Harrah's Hoosier Park: Breeders Crown Mare Trot elims to Jiggy Jog S, Refined

Jiggy Jog S and Refined delivered in the pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot eliminations on Saturday evening at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Adare Castle (James MacDonald) led through a dawdling clip of 28 1/5, 59 2/5 and 1:29 in the first elimination, but 1-9 favorite Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn) wheeled out of third coming to three-quarters. Once she was fed the clear racetrack, Jiggy Jog S rallied to and by Adare Castle, then pulled away in the final eighth to tally by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:55. Adare Castle held second from HP Mama B (Tim Tetrick), while Herculisa (David Miller) and Weslynn Quest (Andy Miller) also advanced to the final.

"She got away in a good position and the speed wasn't very hot," noted Dunn. "James was probably waiting on me to come, but I was happy where I was, and she's got such a great turn of foot.

"She got a lot stronger from her 3-year-old year to coming into her 4-year-old year, and she's putting in great performances all year."

Jiggy Jog S is a 4-year-old daughter of Walner trained by Ake Svanstedt for owner Jorgen Sparredal Inc. This was her 16th win from 33 career starts for the Vestmarka AB-bred, she has now earned $1,878,779, and she paid $2.20 to win.

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In the second elimination Refined (Doug McNair) cut the opening quarter in 26 4/5 and then yielded to sit in the pocket behind favored M-M's Dream (D. Miller), who brushed out of third, before the 57 1/5 half. With M-M's Dream facing no outside pressure, the tempo stayed easy to three-quarters, which was put up in 1:27 2/5, setting up a sprint to the wire. McNair angled Refined off the pylons early in the stretch drive, and although M-M's Dream was game off the easy pace, Refined surged by her nearing the the wire, prevailing by a head in 1:54 1/5. Warrawee Xenia (Tetrick), Raised By Lindy (Scott Zeron) and Ghostintheshell S (Peter Wrenn) also moved on to next week's final.

"M-M's Dream is a perfect one to follow, but I like my mare, too. She's been great every time I've driven her," said McNair. "She was great tonight. I moved her fairly early for this track, and she trotted right through to the wire."

A 7-year-old Uncle Peter mare bred by Walnut Hall Stock Farm, Refined is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owners Joyce McClelland and Larry Wills. She has a record of 37-24-14 from 109 appearances, has put away $985,733 and returned $26.40 for the 12-1 upset.

"We bought her after her 3-year-old season and she's just been a pleasure to train," stated Morgan Jr. "She's done nothing wrong - ultra consistent."

Here's how the group will line up behind the gate in next Saturday night's $400,000 final:

1-Jiggy Jog S
2-Adare Castle
3-M-M's Dream
4-Refined
5-HP Mama B
6-Warrawee Xenia
7-Ghostintheshell S
8-Weslynn Quest
9-Raised By Lindy
10-Herculisa