Teague eludes to him being
the best horse he has ever had.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – (Saturday,
March 14, 2015) Undefeated and untested, that sums up the winter for Wiggle It
Jiggleit. The three year old gelded son of Mr Wiggles made it a perfect
six for six to start his career with a three length romp in the Final of the
$58,000 William “Buddy” Gilmour series.
The 1/9 favorite, Wiggle It Jiggleit was sent right to the
front on this night by Montrell Teague and he would never look back gliding
through fractions of 26.4, 55 and 1:22.3 with before hitting the wire in
1:50-flat. National Seelster, who sat third throughout the mile, moved to
the outside at the head of the stretch and paced well to land the runner-up
spot over Midnight Lightning, but he was never a threat to the winner.
Montrell Teague talked about the ease in which his horse continues to win.
“That is all horsepower,” said Teague. “I just let
him go at his own pace and it does it so easy. The last couple of starts
I looked back (to see where the competition was), but tonight I was
confident. This was probably the best race of the six. It’s his
last start (before he comes back in May), so I wanted to open him up a little
bit.”
Trainer George Teague was beaming with excitement in the
winners’ circle. “This is one of the best horses I have ever had, and I
trained some good ones,” he said. “I only put one above him and he may be
even better than her (eluding to Rainbow Blue). It’s hard not to look to the
future and I think it’s bright.”
Wiggle It Jiggleit will be kept in training for the next
5-6 weeks before making his next expected start in the Simpson at The
Meadowlands on Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 2nd.
There have not been many better horses in the sport of
harness racing this winter than Rockeyed Optimist and his win Saturday night at
The Meadowlands in the first round of the Clyde Hirt series may have been his
most impressive victory yet.
Fresh off his win in the $59,000 Sonsam Final, a lifetime
best 1:50 performance, Rockeyed Optimist was a 1/5 favorite to win the $20,000
first round of the Clyde Hirt series and he did not disappoint.
Reunited with Tim Tetrick, who returned from the World
Drivers Championship in Australia, Rockeyed Optimist sat third early in the
mile and was relaxed through a quarter of 26.4 before making his move for the
lead. He would spring past Rock Out before the half-mile in 55-seconds
and that essentially closed the book on the race. From the moment he
seized command, the lead would only expand through the final three-eighths of a
mile, sprinting a 27.4 third panel before setting sail for home. At the
top of the stretch Tetrick asked his star for speed and the response was devastating
as Rockeyed Optimist sprinted to the wire in 26.4 to win by open lengths in a
lifetime best 1:49.3.
Caviart Luca was the runner-up with Rock Out third.
Rockeyed Optimist has now won five times from six starts
this season for trainer Steve Elliot and owners Anthony Perretti, Berkner,
A&B Stable and Battaglia.
The $25,000 Preferred Handicap for pacers featured a
competitive field and a thrilling finish.
Speed Again and Yannick Gingras made an easy lead off the
gate, with Doctor Butch, the 7/5 favorite securing the pocket spot into the
first turn. Speed Again rolled through fractions of 27.2, 56.2 and
1:24.2, and Doctor Butch remained right behind the leader throughout the first
three-quarters of a mile. Ontario Success moved first over and challenged
for the lead around the far turn, effectively keeping Tim Tetrick and Doctor
Butch locked in the pocket. That scenario played out in the stretch with
Tetrick look for racing room as Ontario Success hit the front in the final
eighth of a mile. Blatanly Best was gathering momentum from the back of
the pack and began to close in as Tetrick tried to thread the needle between
horses nearing the wire. There was just enough room for Doctor Butch as
he slipped through and just got his nose on the wire first in 1:51.2.
Blatantly Best finished second with Ontario Success not far behind in third.
Doctor Butch is trained by Linda Toscano for Kenneth
Jacobs. The win was the 20th in the five year olds career.
The Jackpot Super Hi-5 in the last race was hit and it
returned over $188,000 for one winning ticket.
The Net Jackpot Pool was
guaranteed at $200,000 less the eight-percent takeout.
