Mr Wiggles didn’t just worm his way into next Saturday’s lucrative Breeders’ Crown final for three-year-old pacing colts. He did it decisively, converting off a pocket trip to score by two lengths in 1:50.2.
Though driver Corey Callahan sent Mr Wiggles off the gate to the early lead, he allowed Mario Baillargeon and an aggressive Bay Of Sharks to overtake at the quarter pole, content to pocket-ride through middle fractions of :54.4 and 1:23.1 with Carnivore (Jody Jamieson) and Keep It Real (Steve Condren) close behind. In the stretch, Callahan angled Mr Wiggles out and took command, with horses three-wide across the racetrack behind him vying for second. In a photo, Bay Of Sharks was revealed as the place-cheque recipient, with Carnivore third, and 3-5 favourite If I Can Dream fourth.
The top eight finishers in this division, plus two colts (Well Said and Vintage Master) who were given a bye, will advance to the $617,880 Breeders’ Crown final for the ‘glamour boys’.
Mr Wiggles, a son of Badlands Hanover, is trained and co-owned by George Teague Jr. with Elmer Fannin. He has scored eight wins in 18 starts this season, and was most recently sixth in the Little Brown Jug on September 24.
“I liked my chances,” said Callahan. “He’s got a lot of good gate speed, and I thought I could get there early. I planned on cutting it but Mario came back. But it worked out well ... luckily I got to sneak out there and he exploded in the lane.
“I think it made a lot of difference (that Mr Wiggles did not head to Lexington after the Little Brown Jug). The rest of them were out there knocking heads -- Well Said and If I Can Dream and Dial Or Nodial, they were all going at it, and Wiggles was just hanging out at home, staying fresh. I’m sure he had to work plenty, but it helped that he didn’t have to go out there and race.
“Tonight, scoring down, I was very impressed. He doesn’t start up real good a lot of times, but today as soon as we went out on the track he felt strong, and obviously he went a good mile tonight.” (WEG)
|
Home :: News Archive :: Racing Reports :: Sale Reports :: Calendars :: Guide Directory :: Contact The Staff
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair Woirld Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2010 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved
Advertising Rates & Information For: Horseman And Fair Woirld Magazine :: HarnessRacing.com :: Harness Racing Weekend Preview
Website Design by eLink Design, Inc. A Lexington Web Design Company :: Hosted by Intelliwire, LLC, An Offsite Backup Company
Site contents may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
© 2010 Horseman Publishing Co., Lexington KY, All Rights Reserved