Dover: Wiggle It Jiggleit's 2016 debut a winning one

2015 Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit began his 4-year-old campaign on Monday evening at Dover Downs with a facile 1:51 4/5 victory in a $60,000 invitational pace.

With regular pilot Montrell Teague at the controls, Wiggle It Jiggleit was in control through fractions of 27 1/5, 56 3/5 and 1:24 3/5. Millionaire Bettor's Edge (Matt Kakaley) offered a bit of first-over pressure up the backstretch, but his move was repelled by the time the field raced into the far turn.

In the stretch second choice Rockeyed Optimist (Tim Tetrick), who had sat in the pocket up to that point, dropped into the passing lane, but he just paced with Wiggle It Jiggleit, who reported home with a 1 1/2 length decision. Bushwacker (Corey Callahan) checked in the third position.

"We tried to get him an easy one and see what he had coming home," said Montrell Teague.

Clyde Francis trains Wiggle It Jiggleit, a 4-year-old gelding by Mr. Wiggles, for owners George Teague Jr. Inc. and the Teague Racing Partnership of Delaware and Florida. Last year's Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug champion now has 24 victories from 28 career starts, and he has now earned over $2.2 million.

"It was a nice, easy run, and he responded well," said George Teague. "We're planning on going to the Levy (at Yonkers Raceway) on Saturday, and we'll just spot him. He's always been built for racing."