Co-owner George Teague has announced to the Meadowlands Racetrack that Wiggle It Jiggleit, the top money-winning horse in harness racing in 2016, will not be entered in Saturday’s $400,000 TVG Free For All Final.
Wiggle It Jiggleit will miss the race due to a minor foot bruise and bout with sickness. The race was expected to mark the ninth and final showdown with world-record holder and Breeders Crown champion Always B Miki.
“It is nothing serious, but you can’t continue like that,” explained Teague. “He’s made 50 starts over the past two seasons with very few hiccups so we definitely did not want to take any chances to hurt him or his reputation if he was not 100 per cent.”
Without Wiggle It Jiggleit, Saturday’s TVG Final will have a field of seven, headlined by Always B Miki, who will be making his final career start before being retired to stud at Diamond Creek Farm.
The field for the TVG final appears below in alphabetical order.
All Bets Off
Always B Miki
Dealt A Winner
Mach It So
Melmerby Beach
Shamballa
Take It Back Terry
For racing fans, the final image of the legendary rivalry between Wiggle It Jiggleit and Always B Miki will be their epic stretch duel in the Breeders Crown Open Pace. For the record, the horses faced each other eight times in 2016 with Always B Miki winning four times and Wiggle It Jiggleit winning three times. Shamballa upset both horses in the US Pacing Championship in August at the Meadowlands.
“You always hear about what a tough transition it is for a four-year-old to face older horses,” said Teague, “but I think ‘Wiggle It’ put a whole new standard on that argument. He’ll rest for about two months, get plenty of field time with no jogging or training and if all goes well, we might just try him again in the Levy next year.”
With no more races this season, the decision of which horse deserves the nod as the top free-for-all pacer belongs in the hands of the Dan Patch Award voters. To those voters, Teague offered his opinion with no hesitation.
“I would say they should vote for the horse that made the money, raced on all sized tracks, and made the most starts,” said Teague. “My opinion is that ‘Miki’ is a great horse, nothing but respect for him and his connections. But if you go by body of work, my horse started in March and went until late October, we beat each other three or four times apiece, and my horse made more money while racing on halves, five-eighths, and big tracks. If it were up to me, that’s just my opinion.
“But this year was a lot of fun and I guarantee you that Miki’s connections felt the same way. It was something that racing definitely needed and my entire team and I were all so glad to have been a part of it. It was something that nobody else gets to experience.”
OTHER TVG FINAL FIELDS
The other big development when entries were taken for Saturday’s four TVG Finals was that three-year-old Breeders Crown champion Bar Hopping accepted an invitation and will race against aged horses in the $400,000 TVG Free For All Trot.
The field for the TVG Free For All Trot appears below in alphabetical order.
Bar Hopping
Centurion ATM
Crazy Wow
JL Cruze
Lookslikeachpndale
Obrigado
Resolve
Wind Of The North
Breeders Crown winners Hannelore Hanover and Lady Shadow headline their respective divisions.
The full field for the $200,000 TVG Mare Trot appears below in alphabetical order.
Barn Doll
Bee A Magician
Classical Annie
D One
Hannelore Hanover
Kelseys Keepsake
Shake It Cerry
The full field for the $200,000 TVG Mare Pace appears below in alphabetical order.
Bedroomconfessions
Frost Damage Blues
Inittowinafortune
Katie Said
Lady Shadow
Sassa Hanover
Skippin By
Solar Sister
Venus Delight
(Meadowlands Racetrack)
Mike Glad you made your post.
Mike
Glad you made your post. It goes a long way to what people have been saying all year about your posts and information. I never once said Teague was scared of racing. I in fact said it was a shame.
Of course, he put up the money as I would have too as the second place purse (which he received) is still a healthy payday. That is just smart business.
What I made comments about was the discussion regarding HOY and his comments. He hand picked things (like many of the posters for WIJI did all year) to try convince others he deserved to be HOY. Haha
Great post Mr. Scott and TY for your "hand picked" comments all year. It has been such a long year for you WIJI fans, but in the end please remember your season was only 1 week longer than MIKI's. Please also note: even though Teague "hand picked" starts for WIJI he only made $200 000 more than MIKI but had more starts. He can also thank Yonkers for the $250 000 gift race they gave him. Ouch that is scary that with that added money he hasn't beaten MIKi by much earnings. I guess if you look at it correctly that means: When the Big races, for the Big money were contested open to everyone, one horse prevailed over the others.
That horse obviously was MIKI
That horse is the obvious choice for HOY
That horse is the fastest of all time.
That horse set 4 world records this year
In case you didn't get to know him this year Mr Scott, let me introduce him to you: His name is:
Always B MIKI
But you can refer to him simply as: MIKI
Mikey oh Mikey please let us
Mikey oh Mikey please let us know where Trevor mentioned Teague was fearful...of anything...
at least back up your comments with fact.
WIJI Fans...on this blog Sad
WIJI Fans...on this blog
Sad that we will not get to see another WIJI / MIKI battle.
For the longest time this clash has set up some blog battles.
One thing constant.
Miki fans will always tip their hat and appreciate a great warrior as in WIJI.
I have yet to see it the other way around.
Just shows you how much class and respect the Miki fans have
Mike Scott.... I have
Mike Scott....
I have searched through the comments and sorry but I don't see anything in there mentioning Teague's "Fear Factor"?
Still clutching a straws are you?
Please elaborate...
thanks....and all the best to WIJI...
WIJI is the best aged pacer who will race next year.
At least you have that to look forward to.
You must be joking Trevor ???
You must be joking Trevor ??? He just put 50 grand up, to race against Miki his last start. Teague has no FEAR whatsoever, can you imagine his disappointment this week, when he had to pull him out of a free race.
I sort of laughed when I read
I sort of laughed when I read the article too. WIJI is a great horse and he was making his case for horse of the year, and who can blame him for trying, but I say not so fast. WIJI is a great horse but clearly 2nd best in the aged division this year.
Carl... you're right. It's
Carl... you're right. It's over. I feel the same.
Even if MIKI did lose, he still should be HOY as the same stats apply. He has more wins than WIJI heads up and against stronger competition.
If MIKi loses than it is no different than WIJi losing to Rockin Ron. OK it is still better considering the competition he is facing.
HOY - MIKI
Case Closed
great point Trevor on WIJI's
great point Trevor on WIJI's next season with Miki retired for breeding.
Barring any set backs WIJI will crush the all time earnings single season record...next year. He just might pass Foiled Again that sits at 7.4 mil maybe by 2018
WIJI fans should absolutely burst next year.
Trevor, I like that line about "He mentions WIJI has more wins. I wonder if he ever noticed he has more losses too. AND More third place finishes."
It reminds me of Cy Young's records.
Not only does he have the most wins Cy Young piled up the record for most losses too.
In summary,
just because you raced a lot doesn't mean you are the best.
It's all about head to head meetings.
Not about piling up stats and dollars against weaker opponents.
Don't get me wrong.
If I were of the WIJI connections I would too.
easy pickings...most of the time. Thankyou Rocking Ron
Wow, Trev... well said. Miki
Wow, Trev...
well said.
Miki needs to have a win this week.
Then it will be interesting in the polls to see who comes close to winning HOY.
Aged pacer is now way too easy. Miki.
Just like Betting Line's chances were diminished missing the M-pace and the Breeders Crown the same can be said for WIJI. Finishes 2nd in the BC then misses the TVG.
Miki was managed to keep the horse healthy considering his injuries.
Wiji has been healthy the whole year but all those races takes it toll on flesh and blood.
Too bad...Supposed to be nice weather and would have been a race for all the ages.
Take note WIJI waun'kanobies.... WIJI is 2nd in the polls with no races left to vault him over the top again.
Just like Vince Carter said during the Dunk competition.
It's over...
Glad this is a minor foot
Glad this is a minor foot bruise and not a career threatening injury to WIJI.
All the best to him as he finally gets a break from racing. He raced hard and was a great star for the sport.
Teague's analysis though is a little funny as he tries in a few spots to over-exaggerate facts past people in all I can figure is hopes to try gain some votes for HOY. Can't blame him for trying but the truth is:
He had his first race 3 weeks earlier than MIKI (and that's because he was going to the LEVY) and he finishes 2 weeks earlier in the year so he has raced one week longer over the span of the year. That shouldn't earn him any votes?? March to October is better than April to November??
Also, I am sure he is well aware that MIKI beat him 4 times to WIJI 3 but he makes a statement to blur them together as 3 or 4 times each. Haha
He fails to mention any speed related facts. Can't really blame him. 1 World record may be a fluke or trip but 4 world records (multiple track records) always on top or the outside. One on the outside, in the slop even.
He points to WIJI racing on half miles. This is true but MIKI is a much better and faster horse so that is normal. The competition also isn't as stiff on the half miles.
He mentions WIJI has more wins. I wonder if he ever noticed he has more losses too. AND More third place finishes.
Did he mention how many different horses beat WIJI. OK the list is fairly long, but MIKI and Rockin Ron both have multiple victories over him. MIKI only has a couple different horses in total that beat him.
He was clever to mention that WIJI earned more money. We better insert the words purse money here. There is a reason that MIKI didn't chase every last dollar on the track. His money and importance will be off the track.
Great job and kudos to WIJI though, as he did set the earnings record for an older horse. That is something he can try have as a goal to break next year and without MIKI maybe he will if he comes back as strong. It's a shame that we won't get to see one last race between these warriors.