. He’s also lowered his mark to 1:47.2 over the five-eighths track at The Meadows.

He’s never missed a check in his 23 career starts with his best performances this year in the $420,600 Adios in 1:48.1 after taking his mark a week earlier in the Adios elimination. Also to be noted is his performance in the Meadowlands Pace, finishing a fast closing second to Brandon Blvd in 1:48.1.

Regular pilot Yannick Gingras will be in Al Papi’s sulky.

Morning Line Points = 45.45, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 6-5

3. Toast Of The Town — Driver: Jason Bartlett, trainer: Noel Daley, owners: Let It Ride Stables, Morrison Racing Stables, Jesmeral Stable, and Albert Racing LLC.

A supplemental entry into this year’s Little Brown Jug, Toast Of The Town, a gelded son of Sweet Lou, after a decent 2-year-old season (1:51.1f — $106,831) has exploded onto the scene just in the last month winning his last three starts at Pocono Downs, The Meadows, and Harrah’s Philly in stakes action.

He took the Hempt consolation in 1:48.4 after being roughed up during a :25.3 opener and drew off at the end of that mile. Next was the PASS, scoring in 1:48.1 gate-to-wire — his last three-quarters in 1:21.3, defeating Superchamp and Melillo in the process. His last start was in a PASS where raced in 1:50.1 off an opening half in :56.1.

Jason Bartlett will handle the lines in the LBJ.

Morning Line Points = 41.66, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 7-5

4. Thai Hanover — Driver: Dexter Dunn, trainer: Mitchell York, owners: Mitchell York and Erin York.

A gelded son of Stay Hungry, Thai Hanover won $131,503 last year at 2 and has tacked on about $160,000 this year with his big win in the $200,000 Hempt consolation I at Pocono.

He stayed tight by winning a Sire Stakes event at the Gratz Fairgrounds in 1:57.1 — :56.1. In the Hempt, he defeated Watch Em Win and Treacherous Lou, two foes in the Jug and he also has a win over the Delaware, OH track last year in the Standardbred for 2-year-olds.

By the way, for those that don’t know Mitchell York, he attends a stable that puts, usually, 130-200 horses in the box each year and has had yearly battling averages normally between .350 and .440 with his highest being .582 and lowest .304. Top notch.

Dexter Dunn, who drove Thai Hanover in the aforementioned Hempt consolation, will be in the sulky once again.

Morning Line Points = 9.09, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 10-1

5. Treacherous Lou — Driver: Andy McCarthy, trainer: Robert Cleary, owner: Royal Wire Products Inc.

An altered son of Captain Treacherous, Treacherous Lou is lightly raced with only seven starts at 2 with three wins and $51,426 in bounty with a mark of 1:53.3.

This semester, he has started nine times with a 3-2-3 scorecard, $68,880 in earnings and a Pocono mark of 1:49.2 — that win about five weeks ago with a final quarter in :26.3. His most recent start was in Philadelphia where his :26.3 final vaulted him to third in a conditioned event.

Cleary earnestly began his training career in 2018 and campaigns a stable that sends 200-300 to the starting gate with his batting average vacillating between a lofty .362 on the low side to as high as .471, which he achieved in 2024. This year, he’s at .362.

Morning Line Points = 6.25, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 15-1

6. No Waitlist — Driver: David Miller, trainer: Blake McIntosh, owner: Tim Dickieson.

This son of Cattlewash was unable to crack the winner’s circle last season in nine tries but was still able to earn over $90,000 while earning checks North of the Border at Mohawk against the likes of Beau Jangles, Tilthecowscomehome and Redland Rocket Man, a supplemental entry to this year’s Jug.

This season, he locked horns with Beau Jangles on several occasions and finished second to him in Ontario Sires Stakes action.

He has also earned checks against Brandon Blvd, AL Papi, Redland Rocket Man, as well as Beau Jangles with his best performance a fast closing third in OSS action North of the Border in late June.

Morning Line Points = 3.225, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 30-1

SECOND ELIMINATION — RACE 16

1. Hunting Glory — Driver: Ridge Warren, trainer: Robert Cleary, owner: Royal Wire Products Inc.

A gelded son of Huntsville, he’s been getting solid checks while racing primarily in New York and was a fast closing second to Fragment in the $300,000 Sire Stakes final at Yonkers — his biggest payday — in his last start on Sept. 12. Got picture perfect handling in a $82,500 NYSS event — his biggest win.

Drew the coveted inside post, which should be a big help in a short field but does face some rigid competition to his outside — Melillo, Fragment, and Redland Rocket Man among them — all three of those with some serious sub-1:50 marks coming in.

Morning Line Points = 16.66, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 15-1

2. Watch Em Win — Driver: Tim Tetrick, trainer: Ron Burke, owners: Burke Racing Stable LLC, Knox Services Inc, Phillip Collura, and Weaver Bruscemi.

This son of He’s Watching enjoyed a good year at 2 winning eight of 12 starts and $185,000 and change.

This semester, he has a trio of wins with his best being a strong winner in 1:51.2 — :27.2. in a conditioned event in Philly.

Short field benefits but faces very stiff competition. Gonna get a check here, but probably not a huge one.

Morning Line Points = 16.66, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 15-1

3. Fragment — Driver: Jason Bartlett, trainer: Petter Engblom, owner: Engblom Farm LLC, Douglas Sipple, and Peaceful Acre Farm.

Had a big year at 2 going 9-2-0 in 16 starts with $585,806 in bounty.

Is enjoying another big year in 2026 and hasn’t been worse than second in eight starts, five of which were wins, while banking $512,789 and going over the $1 million plateau in earnings.

Took his 1:49.3 mark at Tioga Downs in July and has shown a propensity to having sharp early speed off the wings, a plus sign here in Delaware, OH with its 380 ft. stretch. Should prove to be a stout foe in drawing inside main foes.

Morning Line Points = 33.33, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 2-1

4. Melillo — Driver: Ronnie Wrenn, Jr., trainer: Ron Burke, owners: Burke Racing Stable, Jason Melillo, and Weaver Bruscemi.

Sharp son of Sweet Lou with over a million dollars earned, $652,917 this year to go along with a 1:48.2 mark in Philadelphia, taken in his last start in a multi-move mile — last half :53.2.

Can fashion up final quarters in :26 and a piece and has shown he can zip off the wings, as well.

Been in skirmishes with the best of the best 3-year-olds this semester, including Brandon Blvd, Al Papi, Redman Rocket Man, and Toast Of The Town and comes off a win against Al Papi in the $300,000 PASS final a couple of week ago.

Morning Line Points = 38.46, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 8-5

5. Redland Rocket Man — Driver: Jody Jamieson, trainer: John Pentland, owners: John Pentland, Murray Cox, and Gary Volpe.

This gelded son of Bulldog Hanover is a supplemental entry to this year’s Little Brown Jug and, over the past six weeks or so, has caught fire with his win in his last start at Mohawk in 1:46.4 — :25.4 pacing his last three-quarters in 1:20.2.

He did travel down to the U.S. — he’d been up North of the Border much of the year — and competed in the $300,000 Milstein over Northfield’s half-miler and came from eighth halfway through to just miss by a half-length to Melillo in 1:50.4. Looks to be a serious contender.

Morning Line Points = 35.71, Mane Attraction Morning Line = 9-5.

The top four finishers in each elimination return for the $550,000 Grade 1 Little Brown Jug (race 19).

There you have it. The 2026 Mane Attraction look at the Little Brown Jug.

May The Horse Be With You!