Joe Holloway hopes Fast Movin Train is on track for a successful New York Sire Stakes season. But first the gelding will have to compete against the locomotive known as Wiggle It Jiggleit in Saturday’s $47,124 Simpson Memorial Stakes for three-year-old male pacers at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Wiggle It Jiggleit is 5-for-5 this year -- and unbeaten in six lifetime starts -- for owner George Teague Jr., trainer Clyde Francis and driver Montrell Teague. Earlier this season, he won the Buddy Gilmour Series at the Meadowlands as well as beating older horses in a preliminary round of the Sonsam Series. He is the 3-5 morning line favourite in the Simpson, leaving from post four in a seven-horse field.
Fast Movin Train is coming off a neck victory over Rock N Roll World in last week’s Reynolds Memorial Stakes at the Meadowlands. Fast Movin Train and driver David Miller won in a career-best 1:52.3 at odds of 24-1. Fast Movin Train drew post five and is 5-1. Rock N Roll World, who is the 9-2 second choice, will leave from post one with Scott Zeron driving for trainer Mark Silva.
After going winless in eight starts last year, Fast Movin Train has two wins and four second-place finishes in eight races this season. He has earned $59,743 in his career.
“He’s definitely better than he was last year,” said Holloway, referring to Fast Movin Train’s 0-for-8 season at age two. “I thought he stood a chance last week. As it worked out, he got a good trip. If he was first up like (favourite) Coaster was, he probably would have been back some. But he shouldn’t have been as long a shot as he was.”
Holloway, who trains Fast Movin Train for owner Michael Ouriel, thinks the horse could be ready for a favourable New York Sire Stakes campaign.
“I don’t think he’s an open type of horse, but hopefully he can be a good sire stakes horse,” Holloway said. “He has gate speed, so he can get position in the sire stakes. I think he’ll grind it out and have a very decent year.”
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.