The first time driver Dexter Dunn sat behind 4-year-old female trotter Jiggy Jog S this season he was amazed by her transformation. “I couldn’t believe how much she filled out,” said Dunn, who was the regular driver behind the Ake Svanstedt-trained mare last year when she finished no worse than second in 11 of 13 races, winning eight and earning $924,319. On Saturday, she will attempt to push her win streak to eight when she competes in the $230,000 Graduate Series Open Trot final for 4-year-olds.
Tag: Ken Weingartner
Burke high on Pace hopeful Gung Ho
Ron Burke has had a limited amount of time to get to know Gung Ho, but the trainer is enthusiastic about the recent addition to his stable. A 3-year-old male pacer, Gung Ho joined the Burke Brigade on June 18, a day after the horse’s third-place finish in the consolation event for the North America Cup. Three weeks later, the colt makes his debut for his new connections as Burke’s lone starter in Saturday’s eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace at The Meadowlands.
Zweig next stop on ‘Wine’ trail
Based on his progression in terms of finishes, French Wine looks to be maturing nicely this summer. The 3-year-old male trotter won his most recent outing, a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes this past Sunday at Harrah’s Philadelphia, after being third to start his campaign in late May and then second in his only race in June. On Saturday, the Hambletonian-eligible colt will make his fourth start of the season when he meets eight rivals in the $350,000 Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial for 3-year-old trotters at Vernon Downs.
Daley’s twos win four at Magical Acres
Noel Daley sent out four winners in Wednesday’s (July 5) qualifiers for 2-year-olds at Magical Acres to lead a group of three trainers with multiple victories on the day. Linda Toscano and Chris Ryder both had two triumphs in the 11 events for the rookies.
Test Of Faith ready to embark on final campaign
Test Of Faith, whose multiple Dan Patch Awards include the trophy for 2021 Horse of the Year, will begin her final season of racing Saturday when she joins 10 mares in the $142,260 Perfect Sting Stakes for older female pacers at The Meadowlands.
Toscano duo seek crowns in Yonkers stakes
Linda Toscano will send out highly regarded contenders in Friday’s two stakes races for 3-year-old fillies at MGM Yonkers Raceway with trotter Sadie Hanover looking to remain undefeated this season and pacer Ucandoit Blue Chip, who holds a special connection to the trainer’s heart, aiming to continue her own winning ways.
Magical Acres holds dozen qualifiers for 2-year-olds
Magical Acres held 12 qualifiers for 2-year-olds Wednesday (June 28). Chris Ryder led all trainers with three wins while Linda Toscano and Nifty Norman each had two. Katie Gangell-trained male pacer Denial posted the morning’s fastest time, 1:55.1, over the training center’s five-eighths-mile oval.
Taking a shot with ‘Fling’ in Messenger
American Fling has shown the ability to step around a half-mile track, so the defending New York Sire Stakes champion earned the chance to step out Friday in the $250,000 MGM Grand Messenger Stakes for 3-year-old pacers at MGM Yonkers Raceway.
Gaitway hosts its final qualifiers
Gaitway Farm held 10 qualifiers for 2-year-olds on Monday (June 26) as its June events for the rookies came to an end. Trainer Ron Burke had four winners while Jennifer Bongiorno, Julie Miller and Symon Spicer each had two. Burke-trained colt Dancin Champion, a 1:55 winner, had the day’s fastest pacing time over the one-mile oval while Spicer-trained Shiv took trotting honors with a 1:58.2 clocking.
Iwon’t Backdown As stands his ground
Over the years, trainer Anette Lorentzon has named some of her family’s homebred horses after songs, but Iwon’t Backdown As is more than a nod to a Tom Petty hit. It fits her 4-year-old trotter to a T. On Saturday, Iwon’t Backdown As returns to The Big M for the third-and-final preliminary round of the Graduate.