After nearly 34 months on the sidelines, 2015 U.S. Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit made his long-awaited return to the racetrack on Tuesday morning (Aug. 20) during qualifying action at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Regular pilot Montrell Teague was up behind Wiggle It Jiggleit for the ninth and final qualifying race of the morning, and the duo surveyed the scene early from the outside Post 5. Once the starting gate sped away, the duo took a relaxed approach and worked their way into third prior to the quarter flashing to life in :28.4.
Racing under perfect conditions, Teague and Wiggle It Jiggleit remained in third through the middle half of the mile, which saw the fractions cut in :58.1 and 1:26.1.
After having done all the work on the engine, Lyons King and driver Mike Cole lead the field of five into the stretch, and it was there that Wiggle It Jiggleit would emerge.
Teague utilized minimal urging to tip Wiggle It Jiggleit out from third and motor by his foes in the final eighth of the mile. When all was said and done, Wiggle It Jiggleit posted a quarter-length victory in 1:53.4 via a 27-second final panel.
"He was good," Montrell Teague told Trot Insider. "The main thing is he came out of it good."
Teague noted that the time of the mile was in the target range planned for the qualifier.
"We wanted to stay around 1:54-55 since he's going to qualify a few times," confirming that the plan is to return to Philly next week.
Last week, owner George Teague stated that recent training miles for the son of Mr Wiggles have been in the 1:56 range at Harrington Raceway, and that there is plenty of work to do before Wiggle It Jiggleit is ready to return for pari-mutuel action.
“He’s not in 'racehorse shape' yet, but he’s ready to qualify,” Teague said at the time. “In about six weeks he should be fine. He’ll have at least three qualifiers, maybe four. I don’t know where we’ll go with him, but I plan on starting him a couple times this year. He’s still six weeks from that, though.”
Wiggle It Jiggleit, pictured victorious with Montrell Teague at Yonkers Raceway.
In his career, Wiggle It Jiggleit (Mr Wiggles - Mozzi Hanover) boasts a sensational 38-10-2 summary from 51 starts with more than $4 million in earnings.
(With quotes from Harnessracing.com)
I love that horse, he is the
I love that horse, he is the best i have seen
Mr Mobley: Even though the
Mr Mobley: Even though the Teague's horses are stabled at Harrington, he rarely ever qualifies his horses there and will qualify them either at Harrah's Philly or the Meadowlands when they're open.
WIJI beat a pretty good horse
WIJI beat a pretty good horse in Lyons King, too. Lyons King went a mile in 1:50.1 earlier this year and has earned over $56,000 in 2019. My only question is why did WIJI qualify at Harrah's Philly rather than at Harrington, in Mr. Teague's home state of DE? Nonetheless, all the best of luck to WIJI in his return to the races. If all goes well, maybe we'll see him in The Levy early next spring.