Delaware County Fair: Southwind Ozzi stars in 74th Little Brown Jug

Southwind Ozzi looked like a standout on paper heading into the Little Brown Jug for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings at the Delaware County Fair, and when the dust settled on Thursday, that had been proven true as he won his $128,000 elimination from first-over in 1:50 3/5 and came back in the $384,000 final with the same trip and the same result, stopping the clock in 1:50 1/5.

Fast N First (Brett Miller) had pulled an 11-1 upset in the other elimination, rallying strongly three-wide in the last three-eighths of the mile to get up and win for defending Little Brown Jug champion trainer Blake MacIntosh, and he drew post two in the final to Southwind Ozzi's post one. Southwind Ozzi showed no early speed in the final, getting away in the fourth position while Fast N First went to the early lead. Stag Party (David Miller), who had finished up with pace in the Southwind Ozzi elimination after escaping the pocket late, pushed on to the top around Fast N First, though, taking over just beyond the 26 2/5 opening quarter. Southwind Ozzi would then tip out first-over on the second turn, giving cover to Air Force Hanover (Simon Allard).

Stag Party continued in front to the 54 3/5 half, but Southwind Ozzi joined him in the third quarter, and they were nose-to-nose as three-quarters flashed up on the board in 1:22 1/5. They remained in a duel onto the final bend, but Southwind Ozzi put Stag Party away late on the turn, then accelerated away and opened up, winning by a length and three-quarters. Fast N First came up the inside for second, with American Mercury (Tyler Buter) angling out of the three-hole to get third. Semi Tough was fourth for Matt Kakaley, and Air Force Hanover and Stag Party ended up hooking wheels in the lane. Stag Party crossed the line ahead of Air Force Hanover, but due to the incident, was placed sixth while Air Force Hanover was elevated to fifth. Artie's Ideal and Shake That House had also qualified for the final from the eliminations but were scratched.

"He's a good horse, and he gives me a lot of confidence when I drive him. I know I've got a lot of options I can do during the race," remarked Sears, who drove in four races on the card and ended winning each one he was in. "I don't have to be stuck with one plan, and he proved it today. He got around the half-mile track great, roughed it first-over both trips, and got it done convincingly.

"I can say he won the Adios and Little Brown Jug, and those are two of my biggest accomplishments in racing. I think those are really sought-after races. He was able to get me two of those races, and he's got a big spot in my heart. This horse showed me a lot. The first start I raced him he was second to Captain Crunch, and he was pretty handy at Pocono. He got hurt; he had a problem with a hernia that kept him out of the Hempt. I was fortunate enough to pick up Shake That House. It's just been a ridiculous year with some of the options that I've been having as far as picking up horses and stuff like that, but this horse, I knew he was a keeper."

Bill MacKenzie trains Southwind Ozzi, a colt by Somebeachsomewhere, for owners Vincent Ali Jr. and Alma Iafelice. He now has ten career wins, ane he shows earnings of $771,263. He paid $2.80 to win in the final as the 2-5 favorite.

"He's just been great. He's a great horse, and that's what they do," said MacKenzie. "I said if they want to go real fast and Brian wants to move him first-over, I'm not upset with that trip. I don't tell Brian what to do. I can do the Tattersalls; that's definitely something we're going to talk about over the next day or so. We do have time for that. We'll contact Lexington and let them know that we may possibly be supplementing to that. After that we're looking for the Breeders Crown supplement and we're looking at the Progress. We're looking at everything we can. Nothing's going to stop us from going to these races. My owner says 'I just want the trophies,' so I said 'I'll just take the money then.'"

For owner Ali Jr., the run with Southwind Ozzi has been a new experience as he's owned overnight horses up until this point.

"He's awesome. He's outstanding. Billy did a great job and Brian drives him unbelievable. They get all the credit," he stated. "When you get bit by the bug, you get bit by the bug. I just love the sport, and I love the horses. I love the action, and I like being around it. All my horses are claimers, no Grand Circuit horses in my life, that's for sure.

"Billy went to the Lexington Sale. We had a price tag of what to spend, and Billy found a horse for the price tag. All the credit goes to Billy MacKenzie for picking out the horse. Then when he broke the horse and started training him as a 2-year-old, he kept telling me 'he's special.' Nobody's ever said that before. Last year he was good, but he got sick at the end of the year. In the Kindergarten he was the favorite, but he came in last. He came down with a really bad virus, so we turned him out, and he came back tremendous this year."

Despite the success with a yearling sale purchase, Ali Jr. won't be in a rush to go out and start joining the bidding wars at the upcoming events.

"You're not going to go there and buy 20. You're going to end up buying one or two more and hoping you get another Southwind Ozzi. I don't know if that could ever happen again," he finished.