Wiggle It Jiggleit won the 10th Annual $150,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial Monday at Harrington Raceway in 1:50 over a sloppy racetrack.
Owned by George Teague Jr and Teague Racing Partnership, the four-year-old Mr Wiggles gelding notched his 36th career win in front of a large contingent of racing fans, many of whom came to see the 2015 Horse of the Year in action.
Wiggle It Jiggleit, who is trained by Clyde Francis, left alertly from post position one for driver Montrell Teague and protected position with strong early fractions of :26 and :54 with Luck Be Withyou in the pocket through three-quarters in 1:22.3. Wiggle It Jiggleit drew clear by two lengths in the stretch with an overpowering triumph. Mach It So, 2015 Quillen champ rallied strongly to be second with Luck Be Withyou third.
“I was raised here 40 years ago and just to have the race here is a big thing,” said owner George Teague. “It can’t get much better than that. You go around to Indiana, New York and see the crowds. It’s really nice to see.”
For 25-year-old driver Montrell Teague, the son of George Teague, Jr., it was also a rewarding effort. Wiggle It Jiggleit returned $2.20 to win.
“It’s great to win at Harrington,” said Montrell Teague. “I look in the stands and see all my family and friends. It’s a great win.”
Trainer Francis, who just returned from a multiple-week stint in Canada, was happy to be home.
“I was up there for almost three weeks, I was glad to get back down here,” said Francis, who indicated Wiggle It Jiggleit’s next race would likely be at Dayton Raceway (Ohio) at the end of the month.
The win pushed Wiggle It Jiggleit over the $3.6 million lifetime, while also equaling a track record for four-year-old pacing geldings. It was yet another resume-building win for the star pacer who has won major events this year such as the Canadian Pacing Derby, Graduate, Dorothy Mullin Memorial, Battle of Lake Erie, Dan Patch Invitational, just to name a few.
The race is named after the popular late long-time legislator who was an avid harness racing fan and was a regular at the racetrack.
Three $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes were contested for two-year-old pacing fillies on the undercard.
Driver Victor Kirby piloted two of the three winners for owner Jo Ann Looney-King and trainer Jim King, Jr., winning with Spanish Dream ($6.40, Victor Kirby, 1:57) and Logans Girl ($4.20, 1:58). Spanish Dream is sired by Dream Away, while Logans Girl is a daughter of Roddys Bags Again.
George Teague, Jr.'s I Won Them Both ($2.40, Montrell Teague) captured the third division with a 1:58 triumph for trainer Francis. I Won Them Both is sired by Mr Apples.
Four $20,000 divisions for pacing colts and geldings will go post ward on Tuesday with trotters taking center stage on Wednesday.
(Harrington Raceway)
Ted Decker...... Please
Ted Decker......
Please explain what WIJI has done (hasn't remained undefeated, hasn't set world records (except in age class) that, in your opinion, would make him even be considered in top 5. I am talking horses, in no particular order, like SBSW, Niatross, Albatross, Bret Hanover, Cam Fella, Rocknroll Hanover and if you want to throw in a couple trotters Muscle Hill, Moni Maker, Vareene. List could maybe go on and on about who is better than WIJI but one thing for certain: Not one of these horses EVER lost races to overnight horses. They all set world records.
Always B Miki never has the support of being the best horse ever..... People say he might be the FASTEST horse ever. With the multiple world records and being hung outside for a couple of them, plus sloppy track in one of them, plus getting sideways in the turn (as he had so much speed at the time he couldn't handle the turn properly) there could be good arguments for fastest ever -- Not to mention when Jimmy Tackter says that along with David Miller and Brett Miller who have sat behind him and thousands of horses it means something.
I love WIJI..... but I would even say Miki is tougher as he is racing with screws all through his feet. Most horses had to retire with the multiple injuries he has had. Name another horse that could stand in a stall cold for 3 weeks and come out and go the races he did. Yes he finished second to WIJI but he hadn't been touched. Crazy good.
One of the top 5 all time Ted
One of the top 5 all time Ted Decker.....
Since this is Jug week it seems appropriate. Last year WIJI went a phenomenal race in the Jug. I still like Life Sign's jug victory better as it was a world record and he was hung the whole mile, plus hung the whole first mile. I think the announcers are really overplaying his win just because racing needs fans.... and it is working... so kudos to them... and kudos to the connections of WIJI.
He definitely has one of the top Jug races all time but honestly not even a top ten horse all time (not yet anyway.... He keeps this up for a few more years and maybe). Similar to LIfe Sign.... unless WIJI keeps racing for the next few years like he is, eventually he will just be a horse talked about during Jug Week. A horse can't lose to overnight horses... OFTEN.... and be considered as a top horse of all time. Ridiculous. Maybe a top 5 toughest horse and then possibly see you making arguments.
There is a curious thing
There is a curious thing about this racehorse. The top level of harness racing has 3 or 4 horses that are inches apart and another dozen maybe a foot behind. However when WIJI loses a race he seems to get "snarly", and consistently comes back tougher and meaner in his next start. I have never seen one like him !!
50k claimers. That's a joke!
50k claimers. That's a joke! You couldn't buy the shoes off any horse in that race for 50k.
Mr Thomas. Pretty good purse
Mr Thomas.
Pretty good purse for 50 claimers. Wonder why Pete and Miki didn't show up. They pick and choose. WIJI dosent. A great champion.
WIJI won as he should. Rail
WIJI won as he should.
Rail position, 10 cents on the dollar.
If you have a healthy Gelding and don't mind padding the bank roll by beating 50k claimers all the power to you.
Well done.
Still one of the top five
Still one of the top five racehorses ever in my mind. Races every week and dodges nobody or any track. A superstar.
I love this horse , and am
I love this horse , and am very proud of his connections ! Well done team Teague