Flamboro: Wiggle It Jiggleit ready to forge ahead in Confederation Cup

“Anytime he loses people always want to know what’s wrong,” said George Teague about 2015 Horse of the Year Wiggle It Jiggleit. The 4-year-old, fresh off his second loss in six starts this year, moves to Flamboro Downs on Sunday night to face his own age group in the C$244,000 Confederation Cup.

“He had some shoeing problems going into that race (May 7 at Mohawk) and he was dancing out there like Fred Astaire,” said Teague. “When he didn’t go right by at the head of the stretch I knew he wasn’t himself. We scoped him afterwards and he was definitely a bit sick.”

For Teague, sickness was something that had to at some point catch up with Wiggle It Jiggleit. The horse has been pretty much trouble free during his sophomore campaign and this season. “Anytime you travel a lot there’s a chance for a horse to get sick,” Teague said. “He’s been very fortunate.”

While Teague could explain Wiggle It Jiggleit’s second-place finish last Saturday, the reality is he shouldn’t have to. The altered son of Mr Wiggles has had to endure some brutal trips this year and has for the most part come out smelling like a rose.

Two overland trips at Yonkers netted Wiggle It Jiggleit a second and a win dead-heat with eventual champion Bit Of A Legend N in the Levy series.

Asked about his horse on a half-mile track, the owner didn’t seem to think it mattered. “I think he’s good on any size track. We just have to hope that he’s recovered and Clyde (trainer Francis) says he’s been better since Saturday,” Teague said.

Wiggle It Jiggle It drew post nine in the 11th race of 12 on Sunday night at Flamboro. The card gets underway at 6:00 p.m.

The nine-hole means he will start from the second tier, always a concern to any post time favorite. “You have to hope the rail horse can leave a bit so you have room,” said Teague. Wiggle It Jiggleit, with Montrell Teague in tow, will follow Rodeo Romeo at the start.

The Confederation Cup could be an interesting affair with trainer Ron Burke sending out three including Rockin Ron, a gelding that campaigned against Wiggle It Jiggleit and Freaky Feet Pete on the Indiana Circuit as a 3-year-old. Since being purchased by the Burke connections, the son of Real Desire has clicked off 10 consecutive victories including nine this year. He drew post 4 in the half-mile track contest and will have Yannick Gingras at the controls for the very first time. Rockin Ron has dominated action at The Meadows and then most recently at Miami Valley for the Burke stable.

My Hero Ron (post 2) and Rock N Roll World (post 8) give Burke a few more cards to play with in the nine-horse field.

Trainer Ian Moore’s State Treasurer finished third behind Wiggle It Jiggleit in last week’s Mohawk feature. His stablemate, Rockin In Heaven, will try to pull off the upset from post seven in the Confederation Cup. With nearly $400K in career earnings, the son of Rock N Roll Heaven captured the $290,000 Empire Breeders Classic last year at Tioga Downs. Trevor Henry will be in the bike on Sunday.

Rodeo Romeo and National Seelster will represent the Chris Ryder stable and both have shown a propensity to handle the half-mile track well. Earlier this year Rodeo Romeo captured the Sagamore Hill final at Yonkers. Brett Miller will drive him.

National Seelster, another Ryder trained 4-year-old, faced Wiggle It Jiggleit at the outset of his racing career early in 2015. Now he returns after a pair of solid tighteners at The Meadowlands. Sylvain Filion has the assignment from post six.

Americanprimetime (post 3) and Drachan Hanover (post 5) round out the field.

Teague was hoping that all systems would be go for this Sunday and was weighing his options for the following start.

“He can go in the Graduate at The Meadowlands or the Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield,” said Teague. “We’ll take it one race at a time.”