The 2015 U.S. Harness Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit, headlines a short field of five pacers that will do battle Sunday in the $200,000 Prix D’Eté at Hippodrome 3R.
Currently ranked #1 in the North American Top Ten Poll and the richest harness horse of the 2016 season with earnings of $1.03 million Wiggle It Jiggleit, drew post one in the Prix D’Eté.
Once the richest and most prestigious race in all of Canada, the Prix D’Ete was dropped from competition in 1992 and was then revived by the Quebec Jockey Club at Hippodrome 3R two years ago.
Prior winners of the Prix D’Eté before coming to 3R included world champion performers Niatross (1980), Cam Fella (1982), Strike Out (1979), Beach Towel (1990), Armbro Emerson (1986) and Romulus Hanover (1972) to name a few.
As the Prix D’Eté was an open event in the past, it is now restricted to just four-year-olds. The race was captured by Sunfire Blue Chip in 2014 and by All Bets Off in 2015. Both horses won in identical times of 1:50.3, which was at the time the fastest miles ever in Canada for four-year-old pacers on a half mile track. Rockin Ron broke that with his 1:50.1 mile at Flamboro Downs in the 2016 Confederation Cup.
“It will be very special this year to all the harness racing fans in Quebec to be able to come and see the [U.S.] Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit, compete at the Hippodrome 3R,” said Vincent Trudel, general manager at 3R. “To have a world champion in this race is what made the Prix D’Eté so special many years ago and is now happening again this Sunday. It will be very prestigious for our racing program to feature such a great horse.”
The post position draw is as follows:
(Post/Horse/Trainer/Driver)
1. Wiggle It Jiggleit - Clyde Francis - Montrell Teague
2. Asap Hanover - Sean Mehlenbacher - Louis-Philippe Roy
3. Rockin In Heaven - Dr. Ian Moore - Jody Jamieson
4. Rock N Roll World - Ron Burke - Daniel Dubé
5. Rockin Ron - Ron Burke - Yannick Gingras
Wiggle It Jiggleit comes into the race with 11 wins in 17 starts and lifetime earnings of $3.26 million. Last week he captured the $325,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park in 1:49.1, last quarter mile in an amazing :26 in defeating rivals Always B Miki, All Bets Off and Shamballa.
“The draw worked out great again,” George Teague, owner of Wiggle It Jiggleit, said. “We can’t wait to come up to Quebec this weekend. Wiggle It Jiggleit is feeling great and from what I hear he will really like racing over 3R’s oval. It will also be special to show him off to the race fans in Quebec.”
Rockin Ron hails from the Ron Burke Stable and comes into the race sporting 10 wins in 18 starts, a record of 1:50.1 and earnings this year of nearly $300,000. His stablemate, Rock N Roll World, sports two wins and earnings of nearly $100,000 this season.
Rockin In Heaven comes into the Prix D’Eté for trainer Dr. Ian Moore off an impressive 1:51.2 victory at Mohawk Racetrack for driver Jody Jamieson. He has three wins and $84,000 won this year.
Asap Hanover has been first, second or third in eight of his 12 starts this year for trainer Sean Mehlenbacher and has a record this season of 1:50.2.
First race post time on Prix D’Eté Day is 1:30 p.m.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)