Jackson's G G can give Milligan another thrill in Louisiana Cup

Jackson’s G G gave Dennis Milligan, who is her breeder, owner, and the Arkansas treasurer of state, a memorable day at the races on July 20. She was the first of his two homebred winners on the card at Louisiana Downs, and her win in the featured allowance put her in the field for the track’s $50,000 Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Saturday.

“In my nearly 30 years in racing, I don’t think I’ve ever won two races in a day,” said Milligan, 58.

Milligan’s current breeding operation is comprised of two mares, while he has a handful of runners in training with Louisiana Downs leader H.B. Johnson Jr. Milligan said he set a goal of getting into racing as a teenager after a trip to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. He had his first starter at the age of 30.

“I got involved a little under 30 years ago,” he said. “I’m a native of Arkansas, born and raised here, and when I was 18, I went to Oaklawn Park. I have no family ties to the industry whatsoever. I just fell in love with the pageantry, with the excitement.

“I love the heart that the Thoroughbred has – the will to win. Of course, there’s nothing more exciting than watching your colors come down the stretch and knowing that you’ve got a shot. I don’t care if it’s a nickel claimer or a stakes race, it’s so exciting. Nothing can replace that feeling.”

Milligan plans to make the trip to Louisiana Downs on Saturday to see Jackson’s G G go for her sixth career win and her first stakes victory. She will break from the rail in the Louisiana Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, a six-furlong race on the main track.

“She’s undefeated on the dirt at Louisiana Downs,” Milligan said. “She’s been beat on the grass there, but she’s not been beaten on the dirt there. She loves Louisiana Downs, as her race record will show.”

Jackson’s G G is 3 for 3 on the main track at Louisiana Downs. She is a 4-year-old daughter of Dunkirk. Her dam, Mississippi Dice, died a few months back, said Milligan. The breeder and owner has a pair of unraced half-siblings to Jackson’s G G coming up, with one by Honest Man and the other by Lookin At Lucky.

Other runners for the barn include Tiffany Ofthe Nile, a 2-year-old daughter of Pioneerof the Nile and Milligan’s stakes-winning homebred mare Lawyer Tiffany. Tiffany Ofthe Nile was bred in Louisiana.

“She’s training forwardly, and we’re looking forward to debuting her before the Louisiana Downs meet is over,” Milligan said.

State Treasurer is another 2-year-old for Milligan, an unraced Munnings colt who also has been working at Louisiana Downs. Other runners for the operation include Saved by Zero, a two-time winner at this meet and a half-brother to Gg’s Gracefulgabby, who was Milligan’s second homebred winner on the Louisiana Downs card July 20.