Local owners have big shot in Little Brown Jug

Horse owners Howard Taylor, from Penn Valley, and Phoenixville's Edwin Gold will have two chances to win Thursday's $604,100 Little Brown Jug at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio when their horses Fred And Ginger and Versado go behind the gate in the second jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown.

A horse must win two heats to be declared the Little Brown Jug winner. Fred And Ginger, trained by Ron Burke and driven by Dave Palone, has won five of 14 races this year, including the $300,000 Max Hempt Memorial at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Gladwyne's Robert Feldman also is among Fred And Ginger's owners.

Versado, also from the Burke-Palone team, has won seven of 18 races this year. He was second to Delmarvalous in the $500,000 Adios in July.

Delmarvalous, co-owned by Chadds Ford's John Celii, also is among the Jug hopefuls. He is trained by George Teague Jr. and driven by Brian Sears.