Dashiki and Keepmywiglegametyt have been pleasant surprises this season for the George Teague Jr. Stable and will look to keep the good times rolling in Thursday’s (Nov. 29) $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund championship for two-year-old male pacers at Dover Downs.
The race is one of four DSBF finals for two-year-olds on the Thursday Dover card, along with the $260,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace for three-year-old pacers.
Both Teague pacers head into their DSBF championship off wins in preliminary divisions of the series which took place on November 19 at Dover. For the final, Dashiki will start from Post 7 with Montrell Teague in the sulky, while Keepmywiglegametyt will start from Post 4 with Jim Morand.
Dashiki is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line and Keepmywiglegametyt is 7-2. Jim King Jr.-trained Chillaxin Away is the 2-1 early favourite from Post 3. Tim Tetrick will drive Chillaxin Away, a gelding who won the October DSBF final at Harrington Raceway. Dashiki was second in that race, followed by Keepmywiglegametyt.
“I think they have a good shot,” said Clyde Francis, who trains Dashiki and Keepmywiglegametyt for the Teague Stable. “They trained good (Monday). Chillaxin got a little bit better draw, but that’s racing. If both of them race well they should be all right.”
Dashiki has won three of his past four races (his loss came by a nose to Chillaxin Away). For the year, Dashiki has won four of nine starts, finished second on four occasions, and earned $69,560 for owners George Teague Jr. Inc. and Teague Racing Partnership. Teague bred the gelding, who is a son of Barber Pole out of Enniskerry.
“He doesn’t have that sprinting speed, but he can sit outside a long time; he can go a long way,” Francis said. “He’s been somewhat of a surprise. It seems like the more he’s raced, the better he’s gotten. He raced real good last week. He cut the mile and held on to win.”
Keepmywiglegametyt, who will enter the final off of back-to-back wins, has won four of nine races overall. A colt by Mr Wiggles out of Airtight, Keepmywiglegametyt has earned $57,780 for breeder-owner George Teague Jr. Inc.
“He was always more laid back,” Francis said. “He showed up when it came to start racing. Training down, he never really showed that much; he had one speed. But once he started racing he came on. He was a bit more versatile.”
In addition to the two horses in the DSBF final for two-year-old male pacers, Francis will send out The Lady Sheriff in the championship for two-year-old female pacers. The Lady Sheriff, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line, has won four of eight races and $88,960. Her victories include the October DSBF final at Harrington.
The filly, by Southwind Lynx out of Sheriff Sale, is a homebred owned by George Teague Jr. Inc., K & R Racing, and Montrell Teague.
“Hopefully we can have a good night,” Francis said.
Vistamista is the 2-1 morning line favourite in the final for two-year-old female pacers. Disco Soliel is the 5-2 early choice for the female trotting final, while Embrace The Grind has received the 2-1 early nod for the male trotting final.
(USTA)