from the Meadowlands Media Relations Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Wiggle It Jiggleit will head to the starting gate in the $58,000 William “Buddy” Gilmour Final Saturday night (March 14) at The Meadowlands as a prohibitive favorite. In fact, he has been installed as the 1-5 morning line choice.

While his connections are not looking past this next test for their talented gelding, it’s hard to not to look to the future and what is looming on the horizon, considering how special his owner, George Teague Jr., believed he was from the onset.

USTA/Ed Keys photo

George Teague Jr. trained 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue.

“Last year I thought he was as good or better than most of the best horses I’ve had,” said Teague. “The closest resemblance was Rainbow Blue with all the qualities and the ability he showed as a 2-year-old. He may be even faster than Rainbow Blue. Since the start, he has never had a bad day.”

Teague has mapped out a plan, with all roads leading to the North America Cup and the Meadowlands Pace.

“After Saturday we will keep him in training, but we will back off of him a bit. We’ll come back to The Meadowlands on May 3 for the Simpson and then we may head to Indiana for a couple of starts there. If everything stays on course, we’ll be in Canada for the North America Cup and then back to The Meadowlands for the Meadowlands Pace. That’s the plan. Hopefully, he will be racing in most of the major stakes.”

Teague’s excitement can be felt throughout the industry as Wiggle It Jiggleit continues his meteoric rise. The gelded son of Mr Wiggles has won all five of his starts, with Montrell Teague in the sulky for all five wins. The 24-year-old has shown the patience and composure of a seasoned veteran while sitting behind the talented 3-year-old.

Wiggle It Jiggleit will leave from post four in the Gilmour final.

If there is to be a challenge in the Gilmour final, perhaps it can still come from National Seelster. The son of Bettor’s Delight was unbeaten in three starts going into his round two match-up with Wiggle It Jiggleit. But in the stretch, he posed no danger to that foe after chasing him throughout the mile from the pocket and would need to improve to threaten the favorite.

He is coupled with another Chris Ryder trainee, Rodeo Romeo, who was second in his second round division last week. He was defeated by the Ron Burke trainee Coaster, who came up with a lifetime best performance that included a :26.2 final quarter sprint to score in round two.

The Buddy Gilmour is scheduled as race 11 on the Saturday program at The Meadowlands.

The Saturday program includes the 50 cent Pick-5 (race one) and 50 cent Early Pick-4 (race three), both with an average pool of just over $50,000 this meet. Also on the program is the 50 cent Late Pick-4, which features an average pool of more than $75,000 thus far this season.

Post time for the 13-race Saturday program is 7:15 p.m.