George Teague Jr. hopes Im Gorgeous looks good in Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace

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The colt, owned by Teague and Elmer Fannin, finished second in his Pace elimination last week, won by Rockin Image in 1:48.4. Im Gorgeous was two lengths back, but paced all the way to the wire, which encouraged Teague. Im Gorgeous went off stride in two previous starts this season.

“We’re glad to be in the final,” Teague said. “He paced all the way to the wire. He’s lightly raced, so I’m hoping next week will be a step forward as far as fitness goes.”

Im Gorgeous, who gave Teague a Meadowlands Pace finalist for the fifth consecutive year, has won once in six starts this year. He has five victories in 14 career races and $151,925 in purses.

Teague, who on Wednesday got a second horse into the Pace when Delmarvalous inherited the spot vacated by injured OK Commander, won the 2007 Meadowlands Pace with Southwind Lynx. Last year, he teamed with co-owner Fannin on fourth-place finisher Chasin Racin.

Fannin is founder of Country Life Homes, a successful residential development business along the Delaware shoreline. Fannin and Teague owned 2008 Breeders Crown winner Kadealia.

The Teague Stable – which is George and his sister Brenda – surpassed $4 million for the fourth consecutive season in 2009, setting a career high at $5.71 million. The stable won the Breeders Crown and Three Diamonds with Fancy Filly, who went on to capture divisional honours, the Hoosier Cup with Mr Wiggles and the Woodrow Wilson with Windfall Blue Chip.

Im Gorgeous won four of eight races last year and earned $91,479. He won divisions of the Tompkins-Geers and New York Sire Stakes and paced 1:50.4 to win an elimination of the Wilson. (He was fifth in the $455,400 final, beaten by 2-3/4 lengths by stablemate Windfall Blue Chip.)

“Winning in [1]:50.4 at the Meadowlands isn’t an easy task,” Teague said during the spring. “We raced him lightly. Training down last year, he was right there with the other ones. He’s got great upside.”

Im Gorgeous won an overnight at Harrah’s Chester to begin 2010, but went off stride in his next start at Tioga Downs. He also went off stride on June 20 in a New York Sire Stakes race at Buffalo Raceway.

“We had an open bridle on him for a long time and it didn’t seem to agree with him,” Teague said. “He made a couple breaks and that was uncharacteristic of him. He hadn’t raced much this year because he’d run. He had a tendency to get a little warm, so we went back to the closed bridle and he seems to be a little more focused.”

Teague, who trained 2004 Horse of the Year Rainbow Blue, hopes Im Gorgeous’ performance in the Meadowlands Pace elims is the start of a turnaround.

“[Saturday] was a step up,” he said. “It’s always a bonus to see them step up and race against horses like that and do well. I hope his potential keeps getting better. It’s kind of been a disappointing season, but we’re hoping he picks it up from this point.”

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This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.