Red Mile: Jiggy Jog fends off Joviality in Swedish-bred showdown in Kentucky Filly Futurity

Jiggy Jog S and driver Dexter Dunn made two strong moves to the lead and then had plenty in reserve to hold off rival Joviality S in a thrilling finish to the $276,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity at The Red Mile on Sunday afternoon. A 3-year-old daughter of Walner, Jiggy Jog S captured the classic in 1:50, just a fifth off the world mark and obviously a career-best.

With a dozen in the field, Dunn wasted no time starting from post eight with Jiggy Jog S, blasting out of the gate at the start and taking control of the race before the quarter. Date Night and driver Andy Miller had floated away from post two and pressed the issue, getting command heading into the backstretch past the 26 4/5 opening quarter. Dunn let
Date Night go, but with Selfie Queen parked and pressing for David Miller and favored Joviality S on her back, Dunn re-moved Jiggy Jog S to the front well before the half-mile pole.

Jiggy Jog S took plenty of pressure from Selfie Queen, hitting the half in 54 seconds and then three-quarters in a solid 1:21 4/5 clocking, losing much of the field.

Brian Sears had to move Joviality S wide off cover on the final turn to attempt to close in on the loose leader and for most of the stretch his filly was closing the gap. Jiggy Jog S was resilient, though, and just kept trotting powerfully to the wire, making Joviality S's journey futile on this occasion as she settled for second. Selfie Queen went a huge trip parked the entire mile and held on for third ahead of stablemate Mon Cheval and Manon earned the final check.

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Owned by Jorgen Sparredal Inc., of Delray Beach, Florida, Jiggy Jog S is trained by Ake Svanstedt. As the second favorite Jiggy Jog S returned $4.36 to win.

"She's a bit temperamental," said Sarah Svanstedt following the victory. "Dexter must have felt he had plenty of horse."

Jiggy Jog S avenged a loss to rival Joviality S, who she defeated in a Hambletonian elimination on July 30 but lost to in the Delmonica Hanover on August 20.