by
Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST
RUTHERFORD, NJ – Wiggle
It Jiggleit got back on track at the Meadowlands Saturday night, as one week
after finishing third in the Ben Franklin, he shrugged off heavy rain and a
sloppy track to record a sensational ½-length win over rival Freaky Feet Pete
in the $250,000 Graduate Series Final for 4-year-old pacers.
The
winning time of 1:47.2 was a lifetime best for the defending Horse of the Year.
Rock N’ Roll World was third.
“He’s
a great horse who likes to do what he does,” said owner George Teague Jr.
One
week after finishing third behind Always B Miki (as a 5-year-old, ineligible for
the Graduate) and Freaky Feet Pete, Wiggle It Jiggleit was away well from post
three. Freaky Feet Pete also left quickly and while parked had the lead at the
quarter in :25.3. With Wiggle It Jiggleit right behind him, Pete hit the half
in :53.1 and three-quarters in 1:20.4 and appeared to get a bit of separation
as they turned for home.
But
then driver Montrell Teague hit the gas pedal, and once again, Wiggle It
Jiggleit, who returned $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite, had more than enough
fuel left in the tank, edging clear in the final sixteenth to record his 32nd
win in 40 lifetime starts for trainer Clyde Francis.
“Great
horses do great things,” said Teague.
In
the $250,000 Graduate Series Final for 4-year-old trotters, John Campbell gave
Musical Rhythm a perfect steer from post 10, and after yielding the top before
three-quarters, came back for more in deep stretch to storm home a convincing
2-length winner.
"This little guy amazes me all the time,”
said winning trainer Benoit Baillargeon. “But you have to be careful with him
in the turns.”
Which is exactly how Campbell handled things.
Musical Rhythm left quickly and was parked in
second as Crazshana hit the quarter in :27.4. Musical Rhythm took over shortly
thereafter, trotting past the half in :55.4.
Wings Of Royalty, who got off the rail at the
three-eighths and provided live cover for even-money favorite Maestro Blue
Chip, ranged up to get the top at three-quarters in 1:23.2 as Campbell handled
his charge with care through the far turn.
Through the stretch, Maestro Blue Chip did not
fire, and nearing the wire, Campbell swung Musical Rhythm out of the pocket and
exploded home in the final sixteenth to record the win in 1:51.2, a lifetime
best. Centurion ATM, a 30-1 longshot, finished second, with Crazshana third.
Maestro Blue Chip faded to sixth.
“He
let the guy go on the turn,” said Baillargeon of Campbell permitting Wings Of
Royalty to get the lead. “But then he swelled right up.”
Musical
Rhythm returned $12.20 to win as the third betting choice for owners Santo and
Nunzio Vena, Claude Hamel and Baillargeon, and has now won 12 of 14 starts this
year.
For
Campbell, it marked his second consecutive win in the Graduate for trotters. A
year ago, he guided JL Cruze to victory lane in 1:49.4, the only sub-1:50 mile
on the trot in Meadowlands history.
SUPER
CARRYOVER: There
was no single-ticket winner in the 5th race 20 cent Jackpot Super
High Five, increasing the carryover for the next racing program to $33,508.72.
… All-source wagering on the card totaled $2,834,080. … Racing resumes at the
Meadowlands Friday at 7:15 p.m. … Meadowlands Pace Night is Saturday, July 16,
and has an early post time of 6:30 p.m.
