Harness: Jiggy Jog retired from racing

The Ake Svanstedt Stable account on X announced on Monday afternoon that star trotting mare Jiggy Jog has been retired from racing and will transition to her broodmare career.

"Today we made a hard decision to stop racing Jiggy Jog," the post on X said. "After her last start in the Dayton Derby, we noticed something wasn't right. We had her examined by two veterinarians, and it was found she has a small tear on her sesamoid ligament, which is very uncommon in Standardbreds. The good news is we caught it early and she is not lame or in any pain.

A 5-year-old daughter of Walner bred in Sweden by Vestmarka AB, Jiggy Jog S raced in North America for owner Jorgen Sparredal and was trained by Svanstedt from ages 2 to 4, and then was sold to Svanstedt along with partners Steve Stewart, John Lengacher and Hickory Hollow Stables prior to her 2024 campaign. She was a perfect six-for-six this year, including a career-best 1:49 2/5 mile in a downpour in the John Cashman Memorial on Hambletonian Day at the Meadowlands.

"She has given us so much joy and excitement for the past four years. Every time she went behind the gate, it was a pleasure to watch her amazing technique and fightning instinct to win," continued the announcement on X. "She gave 110% percent every time. Now we look forward to her next chapter in life as a broodmare. We want to wish her and all her owners a successful breeding career.

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Jiggy Jog would have been trying to join elite company by winning three straight Breeders Crowns, as she captured the 2022 3-Year-Old Filly Trot and the 2023 Mares Open Trot. Earlier this year, she defeated several of the best horses from both Europe and North America in the $1 million MGM Yonkers International Trot.

"A big thank you to her best friend and caretaker Rene Lopez for his professional support and care for her throughout these years. Thank you to her driver Dexter Dunn. Thank you Jiggy Jog, you are one of a kind," the post concluded.