Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — George Teague, Jr. is no stranger to success in the Woodrow Wilson Pace — his Western Ace won the race in 2005 — and this year he will have two chances to grab the lion’s share of the $455,400 purse. I’m Gorgeous and Windfall Blue Chip, both trained and co-owned by Teague, won the Wilson elimination races last weekend and in the process became the season’s fastest 2-year-old pacers.

I’m Gorgeous, who has won four of five starts and finished second in the other, will start from post No. 1 while Windfall Blue Chip, who is undefeated in three races, will be in post two. Teague selected the starting spots as the result of winning the elims.

“There’s no big secret with these guys. They’ve just been very talented from Day One,” Teague said. “Right now, I couldn’t tell you which one I think is better. I don’t think either colt has met the top of his potential; I think there’s more to be seen of them.”

I’m Gorgeous was a 1:50.4 winner in his Wilson elim.

I’m Gorgeous (Bettor’s Delight-Joy) was purchased as a yearling for $35,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale. His mother, Joy, was the 1990 Miss New Jersey winner. I’m Gorgeous won his Wilson elim by one length over Payne’s Landing in 1:50.4. His only setback was by 1-1/2 lengths to Wilson finalist Lord Terror on July 31 at the Meadowlands. He was in seventh place, more than eight lengths behind the leader, at the three-quarter point.

“The one race he did lose, the trip didn’t really take him into it,” Teague said. “He had to go three wide and he was pacing home strong; he just got a tough trip of it. Every race, he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. I’m very pleased with him.”

Windfall Blue Chip (Art Major-Beach Dancer) was purchased as a yearling for $22,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. He won his Wilson elim by three-quarters of a length over Relaxed Fit in 1:51. His mother, Beach Dancer, won the 1996 New Jersey Sire Stakes final for 2-year-old filly pacers at Freehold Raceway. He is a half brother to Spoiled Beach, who was this year’s runner-up in both the Blossom and Tender Loving Care series at the Meadowlands.

Lisa photos

Windfall Blue Chip is unbeaten in three lifetime starts.

“He’s another nice colt,” Teague said. “He’s real handy. He’s very gifted.”

Winning the Wilson is no predictor of future success; some suggest it is even a jinx. No Wilson winner has ever come back as a 3-year-old to win the million-dollar North America Cup and only Nihilator (1985) and Niatross (1980) have won the Meadowlands Pace. Of course, Teague’s Western Ace won the Matron Stakes and was second in both the Adios and Confederation Cup as a 3-year-old, earning $577,223 for the season, so it is not all bad.

“It’s a challenge coming back as a 3-year-old. Your expectations are higher. I don’t think it’s the Wilson,” Teague said. “I don’t think it can hurt us any. Like any other stakes race, you’ve got to go. If the top horses show up in the division, you’re going to have to go in 1:51. It’s not just the Wilson. I don’t see the correlation between the two, but maybe I’m naïve.

He added with a laugh, “I hope it doesn’t have a meaning.”

Here is the field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers, for the $455,400 Woodrow Wilson: 1. I’m Gorgeous, Jim Morrill, Jr., George Teague, Jr.; 2. Windfall Blue Chip, Brian Sears, Teague; 3. Art’s Shadow, Daniel Dube, Alan Sacco; 4. Lord Terror, Ron Pierce, Noel Daley; 5. Shoobee’s Place, Andrew McCarthy, Richard Norman; 6. Fashion Heart, David Miller, Jim Campbell; 7. Jo Pa’s Fod, George Brennan, Jim Campbell; 8. Payne’s Landing, John Campbell, Ken Rucker; 9. Foreign Officer, Tim Tetrick, Erv Miller; 10. Relaxed Fit, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke.

Owners: 1. Elmer Fannin, George Teague Jr. Inc.; 2. Kovach Stables, George Teague Jr. Inc., Ted Gewertz; 3. Omar Beiler, Sam Stoltzfus; 4. Bulletproof Enterprises; 5. David McDuffee; 6. Fashion Farms; 7. Emposimato Stables; 8. Engel Stable, Rucker Stable, Robert Feldman; 9. Brittany Farms, John Fielding, Melvin Hartman, John Fodera; 10. Burke Racing Stable.