Wilkes-Barre, PA — The 2015 Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit, finished third in his second qualifier after almost three years away from the races Wednesday morning (Aug. 28) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. He was timed in 1:54.2 after winning his first qualifier back in 1:53.4 at Harrah’s Philadelphia eight days ago.

Wiggle It Jiggleit in the paddock prior to his qualifier. Pocono photo.

In the Philadelphia race, Wiggle It Jiggleit rallied after sitting third-in for most of the mile.

On Wednesday at Pocono, Charlie Norris handled Wiggle It Jiggleit as regular driver Montrell Teague was slated for action on the afternoon card at Philadelphia.

Norris left with the 7-year-old, making the top after a :28.1 quarter, then going on to register splits of :57.3 and 1:25.2.

Wiggle It Jiggleit was still in command at headstretch, but through the lane he was passed by Geez Joe and Stormont Czar A in a 1:53.4 mile, winding up 2-1/2 lengths back in third.

“I feel OK about him,” said owner George Teague Jr. “We’ll have to do some more work with him, get some more fitness in him. It’ll be at least three or four weeks before he’ll be ready to compete. We plan for a couple more qualifiers for him.”

Before the qualifier, trainer Clyde Francis said he had been pleased by the horse’s performance at Philadelphia, and that the goal was to qualify him a couple more times after today “to see if and where we should race him this year, and also to gauge whether we should stake him for next year.”