When Always B Miki and Wiggle It Jiggleit lock horns, the race is typically not to be missed. Saturday night's matchup in the $225,000 Jim Ewart Memorial was no exception.
A field of nine lined up for the Ewart at Scioto Downs, with Always B Miki favoured at even money from post six over Wiggle It Jiggleit, the 6/5 second choice from post eight.
When the wings of the gate folded, a calvary charge of pacers vied for early command with Luck Be Withyou (Eric Goodell) fronting the field through a sizzling :25.2 first fraction. Montrell Teague was parked with Wiggle It Jiggleit through that opening quarter, while Brett Miller was able to settle Always B Miki fourth along the rail.
Wiggle It Jiggleit cleared to the lead in front of the grandstand but wasn't able to get much of a breather. As the half flashed up in :53, Always B Miki was at his bridle and the two powerhouses matched strides down the backstretch.
The third quarter was reached in a torrid 1:19 with neither pacer giving way. Always B Miki looked to poke a head in front around the final turn but Wiggle It Jiggleit fought back heading into the turn. In deep stretch, Always B Miki got the best of his archrival and hit the wire three-quarters of a length earlier than his foe with Luck Be Withyou staying for third.
The mile was timed -- over a sloppy track -- in 1:47, matching Always B Miki's lifetime best and his world record from earlier this year at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
"It's tough to keep a horse like that 100 percent peak [form]," said trainer Jimmy Takter after the monstrous mile. "We had a couple of starts that he sored up a little bit on me so I had to back him off, I couldn't train him like I normally did. Last couple of weeks here, I've been able to train him normally. I felt him in the warm up, he felt like he was going to do a good performance.
"And I congratulate Brett for taking the pressure off, he's a high-pressure horse to drive but Brett handled him perfect. I'm very happy for him."
This was the first time Brett Miller had sat behind Always B Miki with regular driver David Miller driving at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night.
"I was leaving as much as I could, within reason...a :25.2 first quarter, that's making it...first of all, I'd just like to thank Jimmy and the owners for giving me a shot with this horse. I've never sat behind a horse quite like this. This is one of the most powerful horses I've ever sat behind, and he just went a mile that was unreal.
"Wiggle It Jiggleit, everybody knows what a champion he is...this horse, in the last turn, it almost felt like Wiggle It might have put him away but at the top of the stretch, this horse took back off."
Owned by Bluewood Stable and Christina Takter of New Jersey and Roll The Dice Stable of Delaware, Always B Miki (Always A Virgin - Artstopper) is now 7-4-0 in 12 starts this year, with earnings in excess of $919,000. The win was his 25th lifetime from 47 starts.
Earlier on the card, Goodell guided Homicide Hunter to victory in the $100,000 Chip Noble Memorial Trot. His 1:52.1 winning time also established a new Scioto track record.
Chris Oakes trains Homicide Hunter (Mr Cantab - Evening Prayer) for Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, N.Y.
It's like this boys ... I
It's like this boys ...
I like the real races , the competitive ones
Somebeach somewhere in the meadowlands pace
Wiggleit jiggleit in the jug
Always be Miki in his last start
Not some horse that wins by 5 always with the plugs in
Something that excites the fans , special horse races ...
By the way , ya didn't respond . To my proposition . Wiggleit jiggleit and always be Miki . Head to head , gotta win two races on the same day . Winner takes all the marbles . Say at Mohawk $100.00 per person at the door . No simulcast . Show up . The thriller in Mohawk .
Mike... once again, I never
Mike... once again,
I never said he can't leave. I said he doesn't leave as well as others and that may put him in a bad situation.
Just ask Rockin Ron.
Totally agree has has Star power and the sport needs that.
Nobody is slicing their pie differently. It's just you are eating a different pie.
In reply to Mike... once again, I never by John Doc41
John... it doesn't matter
John... it doesn't matter what MIKI would do as far as Mike is concerned it seems.
He appears to have Blinders on and his whole view is on WIJI. I doubt he even realizes what a tough trip MIKI went in the slop last week as he only saw WIJI. Both horses went super trips and I think WIJI is a monster horse and hopefully he stays on his game for a few years as it is great for the sport. He is in no way in best horse or best ever category. He can't even hold a candle to Foiled again yet for longevity or toughness let alone SBSW or Niatross. 8 losses this year and some of those losses to overnight horses. Yes he will make good earnings every year....racing... and he is a tough horse. His toughness and the fact he can bust off the gate as good as any horse are what will keep WIJI a top performer for the next few years as post position isn't as bad a factor. That's a fact.
Mike you really shouldn't want to compare earnings or earnings potential about the two horses. MIKI will enter the breeding shed and WIJI will attempt to make several million racing. Maybe you have heard of Somebeachsomewhere. He gets between 20 to 30000 per mare and is breeding 250 horses in North America and 250 per year in Australia. That's 500 horses per year for 10 to 15 million dollars per year !!!! WIJI will not make that in his career! Fact. MIKI may not bring in the kind of money SBSW will but he will make millions per year breeding.
As for racing.....MIKE.... do you realize that MIKI had two broken bones in two different ankles. Most horses don't ever come back from one. Let's talk toughness about MIKI then. He has came back from that. He is the fastest horse ever probably. He isn't that sound because of his legs. Imagine if he was healthy. He was barely out of the barn before he raced 2 starts in 6 weeks. No jogging, training or anything. It is hard to imagine any horse even racing like that but MIKI is a very special animal. Last week he was able to train and sat on the outside and still hung on. Yes..talk about toughness again, I have heard you say LBJ and WIJI trip. He went amazing that day. :) however, this was an equally impressive trip by MIKI and maybe more so... faster race...in the slop...and beating horses he didn't lay over....world record time.
MIKI will be gone to breed soon and WIJI will leave us with many more smiles to come. Enjoy the racing the rest of the year but MIKI should be aged horse of the year unless he gets hurt and can't race into the breeders crown.
As for horse of the year, I agree if betting line or hannelore hanover continue to win one of them should be horse of the year. Doesn't mean they are best overall, just best in their category with best records.
Mr.Scott... I just deal with
Mr.Scott... I just deal with the facts, and the facts are they have raced each other 6 times and WIJI has two wins to show for it... and that's a fact. Always B Miki has 3 wins to show for it, and that's a fact. I wish Standardbred Canada could act as a middle man and you and I could make a biggie size wager every time these two hook up for the rest of the year. I would take Miki irregardless of post position or size of the race track. After the race when I would be out having dinner on you, when I tip the waitress a little extra, I would say don't thank me, thank Mike :)
Mike... horse of the
Mike... horse of the year???
Are you just trolling us?
Try Betting Line or Hannelore Hanover..
I just cant see a horse who lost 8 times so far, and the year isn't over yet, winning that title.
Everyone has an opinion... some are larger than others.
I respect your right for your enthusiasm...
see you at The Breeders Crown
John & John .... It seems you
John & John .... It seems you two fellas want to slice the pie a certain way! "He can't leave"... earnings per start... Etc Etc. The fact is that this sport needs a shining star. Can you guys imagine what Team Teague has done, just in this year. Sending the star to all these races, no matter what the outcome. Not just micro managing and stepping in for the BIG BUCKS. This stable and this horse has performed at every single opportunity. He (WIJI) has set the bar, performed, and moved on to the next entry box. Horse of the year guaranteed! :)
As far as a match race goes,
As far as a match race goes, and just between those two horses, WIJI and Always B Miki. I'd be down for that, but with the jug rules. Ya gotta win (2) heats . Lol. Then that would make a true 'hats off', no excuses whatsoever. Then we'd see the true brawler WIJI is :) Enjoy the races and let's say, the winner of both heats gets $1 million u.s
Thank you John Carter for
Thank you John Carter for that breathe of realism.
Some horses are entered week after week in lesser races / lesser competition and have their dollars earned padded. They even lose to lesser competition like Rockin Ron.
WIJI has started 20 times and earned 1,349,337 for an average of $67,466 per start.
He has lost 8 times!!!
Miki has started 12 times for an average of $73,066 and has lost only 5 times.
Don't get me wrong, I do like WIJI.
I love Miki.
When both are at the top of their game Miki will prevail in most of them..
Whem WIJI can come 1st over
Whem WIJI can come 1st over and win in 1:47 then i may consider him to be as good as Miki. Miki currently leads WIJI 3 wins to 2 when they race head to head, if and when WIJI can tie this up i then may consider him to be as good as Miki. I think it would be good for the sport if they could arrange a match race between these two. With the horse that cuts the mile having to go to the 3/4's in a fast but reasonable time. Miki, of course, would win no matter whether he was cutting the mile or sitting the pocket:)
When Miki earns more $ than
When Miki earns more $ than WIJI then will rank higher. He hasn't achieved the bucks to be even mentioned in the same breathe. Wiggle It Jiggleit is a brawler, and he brawls every time the box is open. In the trailer he goes, and shows up in the ring.
As stated by Jimmy
As stated by Jimmy Takter...
Miki has not been fully cranked up for his last couple starts.
Last night they were both 100% at the same time. Miki had the worst of the 2 trips but still prevailed.
Miki 3 - WIJI 2
Oh Miki, you're so fine
You're so fine you blow my mind, hey Miki,
Hey Miki
More racing to come.
It all comes down to the Breeders Crown.
I rank that as one of the
I rank that as one of the best all time races I've ever seen, it was almost like an arm wrestle :) Two titans toe to toe. Both horses raced ultra tough. Huge applaud for Brett Miller with doing what he did STONE COLD :) it's has been an awesome year in this division and I don't think anyone has raced bad. Enjoy the races :)
Both horses went monster
Both horses went monster miles. Not to many could hang for second going those fractions with absolutley no breather. Then Miki first up the last half and finally getting the win. Great race. Two great horses. My favorite is still WIJI.
Hats off to WIJI for going a
Hats off to WIJI for going a great race but what a monster first over effort by Miki. If this horse is sound he is the best in the aged division. No aged pacer could come 1st over and win this type of race except Miki. WIJI and Miki have now faced each other 6 times. Miki has won 3 of those races, WIJI has won twice and Shambella won the other race. Miki has reclaimed the top spot in the aged pacing division with this monster effort.