Hollywood Dayton: Wiggle It Jiggleit gets the better of Always B Miki this time

Montrell Teague showed a new leaf behind Wiggle It Jiggleit on Friday night in the $150,000 Dayton Pacing Derby, and that proved the difference in another thriller as the defending Horse of the Year nosed Always B Miki on the wire in a 1:49 1/5 mile at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway.

Sent off as the second choice while starting outside of his main rival, Wiggle It Jiggleit was able to wedge into a four-hole behind Always B Miki as Luck Be Withyou and Eric Goodell sprinted out to the lead in 26 2/5 with Freaky Feet Pete settling for the pocket. Driver David Miller, behind Always B Miki, elected to take the patient route and didn't pull until the 54 4/5 half. Teague and Wiggle It Jiggleit went right with him, and the pair attacked pace-setter Luck Be Withyou through a 27 2/5 third quarter.

Miller appeared to be keeping something in reserve with Always B Miki, and once he asked the 5-year-old to go late on the far turn, the response was instant as he overtook the leader. However, Teague was already high-lining Wiggle It Jiggleit, and he aimed for the three-path headstretch. Wiggle It Jiggleit responded, as he has so many times, with an explosive burst of speed, and the two matched strides most of the stretch, but in the final yards it was Wiggle It Jiggleit and Teague getting the better of Always B Miki and Miller in a scintilating mile on a less-than-fast surface. Freaky Feet Pete was a good distance back in third.

"I thought Dave was going to brush to the front and leave me first-over," said Teague. "The trip worked out great."

As the second choice Wiggle It Jiggleit returned $4.40 to win. George Teague Jr. and Teague Racing Partnership own the 4-year-old son of Mr. Wiggles who is rapidly approaching $3.7 million in career earnings.