Red Mile: Jiggy Jog S does just that in Bluegrass Series

Jiggy Jog S ground into the race and jetted away to a 1:50 1/5 victory in the second of three divisions of the $242,300 Bluegrass Series for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 1) at The Red Mile.

Manon motored to the lead after a 27 3/5 first quarter and rolled toward a 55 2/5 half as driver Dexter Dunn tipped Jiggy Jog S out of fourth and ranged uncovered to the final turn. Within a neck of the lead by three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, Jiggy Jog S downed Manon off the turn and strode clear from there to a 3 1/2 length victory at the finish. Date Night pulled off a pocket trip to take second narrowly from Lilbitalexis, who slipped through the inside to settle for third.

A daughter of Walner, Jiggy Jog S won her seventh race from 21 starts and has now earned $639,793 for owner Jorgen Sparredal Inc. Ake Svanstedt trains the $2.78 winner.

Joviality S went for an afternoon stroll to cash the winning check in her division of the Bluegrass.

Off the 1-9 favorite, driver Brian Sears secured a pocket trip for Joviality S when Selfie Queen pushed forward to lead after a 28 3/5 first quarter. No one ventured to challenge Selfie Queen up the backside or towards the far turn and instead readied themselves for the stretch drive off a 56 half and 1:23 3/5 three-quarters. Joviality S laid her attack onto Selfie Queen spinning for home, effortlessly seized the lead, and then she widened to the finish of a 1:50 4/5 mile. Delilah Hanover gave chase to take second, beaten 3 3/4 lengths, with Selfie Queen settling for third and Valentina Blu finishing fourth.

"[Brian Sears] has already told everyone she's the best [filly] he's ever driven," owner Anders Strom said after the race. "And today...1:50 4/5, ears flipping...it's a good conditioner for next week. Let's say we have this track today, as firm as fast as it is - and sunny, not too warm, no wind...next Sunday (Oct. 9) will be interesting."

Marcus Melander conditions Joviality S for owner Courant Inc. The daughter of Chapter Seven, returning $2.12 to win, won her 19th race from 24 starts and her bankroll now sits at $1,817,818.

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Another Marcus Melander trainee won in the first flight, with Peyton Hanover powering first-over to a 1:51 2/5 victory.

Unleashed Kemp cleared control from post nine to a 28 1/5 first quarter with Je Suis Si Belle sitting second and Pure Countess third. Driver Tim Tetrick landed fifth with Peyton Hanover but got flushed off the pegs as Adore Me tipped her hand in behind. Peyton Hanover marched along the rim to overtake Unleashed Kemp through a 56 3/5 half and stayed on the pedal as Adore Me stalled to the outside around the final turn.

Past three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, Peyton Hanover kicked for home on a diminishing margin as Pure Countess pulled off the cones and dug into the leader late. But Peyton Hanover fought to the finish to hold a half-length on Pure Countess, with Warrawee Xenia finishing third another four lengths behind and Unleashed Kemp taking fourth.

"I kind of planned on racing off a helmet, get a trip because that's what she likes," Tim Tetrick said after the race. "But the way it shook out, I had to go forward, otherwise I was going to be way too far back. It worked out. She raced a really good race today."

Jeff Snyder and Four Friends Racing Stable LLC. own Peyton Hanover, a daughter of Muscle Hill. She won her fifth race from 22 starts, has now earned $244,574 and paid $5.22 to win.

Each division of the Bluegrass was sponsored by the Bar Hopping Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farm.

--press release (Red Mile)--