by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, for Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — The post position gods made it difficult for Wiggle It Jiggleit (Montrell Teague, $2.80). The opposition did not.
Mike Lizzi photo
Wiggle It Jiggleit was much the best in his engagement at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday.
Harness racing’s richest horse of 2016 had it easier than expected Saturday afternoon (Oct. 15), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $250,000 Invitational Pace.
Everything, save for the draw, worked out splendidly.
First, there was an inside scratch, moving Wiggle It Jiggleit in one notch from behind the eight-ball.
Second, in a race packed with early foot, everyone else deferred. Wiggle It Jiggleit snapped off the wings, made an immediate lead and rendered the result a given. The gelding found his way around pole-sitting Bit of a Legend N (Jordan Stratton), then negotiated his work day (:27.3, :55.4, 1:23.1, 1:50.2) with no issues whatsoever. So much for a shot at the Raceway’s first ever sub-1:50 mile.
It was Keystone Velocity (Brian Sears), who figured to be in the early fray, trying it first-up…from fifth. That one never mounted a challenge as Wiggle It Jiggleit took a 1-1/2 length lead into the lane. The final margin over a chasing Bit of a Legend N was a 1-3/4 lengths, with Mel Mara (Corey Callahan)—another non-leaver—All Bets Off (Matt Kakaley) and Melmerby Beach (Dan Dube) settling for the minors.
For Wiggle It Jiggleit, a 4-year-old Mr. Wiggles gelding trained by Clyde Francis for co-owners George Teague Jr. and Teague Racing Partnership, it was his 15th win in 23 seasonal starts. He has earned $1,624,337 this year, his career record is 38-for-50, and his total bankroll is over $3.8 million.
The exacta paid $8.20, the triple returned $33.60 and the superfecta paid $54.50.
“I was surprised as anyone to no one left out of there,” Montrell Teague said. “He was on the bit and ready, so I let him go. It was a better trip than I could have ever imagined.
“Someone asked me going in what my strategy was, and I said I had idea, just see how the race unfolded.”
It unfolded right in his lap.
As far as buying into the Breeders Crown, “Dad and I have talked about it, but we’re not going to tip our hand yet.”
- Resolve rolls to race record in International Trot triumph (Saturday, October 15, 2016)
Resolve and trainer/driver Ake Svanstadt, representing the US, staked out their spot on the lead early on and went a 1-1/4 miles with no serious challengers to win the $1 million Yonkers International Trot on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 15) at Yonkers Raceway. The time of 2:23.4 was a stakes and a North American race record for the distance on a half-mile track.
- Bee A Magician returns a winner in 250G Yonkers invite trot (Saturday, October 15, 2016)
She classes up the joint. Bee A Magician (Brian Sears, $3.30), in her first purse try since late May here, didn’t disappoint Saturday afternoon (Oct. 15), winning Yonkers Raceway’s $250,000 Invitational Trot.
- Wiggle It Jiggleit supplements to Breeders Crown at The Meadowlands (Monday, October 17, 2016)
Defending Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit has been supplemented for $50,000 to the $421,000 Breeders Crown Pace, setting up another epic showdown with arch-rival Always B Miki, winner of last year’s Crown title for older pacers at Woodbine Racetrack.
- Take a 360° ride with Montrell Teague and Wiggle It Jiggleit (Monday, October 17, 2016)
Wearing a 360 Fly camera on their race bike, Montrell Teague and Wiggle It Jiggleit cruised to a 1:50.2 score in the $250,000 Invitational Pace at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday (Oct. 15).