Jiggy Jog S — a familiar face to the North American racing scene but representing Sweden, where she was bred — improved from second in last year's MGM Yonkers International Trot to first in this year's $1.35 million edition on Saturday, Sept. 7, prevailing for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Ake Svanstedt in 2:25 flat for the mile and a quarter distance.

Canadian representative Logan Park, driven by Doug McNair, got away well from post five, but Dunn wanted the front with Jiggy Jog and moved her out of second to take over the lead beyond the :29.3 opening quarter. Jiggy Jog was well-rated and didn't face any outside pressure through a sensible tempo of :58.2 and 1:27.2 while Hail Mary S (Orjan Kihlstrom), another Swedish representative, went first-up from fifth on the way to three-quarters, giving cover to U.S. representative Periculum (Scott Zeron).

Hail Mary couldn't really make any progress on the rim towards the 1:55.4 mile marker, and that allowed Jiggy Jog to get separation on the others as Periculum went three-wide early on the last turn. There was no catching Jiggy Jog, though, as she kept clear and allowed Dunn to raise his whip in celebration through the stretch. Periculum, coming off a victory in the Maple Leaf Trot a week ago, was a good second, 3-1/2 lengths behind Jiggy Jog, and France's Ideal San Leandro (Bjorn Goop) got third. Logan Park held fourth from U.S. representative Its Academic (David Miller).

"She's an amazing mare. It's always a pleasure to sit behind her. For her to win a race like that just adds to her great career," Dunn said following the race. "She's been in such great form. I talked to Ake and Sarah before the race, and they were confident that she could go on the front today against these ones, but it was always going to be up to seeing what happened early. There was a bit of speed from outside and a little bit from inside, but she left so well herself. Once the option was there to re-move and go to the front, we took that chance. We got pretty good fractions after that. I was sort of waiting for a bit more pressure the middle of the race, but she was strong.

"She was a good and clear second last year, but she was only a four-year-old mare then. It's always a big step up when they finish their three-year-old year and in their four-year-old year they've got to race the open horses. She's just got so much stronger and bigger and mentally tougher this year. You'll see she's been raced pretty lightly so far. Ake and Sarah have been taking their time and not racing her too much to make sure she's there at the end of the year for the Breeders Crown. It's a fun ride to be on. It's always fun to sit behind her, and we'll be looking forward to that for the rest of the year."

A five-year-old daughter of Walner bred by Vestmarka AB, Jiggy Jog S is co-owned by Svanstedt in partnership with Steve Stewart, John Lengacher and Hickory Hollow Stables. She has a summary of 23-10-2 from 40 starts, has put away more than $3.4 million and paid $3.70 to win as the favourite. She was atop a $16.00 exacta and a $316 trifecta.

"Those races are never easy. She has kind of peaked the last couple of days," remarked Sarah Svanstedt. "She was a little bit tired after the Cashman and the Pocono race, too, actually. It's tough when you have those kind of plans you have to follow and you can't really give a week or two more off...it's tricky. I was so satisfied with her in the last turn. She's tremendous.

"Maybe the Caesar's Classic or Lexington (are next). We'll have to see how she gets out of this race to start with."

While Stewart is known more on the breeding side of the sport through his Hunterton Farms, he said that he hopes Jiggy Jog has plenty of more racing to do before she becomes a broodmare.

"I told Cindy (his wife) that I hope three years from now people come to us and say 'will you please take that damn filly and breed her?' I told all of our partners we have enough broodmares. We don't need another one at the moment, as long as she can compete at this level, and she appears to have a lot of fun with it," Stewart stated. "Ake and Sarah, I think, don't own a lot of broodmares, and so I think that their dream is to probably race her for many, many years, and that's our dream, is to continue racing. What an opportunity and I think it's good for the sport."

Desperate Man conquers foes in Aria Invitational Pace

After a downpour that caused a delay, the $337,838 Aria Invitational for older pacers at MGM Yonkers Raceway was sent on its way, and 1-5 favourite Desperate Man delivered for driver Matt Kakaley and trainer Travis Alexander in 1:57.4 for the 1-1/16 mile distance.

Desperate Man got away fourth from post one, but Kakaley put him in motion before the :26.3 quarter and got by MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Hellabalou (Yannick Gingras) to take command past that station. From there, Desperate Man continued to show the way through a half-mile of :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:23 as he got separation from Hellabalou and a first-over Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett), who vacated the pylons on the second turn, stalled out.

Around the final bend and to the wire Desperate Man remained well in front of the rest of the horses, and he hit the wire 4-1/4 lengths ahead of a game Coaches Corner. Dunkin (Tim Tetrick) wound up two-wide throughout and followed the cover of Coaches Corner to get third, Hellabalou faded to fourth and Its A Me Mario (Lauren Tritton), who also never saw the pylons and wound up in the outer tier, was the fifth-place finisher.

"He's a really good horse," Kakaley remarked post-race. "He perseveres. When I got parked here (in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series final), he bounced back, (the Battle of Lake Erie) at Northfield, he bounced back, two weeks ago at Batavia (in the Kane Memorial where he was bothered by a breaker and still won), that was a disaster in the last turn and he bounced back. He's special for sure."

A six-year-old Shadow Play gelding trained by Travis Alexander, Desperate Man was bred by Winbak Farm and is owned by Kathy Cecchin of Arthur, Ont. Desperate Man made his 26th appearance in the winner's circle, has now earned more than $1.86 million. He paid $2.70 to win as the 1-5 favorite, topping a $13.60 exacta and a $78.50 trifecta.

"Think about it, every time he races for money something happens... the rain (today). He just finally got a clean trip," said Alexander.

Ari Ferrari J burns rubber in Bob Miecuna Invitational Trot

Ari Ferrari J was the winner of the $337,838 Bob Miecuna Invitational for older trotters at MGM Yonkers Raceway after he covered the 1-1/16 mile distance in 2:00.4. With his share of the purse, Ari Ferrari J went past the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings.

After showing some speed from post two, driver Jason Bartlett wheeled Ari Ferrari J to the outside in the early stages from third and made his way by early leader Cecil Hanover (driven by Ake Svanstedt) past the 29-second opening quarter. Ari Ferrari J never faced a serious threat from there, as he glided through panels of :57.4 and 1:26 on his way to the win by two lengths. Cecil Hanover checked in second over Take All Comers (Jordan Stratton) and favoured M Ms Dream (David Miller) advanced from eighth to fourth. Amigo Volo (Dexter Dunn) collected fifth.

"Being off the inside there, the gate kind of takes off on us and at times you can just give them their head a little bit and they'll try to switch gears and run," explained Bartlett. "So, I was more worried about just getting him off on the right foot and then just taking the race how it came. Only a couple left, so I was actually in a really good spot going into the first turn.

"He won so easy last time out of the hole, and I was very excited when I saw he was in this race today. He had a start over the track and I kind of knew him at The Meadowlands and loved him there and loved him last week. We actually drew a good spot and he didn't disappoint."

Tony Alagna trains Ari Ferrari J, a four-year-old son of Walner bred by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc., for owner Ken Jacobs. Ari Ferrari J is an 11-time victor from 39 starts, has earned $1,095,745 and paid $16.00 to win as a 7-1 offering. The exacta was $156.50 and the trifecta was worth $2,841.00.

Champions crowned in NY Sire Stakes finals for trotters

Trotters of both sexes and gaits came to MGM Yonkers Raceway on Saturday afternoon to contest four $304,054 New York Sire Stakes finals.

R Melina kicked off the finals with a 1:54.4 triumph in the event for three-year-old fillies. Senorita Palema (Ake Svanstedt) blasted to the front from post three and led the way through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:26.1. Meanwhile, R Melina (Tyler Buter) tucked into fourth from post seven, came first-up passing the half and made it into second on the outside prior to three-quarters.

On the final turn, Buter was able to get into the pocket as Sister Mary Maude (Joe Bongiorno) gapped that position, and after briefly "bravening up," Buter brought R Melina back off the cones before they turned for home. Senorita Palema was game and dug in under Svanstedt's urging through the stretch drive, but R Melina wouldn't be denied and surged by her to prevail by half a length. Sadbirdstillsing (Jason Bartlett) turned a second-over trip into a third-place finish. Sister Mary Maude and Hippie Shake (Mark MacDonald) completed the top five. 

"She raced huge. It was unfortunate to draw the seven-hole, but she overcame it," said Buter. "She's very gritty. As long as you give her a little breather, she's going to race good for you." 

Trainer John Butenschoen said that R Melina will be heading to Woodbine Mohawk Park to race in the Elegantimage Stakes providing she comes out of today's contest in good shape.

A daughter of Chapter Seven, R Melina was bred by Marsh Valley Standardbreds and is owned by M And L Of Delaware LLC. and Alabama Harness Associates LLC. R Melina has 14 wins, two seconds and two thirds in 23 appearances, has pocketed $993,260 and returned $3.80 to win as the 4-5 favourite. She led a $14.00 exacta and a $56.50 trifecta.

MGM Yonkers Trot champion Sir Pinocchio (Bartlett) was a 1:54.2 victor in the final for sophomore male trotters. Sir Pinocchio drew post eight, but thanks to two scratches, moved into the six-hole. He took advantage of the improved starting position by blasting out and clearing Super Duper Cooper (Yannick Gingras) with little dispute on the first turn.

Once he had command, Sir Pinocchio was on top at the :28.2 quarter, :57.3 half and 1:26.2 three-quarters, then pulled away from his competition for a four-length victory. Super Duper Cooper held second, with Nottingham (David Miller), Thinker Monkey (Scott Zeron) and Keep Asking (Buter) coming in third through fifth, respectively.

"I worked hard all year to follow these horses and so far it's worked out pretty well," remarked Bartlett. "I was just worried a little bit about the first turn and making sure he got through there. On the last turn he had a lot of trot, I was just hoping he didn't over-trot himself. He was really good today again. It seems like he's getting a little better right now as the season's kind of winding down. He's been great all year, don't get me wrong, but he seems really good the last two starts."

Sir Pinocchio, a gelding by Mets Hall, was sent out by trainer Ed Hart for owner/breeder Carolyn Atherton. This was his tenth lifetime victory, he sent his earnings to $722,633 and returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 choice. The exacta was worth $5.10 and the trifecta kicked back $41.60.

"He was really good today. He's just a good horse who takes care of himself," stated Hart. "He comes back in a week; he's going to Canada for the Canadian Trotting Classic and then he's got the Simpson and the Matron at Dover."

Variegated (Braxten Boyd) pulled off a 55-1 stunner in the two-year-old male trot, rallying up the inside from the pocket to break his maiden in 1:56.3. The complexion of the contest changed on the first turn when 1-5 choice Super Chapter (Dexter Dunn) made a break, allowing Happy Jack B (Buter) to go to the front and carve out a tempo of :28.1, :57 and 1:26.1 while Variegated sat in the two-hole and Civilian Drone (Gingras) made progress on the rim after going first-up from fourth on the third turn.

Civilian Drone sustained his bid into the lane and wrestled the lead away from Happy Jack B, but Variegated scooted through on the cones and got by Civilian Drone late for the victory by half a length. Moonshot S (Zeron) was the third-place finisher at 85-1, followed by Karinchak (Mark MacDonald) and Happy Jack B. Variegated did go inside one pylon coming off the last turn, but after posting the inquiry sign, the judges determined that he did not gain an unfair advantage and the result stood.

"He's been racing good in New York. He's three seconds. He got the trip he needed and he just got there," trainer Marcus Melander said, adding that Variegated is likely heading to The Red Mile. "Obviously I thought my other horse, Super Chapter, he was the one that was going to win that race because I think he was very much the best, but he made a break in the first turn."

Bred by Order By Stable, Variegated is a Chapter Seven colt owned by S R F Stable. He won for the first time in his seventh trip behind the gate, has put away $281,397 and returned $113.00 to win. The exacta was $1,042.00 and the trifecta $18,981.

Royal Mission ($4.70) gave Melander both halves of the two-year-old trots when she took the filly tilt in 1:58.2 for Zeron. After DWs Lady Diva scratched and Morning Angel (Bjorn Goop) and Beautiful Sight (Buter) broke early, just My Debt Collecter (Miller), Royal Mission and Calculus Risk (Jordan Stratton) were left in contention, and My Debt Collecter chopped out panels of 29.1, 1:00.2 and 1:29.4 with Royal Mission second and Calculus Risk third.

Zeron guided Royal Mission to the outside on the last turn and appeared to have an advantage on My Debt Collecter coming off the bend, but My Debt Collecter was game and battled all the way to the wire. She just couldn't rally back around Royal Mission, though, as she kept her head in front. Calculus Risk got third, followed by Beautiful Sight and Morning Angel.

"She raced good. She's done great all year to be honest. The final last time in the Peaceful Way, just forget it. She got a little excited there, too, and he might have choked her a little bit," Melander explained. "She raced good in the elimination and she's been racing good all year. This is the kind of trip she likes, too, chasing down other horses.

"She's staked to most stuff, so we'll see."

Jeffrey Snyder owns Royal Mission, now a three-time winner with $345,580 in earnings.

Streaking Howlenthehills leads winners in NY Sire Stakes finals for pacers

Starting from outside positions on the gate proved no problem for three-year-old male pacer Howlenthehills and three-year-old female pacer Tarrific as they cruised to victories in their respective $304,054 New York Sire Stakes championships Saturday.

Winning the $304,054 NYSS finals for two-year-old pacers were colt Courts On Fire and filly The Last Martini.

Howlenthehills, who started from post eight on the half-mile oval at Yonkers with Matt Kakaley in the sulky, bettered defending NYSS champ Boston Rocks by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53 to capture his crown. Vandiemen Bluechip nosed out Taranaki for third.

Vandiemen Bluechip, driven by Braxten Boyd, and Boston Rocks, with driver Jason Bartlett, took turns on the lead before Howlenthehills grabbed the top spot for good prior to reaching the opening quarter in :27.1. From there, Howlenthehills got to the half in 56 seconds and three-quarters in 1:24.2 on his way to his sixth consecutive victory and 12th in 13 tries this season.

"[Getting to the front] was kind of my plan, but if they were going to mix it up, he's actually OK off a helmet, too," Kakaley said. "He doesn't need to be on the front. He's a good horse and he tries hard. It's been a good year."

Trained by Travis Alexander, Howlenthehills is owned by Symmetry Stables. The son of American Ideal-Arielle Lynn was bred by Crawford Farms. Winless in eight races as a two-year-old, the gelding has earned $723,289 lifetime.

Howlenthehills paid $6.50 to win as the 2-1 second choice behind even-money favourite Boston Rocks. The exacta paid $13; the trifecta $65.

Tarrific won the championship for sophomore fillies by 2-3/4 lengths over A Few Choice Words in 1:53. Avyanna finished third.

A Few Choice Words and driver Jim Marohn Jr. took the early lead from post six, but Tarrific, who started from post seven, pushed forward with Bartlett in the sulky and got to the front prior to reach the opening quarter in :27.4. She remained in control from there, hitting the half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:25.4.

"[Post] seven is not the easiest, so I was quite happy to see her make the lead without too much of a problem," winning trainer Chris Ryder said.

Tarrific, a daughter of Huntsville-Road Bet bred by Stephen Dey III, counts Dan Patch Award-winner Niki Hill (also trained by Ryder), millionaire stallion Cattlewash, and Grand Circuit-winner Earthwindfire among her siblings. Tarrific was winless in seven starts last year but finished second on four occasions. This year, she has won six of 10 starts for owners Margaret Dey and Let It Ride Stables.

"She went a lot of fast miles [last year] but finished second a bunch of times and never was able to get the win," Ryder said about Tarrific, who has earned $493,936 in her career. "But the two-year-old experience helped her a lot starting back this year. She's reeling off wins this year in New York very well. We're just very grateful."

Tarrific, the 1-5 favourite, paid $2.40 to win. The exacta returned $11 and the trifecta $55.50.

In the final for the two-year-old fillies, The Last Martini overtook 1-5 favourite Cowgirl Hanover in mid-stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54 in a battle between Jared Bako-trained stablemates. Send It Down Slim finished third.

Send It Down Slim and driver Mark MacDonald blasted from post seven to grab the lead heading to the first turn, but Doug McNair soon had Cowgirl Hanover in motion and was on top as they reached the opening quarter in 28 seconds.

Cowgirl Hanover hit the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.3 but was under first-over pressure from The Last Martini and driver Bartlett, who were third for the first half of the race, as the field made its way to the final turn. The Last Martini got the job done from there, picking up her third win in six races this season.

The Last Martini had finished second to Cowgirl Hanover in her previous start on Aug. 23 at Vernon Downs. The two also met Aug. 14 at Batavia, where The Last Martini handed Cowgirl Hanover her only loss in seven starts heading into Saturday's NYSS final.

"They're an incredible pair of fillies to train," Bako said. "The Last Martini didn't get started as early as Cowgirl, that's why she doesn't have the same kind of record. But, at the end of the day, they both can't win every week.

"I thought Cowgirl was as good as anything off of that trip, and [The Last Martini] just really stepped up."

The Last Martini is owned by Glenview Livestock of Ingersoll, Ont. The daughter of Huntsville-Martinique was bred by Crawford Farms. She has earned $336,001.

"She was really good in her last start, she just got locked in, so I knew we had a good shot," Bartlett said. "It got a little scary leaving; she almost made a break because she was touching her knees a little bit, but as she got settled in, she was good."

Sent off as the 2-1 second choice, The Last Martini paid $6.40 to win. The exacta was $8.30, and the trifecta returned $28.

Courts On Fire closed the MGM Yonkers International Trot Day card with a 14-1 upset in his NYSS final, defeating 22-1 shot Holt Hanover by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:53.3. Thirsty Thursday, the 4-5 co-favourite with Fast Choice, who made an early break, finished third.

Yannick Gingras hustled Courts On Fire to the lead from post six before yielding the top spot to Thirsty Thursday and driver Kakaley on their way to a :27.1 opening quarter. Courts On Fire remained in the pocket through a half in :56.1, then was put in motion to challenge Thirsty Thursday just prior to hitting three-quarters in 1:25.

Courts On Fire took the lead exiting the last turn and continued on to his second win of the season in seven starts. He has finished in the top three a total of six times.

Trainer Blake MacIntosh owns Courts On Fire with Hutt Racing Stable, Tim Klemencic, and Daniel Plouffe. The son of Courtly Choice-Ashlees Spitfire was bred by Winbak Farm and has earned $269,910.

"He's been a nice colt all year," MacIntosh said. "He's a little bit of a lazy horse and Yannick woke him up a bit today and he got the job done.

"I knew that if he got a trip and Yannick was aggressive with him, he'd have a shot. I didn't know if he could get by Thirsty Thursday there, but he just dug in and kept going. Everything just worked out perfect for him. Yannick gave him a super drive."

Courts On Fire, who MacIntosh said was finished racing this year, paid $31.20 to win. The exacta returned $342, and the trifecta paid $683.

(Yonkers Raceway)