by john manzi or GLADA
DELAWARE OH—“He was a handful and all I did was
steady him and let him ramble,” Steve Oldford said citing Missile J's stunning
1:54 triumph in The Fouts Memorial at Delaware, Ohio on Sept. 20. “He's got a
big engine and sometimes a mind of his own so instead of looking for a hole
when the gate sprung I just steadied him and he did all the rest.”
Oldford was referring to his stunning 1:54 victory
at the home of the Little Brown Jug in a race that featured top amateur drivers
from various US amateur clubs in what has become an annual event.
“After starting from the five-hole little did I
realize that I was going to get the fastest ride of my life on a double-oval,”
Oldford added.
At the quarter Daniel Jones and Cyclone Alvie
wouldn't relinquish the lead when Missile J came calling and the two trotters
got locked in a speed duel by that marker in :27.1 And with Oldfield's charge
in command they zipped by the half in :54.4. From there it was literally
'ballgame' as the 7-year-old American Ideal gelding opened daylight on his
competitors and finished some six lengths ahead of Noah Z Tam who was driven by
Jazmin Arnold. Tony Ciuffetelli garnered the show dough with The Smidge.
Owned by Black Magic Racing LLC and trained by
Todd Luther Missile J returned a $3.40 win mutuel
