Trainer George Teague knows what it takes to win the North America Cup, after all he won the 2006 edition with a hulking son of Jennas Beach Boy named Total Truth.
A trio of 2009 North America Cup eligibles were on display on Wednesday morning at Dover Downs, and all three of them were impressive winners in their respective qualifying assignments.
Mr Wiggles, a Teague-trained son of Badlands Hanover, turned in a 1:55.1 winning effort for driver Corey Callahan. The colt rolled the field through splits of :28.3, :57.2 and 1:26.1 before stepping home in :29 seconds to win by more than 10 lengths.
The pacer won five of his eight starts last season and banked just over $54,000 for the Delaware partnership of Elmer Fannin of Lincoln and George Teague Jr. Inc. of Harrington.
Zee Barber front-stepped to a 1:53.4 triumph in his qualifying tilt for driver Jim Morand. The youngster whacked out panels of :27.4, :57 and 1:25 before kicking home in :28.4. The Teague pupil drew off to win by more than 13 lengths.
The homebred son of Badlands Hanover put together a 3-1-0 record in four starts during his freshman campaign for owners Gary & Barbara Iles of Harrington, DE.
Teague also watched Barber Pole finish second in his first qualifier of the season. The son of Badlands Hanover, who was the runner-up in the final of last year’s $257,850 Matron Stakes, was individually timed in 1:55.3 with Jim Morand at the helm.
Gary & Barbara Iles of Harrington, DE share ownership on the homebred, who put together a 3-2-0 record in five freshman starts while banking just over $90,000 in the process.