Jiggs Coz returns in Queenston

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jiggs Coz will begin his march toward the June 24 Queen's Plate in Saturday's $150,000 Queenston Stakes at Woodbine.

The Queenston, for Ontario-foaled 3-year-olds, has also lured the flashy chestnut Dancer's Bajan, who could vie for favoritism with Jiggs Coz in the seven-furlong sprint.

A son of Cozzene, Jiggs Coz led throughout his debut last October in maiden special weight company on the grass. Stretching out to nine furlongs on Polytrack in the Nov. 5 Coronation Futurity, he set the middle fractions before weakening to third, beaten two lengths by Leonnatus Anteas.

Trainer Sid Attard took the blinkers off Jiggs Coz for the 1 1/16-mile Display Stakes later in November, and the colt responded with a comfortable score in open company.

"The day he ran third, he never relaxed," Attard said. "He ran off on David Clark with the blinkers on. He relaxed so nicely in the Display. He sat third, and when Clark asked him to run, he did."

Jiggs Coz got the winter off and had a spectacular six-furlong work in 1:13.20 on April 20, according to Attard.

"I'm very excited about him," said Attard. "He had shin problems last year. We kept working on him, and this year, he's been very good."

Clark, who has won the Queenston three times, retains the mount on Jiggs Coz.

Dancer's Bajan captured back-to-back Ontario sire stakes by a nose in the fall - the seven-furlong Frost King and the 1 1/16-mile Kingarvie.

Dancer's Bajan met open company at six furlongs in his season opener April 21 in the Woodstock Stakes. He came along the rail in the Woodstock and took dead aim at favored Like Mom Like Sons in the stretch, but his rally fell 1 1/4 lengths short.

"I was thrilled with his comeback race," said trainer Bob Tiller, who won the 2001 Queenston with Win City. "If we're going to have any dreams about going on to the Plate, we've got to run here, and then we'll see what we'll do after this."

Dancer's Bajan, whose highest 2-year-old Beyer Figure was a 76, earned a 92 in the Woodstock.

Corey Fraser, victorious aboard Atlas Shrugs in the 2006 Queenston, will ride Dancer's Bajan.