Jailbird Jog prepared for next week’s Hambletonian Oaks eliminations in fine style on Saturday, July 25 at The Meadowlands, taking the $96,690 Tompkins-Geers Stake for three-year-old trotting fillies in a lifetime-best 1:51.2.
“(The trip) was just kind of what the doctor ordered,” said winning driver James MacDonald. “You want them brave and strong going into the Hambletonian Oaks, and she's definitely peaking again. She was sensational in her last start (when she won a division of the Del Miller) and again today. I’m just so excited to get behind her.”
MacDonald was in no particular hurry with the daughter of Tactical Landing-Miss Don Fanucci S, sitting sixth past the quarter where Sugar Packet (Joe Bongiorno) had the point in :28, and half with Shes Moni (Scott Zeron) in front in :55.2. Approaching the far turn, Jailbird Jog picked up a live tow from the first-over Frattina Diablo S (Tim Tetrick) as Shes Moni raced clear of the field by 3-1/2 lengths at three-quarters in 1:22.4.
At the head of the stretch, Jailbird Jog was eased off her cover from fourth, and she showed her familiar late kick, using a workmanlike effort to get past Frattina Diablo S with a little less than a 1/16th to go before reporting home a half-length winner. Emmas Mystery Ccl (Jonathan Ahle) was third.
“I gotta be honest, today, it was kind of a hectic day running around,” said MacDonald, who travelled to The Meadows and finished third in the Adios before heading to The Meadowlands. “I was just happy to get here on time and get behind the big girl, and then be able to work out a nice trip for her. Hopefully, we can build off today and there are bigger things to come.”
MacDonald, the five-time defending O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s top driver, was reminded that he’s going for a second straight Oaks after scoring last year with Conversano.
“That would be amazing,” said MacDonald. “Fingers crossed.”
Jailbird Jog has now won eight of 19 lifetime outings, good for earnings of $585,359. The Jason McGinnis trainee is five-for-eight this year for owners Thestable Jailbird Jog, P23 Bloodstock and Hutchison Harness LLC. As the 3-5 favourite, she returned $3.20 to her backers.
Nicholson, a colt by Walner-Love N Lindy, went wire-to-wire in the first of two $47,500 Tompkins-Geers divisions for three-year-old colt-and-gelding trotters. Driven by Dexter Dunn and trained by Marcus Melander, Nicholson had the front through :27.4, :56.3 and 1:24.2 splits and cruised to a 1-3/4-length victory over Create Escape (Ake Svanstedt) with Gabes Luck (Scott Zeron) third. Nicholson recorded his second career victory in nine starts in a lifetime-best 1:52.2. The colt, owned by Courant Inc., is one-for-two this year. He paid $7.20 as the 5-2 third choice in the wagering.
Minoan grabbed an early lead in the second division, rated the early fractions of :28 and :57.2, picked up speed to three-quarters in 1:25.1 and had just enough to hold off a late-charging Push To Start (MacDonald) by a nose. He stopped the timer in a lifetime-best 1:52.2 for driver Niko Karna and trainer Noel Daley. Jim Beam (Tim Tetrick) completed the ticket. The winning gelded son of Bar Hopping-Regal Woman recorded his sixth lifetime win in 18 attempts and improved to three-for-eight this year for Patricia Stables LLC, L.A. Express Stable LLC, Sjoeblom Racing Inc. and Daley. He paid $6.40 as the 2-1 second choice.
Both Nicholson and Minoan are Hambletonian eligible.
Brad Chisholm led the driver colony with three winners on the 15-race card.
All-source handle on the program totalled $2,378,656.
Post time at The Meadowlands will change effective Friday, July 31, when racing resumes at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)