Trainer George Teague, Jr. has given an update on Johnny Z and Mr Wiggles, two of his Pepsi North America Cup eligibles that will be contesting the $300,140 Max C.
Hempt Memorial Pace this Saturday at Pocono Downs.
Teague pupil Badlands Nitro captured the event last year in a stakes record 1:50. The son of Badlands Hanover would go on to finish second to Somebeachsomewhere in the NA Cup.
“I like our chances but you have seven other top notch horses in the field,” Teague told the Pocono publicity department. “Both Johnny Z and Mr Wiggles came out of those elimination races last Saturday in good shape.”
Johnny Z was coming back to the races after a layoff of almost two months after coming up sick in the Matts Scooter March 21.
“[Driver Brian Sears] did a nice job in putting him on the front early and giving him a breather at the half,” said Teague. It was a :29.1 second quarter that really made it tough for the rest of the field to catch Sears and Johnny Z.
While it may have surprised many that Mr Wiggles won a Hempt division, it wasn’t for his trainer.
“Mr Wiggles has as much talent as I have in the barn,” Teague noted. “He’s a very competitive horse and [driver Corey Callahan] did a great job of handling him in that Hempt elimination race.”
Does Teague have any advice for Sears and Callahan in the final?
“Two words, ‘good luck,'” Teague said. “There are too many factors that come into place and your horses have to have talent plus a little bit of luck.”
Sheer Desire, who turned in the fastest time in those three elimination races with a 1:51 time for Dave Palone and trainer Ron Burke, has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite, while the Teague entry is the second early choice at 5-2. Sheer Desire will have to overcome Post 8.
Johnny Z, Mr Wiggles and Sheer Desire have all been assessed hypothetical odds in Trot Magazine's 2009 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book. They have been rated at 45-1, 60-1 and 12-1, respectively, for Canada's premier standardbred race.
The field for the Hempt appears below.
Head # -- Horse -- Driver -- Post Position
No. 1 -- Lahaye -- Roger Hammer -- Post 2
No. 1A -- Gallant Yankee -- Yannick Gingras -- Post 7
No. 2 -- Mr Wiggles -- Corey Callahan -- Post 5
No. 2A -- Johnny Z -- Brian Sears -- Post 6
No. 3 -- Rustys All In -- Tim Tetrick -- Post 1
No. 4 -- Arctic Warrior -- David Miller -- Post 3
No. 5 -- Upfront Hoosierboy -- Kevin Sizer -- Post 4
No. 6 -- Sheer Desire -- Dave Palone -- Post 8
No. 7 -- River Shark -- Daniel Dube -- Post 9
(With files from Pocono)