from the USTA Communications Department

Columbus, OH — Laurie Lee Poulin and Mike Deters’ Prairie Jaguar, who is currently on a seven race winning streak, including a pair of Pompano Park Open victories in January, has been named the United States Trotting Association’s Horse of the Month.

Dee Leftwich photo

Prairie Jaguar was named January’s Horse of the Month.

During his streak, the Florida bred 6-year-old son of Spy Hard-Cat Lady has posted four winning miles in 1:50 or faster at Pompano Park, the most ever by any Standardbred in the track’s history, stretching now a half-century. Prairie Jaguar is trained by co-owner Mike Deters and is driven by Jason Dillander.

In his first start of the month on Jan. 4, Prairie Jaguar was timed in 1:50 in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace. In this contest he had to race from off the pace from post eight, but, when all was said and done, his winning margin was just short of four lengths. Northern Companion (Dave Ingraham), pacing his final three-quarters in 1:21.3, came from last in the octet to finish second while Lyons Johnny (Wally Hennessey) earned show honors, though 5-1/2 lengths away at the wire.

Prairie Jaguar, back in action at Pompano Park on Jan. 18 after a week away from the racing wars, ran his victory streak to six with another brilliant performance — this one timed in 1:50.2 — in the $10,000 Open Handicap Pace. Northern Companion, handled by Dave Ingraham, finished second after giving futile chase from three-eighths out to the wire. Thebestofjoel, with Ed Hensley handling the lines, finished third, 7-1/2 lengths away.

Prairie Jaguar’s winning streak is up to seven after a 1:49.2 score in the Open Handicap at Pompano on Feb. 1; this streak has pushed his lifetime bounty to $72,222 in 69 lifetime starts — $30,000 of that in his past seven races covering less than two months.

Deters summed it up perfectly after his most recent win on Feb. 1 when he said, “He sure has come a long way since his first start as a 2-year-old way back in 2010 when he paced his mile in (2):15 and a piece…and that’s without making a break!”