Wiggle It Jiggleit kicked- off his four-year-old season breezing to an easy 1:51.4 victory in the $60,000 Invitational Handicap on a windy Monday, March 28. Atta Boy Dan won the $36,000 Open Preferred while Bad Boy Matt took the $33,000 Delaware Special on a powerful 15-race harness racing card at Dover Downs. Tony Morgan, who drove four winners, piloted both ends of the DSBF sophomore trots.
The 2015 Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit was driven to the early lead by Montrell Teague and cut out all the fractions in the mile. Tim Tetrick got away second with Rockeyed Optimist and stayed there ending a four-race win streak. Buckwacker and Corey Callahan rolled out of fourth and got up for third.
After the race, driver Teague said, "I really didn't have a plan of what to do, which is normal for me driving Wiggle It, but I made the front easily and had it my own way.'
George Teague, Montrell's father who manages the brilliant young gelding remarked, "We'll see how he comes out of the race, and I'll drop him in to race on Saturday in the Levy (at Yonkers).
Wiggle It Jiggleit, an altered son of Mr. Wiggles-Mozzi Hanover, is trained by Clyde Francis for George Teague Jr. and Teague Racing Partnership.
He won for the 24th time in his 28-race career and now has earned $2,248,495 lifetime.
Driver Tony Morgan and trainer-lessee Syl King teamed to win both ends of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) 3-Year-Old Male Trot first of two preliminary divisions. Chippofftheway, the freshman champion, an altered son of Master Levac-Off The Wall won the 1st race in 1:59.2, his seventh lifetime win in 12 races and upped his earnings to $111,440. Mondello (Art Stafford Jr.) broke stride early and rallied to finish second in front of Samuel J (Vic Kirby).
In the 2nd DSBF prelim, Outside The Line, a CR Commando-Bonfire Hanover gelding, was the Morgan-King winner again with a 2:02.3 upset victory. Boston Malibu (Allan Davis) and Elton J (Carlo Poliseno) were second and third respectively.
On a standout undercard, Andrew McCarthy guided Atta Boy Dan to his second win in three weeks at the track winning the $36,000 Open Preferred Handicap in 1:51.4 for Weaver Bruscemi and Burke Racing stable, his third win of the year in eight outings banking $72,600. The Western Terror-Dropitlikeitshot gelding won for the 40th time and now has earned $538,792 in purses. Jeneral Patton (Callahan) was second ending a four-race victory skein. Smart Rokker (Tony Morgan) also saw a three race win streak end, finishing third.
Allan Davis steered Reg Hazzard and Legacy Racing's Bad Boy Matt to a 1:51.1 triumph in the $33,000 Delaware Special. It was his third win in his last four and fourth win of the year for the Badlands Hanover-Mattercycle gelding now a $75,395 winner this year. Mustang Art (Sean Bier) finished second for the second-time in-a-row. Sparky Mark (Jonathan Roberts) closed well for third.
In an $18,000 4&5-Year-Old Male pace, Tony Morgan, who won the first three races on the card, made it four wins driving New Patrol home in 1:53.1 to give owner Frank Chick and trainer Kevin Lare a double. The Armbro Deuce-Triple Flip gelding held off Apollo Seelster (Tetrick), second, and front pacing Skyway Gladiator (Mike Rossi) for his fourth win of the year in nine races.
Janet Hudson's Just A Jolt and Tim Tetrick took the lead from Four Staces (Callahan) and was never headed in a 1:52 performance to take the $17,500 Male Winners Over pace. Four Staces proved second best with Itrustyou (McCarty) the show horse. Jim King conditions the Village Jolt-Just Wait Kate six-year-old gelding, who won for the second time this year and 32nd time in his career while earning $$479,577 lifetime.
The $24,000 Mares Open and two $20,000 DSBF Soph filly pace top a strong Tuesday program.
Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. Dover Downs is dark on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
When at the track, watch live races and enjoy dining in the Winners Circle Restaurant's acclaimed Harness Racing Buffet. Call 302-674-4600 for reservations.
Simulcasting of harness and thoroughbred racing is available daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight at Dover Downs where there is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner's Circle Restaurant and for those planning to stay at the 4-star Dover Downs Hotel. Call 302-674-4600.
Marv Bachrad