Fear The Dragon recovering, may be back for Jug
The harness racing world was jolted Sunday when 3-year-old pacing sensation Fear The Dragon was scratched sick from a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final, but owner Bruce Trogdon said the horse has been steadily improving and is still being pointed to race in the Little Brown Jug.
Trogdon said Fear The Dragon came up very sore last week, and although he performed well in light training his bloodwork went from bad to worse. Trogdon said he and Delaware-based trainer Brian Brown think the horse might have had a reaction to an immunization booster shot.
“We’ve had a lot of good luck; sometimes you get bad luck and you’ve got to take it,” said Trogdon, who operates Emerald Highlands Farm, a 260-acre breeding farm in Mount Vernon.
Fear The Dragon will return to the track for a non-betting qualifying race on Wednesday at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Indiana. If all goes well, the winner of 10 of 12 races and $1,034,810 this year will go to the Jug on Sept. 21 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.
Trogdon said he couldn’t arrange to get Fear The Dragon in a race this weekend, the preferred course for a horse who last raced Aug. 18.
“We’re going to have to go a pretty good mile (at Hoosier Park) because he’s been off for a pretty long time,” Trogdon said.
Fast finale at Scioto
Scioto Downs will close out its 2017 season Saturday with what likely will be its fastest night of the year. The $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial for older pacers has several horses who could challenge the track record of 1:47, set in the Ewart last year by Always B Miki.
Mcwicked is the 3-1 favorite from the No. 3 gate position, with Mel Mara the second choice at 4-1 from the rail. They’ll likely face stiff competition from 6-1 choices Sintra, who won the Canadian Pacing Derby last week, and Rockin Ron. Both have won in 1:47 this year.
The $125,000 Jug Preview for 3-year-old pacers appears to be a showcase for Downbytheseaside. Also trained by Brown, Downbytheseaside has won eight of 12 races and $956,216 this year. He is the 4-5 favorite from the No. 1 position.