Watch the Little Brown Jug live

The stage is set for the 81st edition of the $650,000 Little Brown Jug, with 11 three-year-old pacers chasing one of harness racing’s most prestigious titles at the Delaware County Fair on Thursday (September 24).

The third leg of pacing’s Triple Crown headlines a 19-race programme, with two $50,000 elimination heats scheduled as races 15 and 16. The top four finishers from each heat will advance to the $550,000 final, which will close out the card.

Delvin Miller Adios champion Al Papi has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favourite for the opening elimination and leads a four-strong challenge from trainer Ron Burke.

The son of Papi Rob Hanover has been a major contender throughout his three-year-old campaign, featuring prominently in all 12 of his sophomore stakes assignments. Yannick Gingras will drive Al Papi from post two.

Among his rivals is Toast Of The Town, one of two supplementary entries for this year’s Jug. Trained by Noel Daley, he has drawn post three in the opening heat, with Jason Bartlett taking the reins.

The second elimination is headed by Fragment, the 8-5 morning-line favourite for trainer Petter Engblom.

A two-time New York Sire Stakes champion, the son of Huntsville defeated Al Papi by half a length in the Messenger Stakes, the opening leg of pacing’s Triple Crown.

Fragment will start from post three with Bartlett listed to drive, setting up the possibility of another meeting with Al Papi should both qualify for the final.

From Harnesslink Media