by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park Racing and Casino

Anderson, IN — Hoosier Park Racing & Casino played host to a stakes-filled card on Friday (Oct. 23) as Grand Circuit racing action made a stop at the seven-eighths-mile oval for the third time this season. The 13-race card was highlighted by divisions of the Circle City Stakes for 3-year-old trotters and pacers and it was harness racing’s top ranked horse, Wiggle It Jiggleit, who stole the show.

Wiggle It Jiggleit was a decisive winner in his split of the Circle City Stakes at Hoosier Park.

After suffering a loss in his last Hoosier Park start, Wiggle It Jiggleit not only made amends but made a statement in his $45,300 split of the Circle City Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings as he coasted to the wire in 1:49.4. Driven by regular pilot Montrell Teague, Wiggle It Jiggle used a gate-to-wire victory to finish 4-1/2 lengths in front of Mohawk Warrior and John DeLong.

Teague sent the overwhelming favorite away from the gate firing and he grabbed the first call through an opening panel in :26.4 while the rest of the field sorted out early positions. Wiggle It Jiggleit remained uncontested through splits of :55.3 and 1:22.4 before he began to put his talent on display.

As the field turned for home, it was all over but the shouting as Wiggle It Jiggleit’s lead was ever-increasing. Using a :27 final quarter, the world champion son of Mr Wiggles-Mozzi Hanover coasted to the wire under a hand-drive to notch his 19th seasonal victory.

“Looking at the program it looked like I had the best horse so I knew I wanted to be on the front,” Teague noted after the win. “They didn’t press me too hard and I just let him do it all on his own to the wire. Horses like him don’t come around very often; I’m having the time of my life with him. This has all been so rewarding for me.”

Trained by Clyde Francis, Wiggle It Jiggleit pushed his career earnings to $1,842,170 with the victory. Wiggle It Jiggleit’s next engagement will be the $275,000 Monument Circle Pace for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, slated for Friday (Oct. 30) at Hoosier Park.

On the trotting side of the stakes action, Homicide Hunter put together his own impressive performance as he took home top honors in the $43,000 second division of the Circle City Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings to remain undefeated in 16 starts this season.

Linscott Photography

Homicide Hunter remained undefeated in 16 starts this season with a Circle City Stakes victory.

Staging a big rally late in the long Hoosier Park lane, Homicide Hunter and John DeLong used a :27.3 final quarter to surge past Muscle Up The Goal and Aaron Merriman and stop the timer in 1:54.1.

DeLong rated Homicide Hunter off the early pace while Classic Venture and Trace Tetrick dictated early fractions of :27 and :57. Homicide Hunter moved to the outer flow down the backside but would have his work cut out turning for home. DeLong tipped his mount to the outside of tiring cover and Homicide Hunter found another gear late in the lane to get the victory and keep his winning streak intact.

“He’s an amazing animal,” trainer Curt Grummel noted in the winner’s circle. “I thought they would probably get him tonight after we were so far back at the half but he really impressed me tonight. He’s just an amazing horse.”

Homicide Hunter sent his seasonal earnings to $385,737 with the victory. Owned by Dr. Patrick Graham, the son of Mr Cantab-Evening Prayer has now won 19 of 26 lifetime starts. The connections of Homicide Hunter said he will most likely be supplemented to the $250,000 Carl Erskine Trot for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Hoosier Park on Oct. 30.

Other stakes winners on the evening included Roland N Rock scoring in 1:51.4 in the first division of the stakes action for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings for driver Aaron Merriman and trainer Rob Harmon.

Chips Starr and Hugh Beatty pulled a $52.60 upset in their division of 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings and stopped the timer in 1:55.2.

Bright Baby Blues delivered as the heavy betting favorite in the first division of the Circle City Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies in 1:54.4 to give Aaron Merriman his second win of the night. Muscle Baby Doll and John DeLong took the second division for 3-year-old trotting fillies, using a near gate-to-wire victory to score in 1:53.1.

Rockin Good and Triple V Hanover took home top honors in their respective divisions of the Circle City Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies. Rockin Good and trainer/driver Jared Finn wired the field in 1:51.2 to score their sixth win of the season. Trace Tetrick used the same front-running tactics to get Triple V Hanover home a winner in the final division, scoring in 1:52 for trainer Brian Brown.

The stakes action will continue at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Saturday (Oct. 24) as the 14-race card will feature the Madison County Stakes for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The first race will line-up behind the gate at 5:45 p.m.