The top ranked trotter in harness racing, triple millionaire Jiggy Jog S has been retired by her connections.
News broke on Monday, Oct. 14 in advance of the entry box closing for the 2024 Breeders Crown eliminations this weekend at The Meadowlands.
"Today we made the decision to stop racing Jiggy Jog," said Ake and Sarah Svanstedt in a statement. "After her last start in Dayton Derby, we noticed something wasn’t right. We had her examined by two veterinarians and it was found she has a small tear on her sesamoid ligament, which is very uncommon in Standardbreds.
"Good news is, we caught it early and she is not lame or in any pain. She has given us so much joy and excitement for four years. Every time she went behind the gate, it was a pleasure to watch her amazing technique, speed and fighting instinct to win. She gave 110 per cent every time."
Unbeaten in six races this season, five-year-old Jiggy Jog S (Walner - Hot Mess Hanover) won 24 of her 41 career starts. The five-year-old mare surpassed $3.5 million in purses with that Dayton Derby victory for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Steve Stewart, John Lengacher and Hickory Hollow Stables.
The winner of 2023 USHWA Dan Patch Award for Older Trotting Mares, Jiggy Jog's stakes wins include a Bluegrass division at two and three, Breeders Crown elim and final, Zweig Memorial final, Kentucky Filly Futurity at The Red Mile, New York New York Mile and Hambletonian elim at three, Breeders Crown elim and final at four, Dayton Derby, FanDuel Championship and Graduate Series at four, and the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial, Dayton Derby, International Trot, John Cashman Memorial and Six Pack in 2024 at the age of five. Her lifetime mark came in the Cashman Memorial this past August, trotting to a mark of 1:49.2 under torrential rains at the Big M.
"Now we look forward to her next chapter in life as a broodmare," the statement from Team Svanstedt continued, singling out caretake Rene Lopez and driver Dexter Dunn for their contributions to her success. "We want to wish her and all her owners a successful breeding career."
(Standardbred Canada)