Mohawk: Canadian Pacing Derby belongs to Wiggle It Jiggleit

Wiggle It Jiggleit and driver Montrell Teague made great use of the rail, intimidated rivals early, and then was driven out to an impressive 1:49 victory in the $616,000 Canadian Pacing Derby at Mohawk on Saturday night.

The leading aged pacer in North America and defending Horse of the Year utilized his early speed, flashing a 25 3/5 opening quarter and briefly seating second choice Always B Miki on his way to a wire-to-wire performance. Wiggle It Jiggleit won for the 12th time in 2016, but this time it was a front-stepping effort on a big track, something he's been shy to do early in the campaign.

The race started as expected, with 7-5 Wiggle It Jiggleit using his inside advantage and his quick turn of foot to push the pace. Nickle Bag and driver Trevor Henry kept close during the rapid opening quarter, with driver David Miller moving Always B Miki first to go toward the lead, and then settling back into a three-hole past the initial quarter. With Always B Miki resting, Teague seized the advantage to grab a breather, strolling to the half with a 28 3/5 second quarter.

Miller had no moves other than to come first-over, and the pace quickened as soon as he did. Wiggle It Jiggleit maintained a clear advantage through a 1:21 4/5 three-quarters, and Teague went to work on his 4-year-old son of Mr. Wiggles in the stretch. The gelding was more than up to the task, pacing powerfully to the wire with a 27 1/5 final quarter. Always B Miki paced valiantly to the wire and held on to the place spot, with longshot Dealt A Winner improving position along the inside and then angling late for third. All Bets Off finished solidly for fourth.

"In any other race I would probably follow Miki," driver Teague said following the race. "I left out of there in 25 3/5, and I think they knew what I was doing."

"Montrell and Clyde (trainer Francis) do a great job. I haven't seen the horse in the last two weeks," said George Teague, the owner. "I was glad to see him cut it and make Miki do the work."

The elder Teague revealed that Wiggle It Jiggleit would likely race in the Midwest before returning to Harrington for the Quillen and seemed to indicate the The Red Mile would not see his horse in the fall.