Come this Saturday night when the horses line up behind the starting gate in the seventh race $50,000 final elimination division of the Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway, driver Montrell Teague will let Wiggle It Jiggleit dictate how the race will go.
“I don’t have a game plan going into the race this Saturday,” Montrell Teague said. “We will see how things shape up when we get behind the starting gate.”
Wiggle It Jiggleit, the 2015 Dan Patch Horse of the Year, is in a tough spot. He drew the outside post position seven and for the first time is facing the “wonder from down under” Bit Of A Legend N, who is four for four in the Levy Series so far.
Even if Wiggle It Jiggleit can win the race, he may not have enough points to make it to the estimated $400,000 plus rich final on Saturday, April 24.
“We kinda came into the Levy Series a little late,” Teague said, “Even every horse that just drops in the box gets 25 points, so we need to win this Saturday. And if we do win we still may not make the final, but anything’s possible.
“There is still a consolation race for $100,000 and we would be happy to make it in there.” Teague said, “It’s never bad when you can win a race and make $50,000. I’d be more than happy with that every week.
“He (WIGI) is going to bang heads with these top horses all season long, Teague said, “But I know he is up to it right now. He (WIGI) came out of Saturday’s race in good shape. I had ridden up with the truck and trailer so I was cooling him out walking him after the race and he was fine.
“It seemed like it was a training mile for him last Saturday. He does it so easy,” Teague explained. “A normal horse may go in 1:52 easy, but for Wiggle It Jiggleit, 1:51 and 1:50 is an easy mile for him to do.
“All I did last week was pop his ear plugs the last quarter mile and he zipped home in :27.” Teague added, “I had All Bets Off on my back and another one first-over so I just kicked the ear plugs out and did not have to say anything to him and he tore right off and won it easy. I didn’t have to pop the ear plugs but I wanted to as it was a different track for him and I wanted him to know when to go.
“He is a good shipper and now he is nice and easy in the race paddock,” Teague explained, “He has finally calmed down and is in his racing mode. Sometimes before he would jump around in the race paddock.
“I’ve watched Bit Of A Legend race every week in the series,” Teague said, “And I know he is a very very nice horse. It will be a real good race this Saturday. I think we are on an equal level with him and the other horses in this series.
By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink