by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — With the deadline to enter the Breeders Crown coming up fast, owner George Teague Jr. is considering his options where to race the sport’s number one rated Wiggle It Jiggleit.

After racing the sensational gelding this Saturday in Indiana, the Harrington, Del., horseman/owner can choose from entering via a supplemental payment to the $500,000 Breeders Crown, or keep the leading Horse of the Year candidate in Indiana for a series of races beginning this Saturday night in the $200,0000 Indiana Sire Stakes final at Hoosier. After that Teague could start the world champion 3-year-old in the $75,000 Circle City on Oct. 23 and in the $275,000 Monument Circle on Oct. 30.

“I’m not 100 percent sure,” said Teague, “but I am leaning toward staying in Indiana. These three races are somewhat the equivalent of what we could race (Wiggle It Jiggleit) for in the Breeders Crown, purse-wise.”

The Breeders Crown will be held Oct. 24 at Woodbine Racetrack near Toronto. To race, a $62,500 supplemental payment would be required to enter Wiggle It Jiggleit in the Breeders Crown, whose purse is $500,000.

Teague remarked, “To supplement is a large chunk (of money), and you have to finish one-two to get your money back.”

Another Teague decision is whether or not he wants to race Wiggle It Jiggleit against older horses on Nov. 21 in the $400,000 TVG Pace at the Meadowlands. What stands in the way are lucrative stakes races at Dover Downs when the track opens for its 47th season the first week in November. The sophomore gelding is eligible for two prestigious and lucrative events in November, the first of which is the Matron Stakes on Thursday (Nov. 12).

“I really want to race in the TVG but the problem is the race is at the same time as the Progress Pace (now renamed Hap Hansen Pace), which goes for $300,000 and is for 3-year-olds,” Teague commented. “It’s also at my home track, Dover Downs. That puts me in kind of a tough spot. I think he fits in the TVG, and I like to do things differently. We’ll see.”

The Hap Hansen Pace (formerly Progress Pace) Final is on Monday (Nov. 30). If an elimination is needed, that would go on the previous Monday (Nov. 23), two days after the TVG.