Red Mile: Jujubee charges to Allerage Farms Open Trot title

It's been a long road back for 2021's Trotter of the Year Jujubee, but last year's Kentucky Futurity champion at The Red Mile picked up his first victory of this season over the same oval in Sunday afternoon's $149,000 Allerage Farms Open Trot.

Starting from post four, Jujubee settled in the fourth spot for driver Andy McCarthy and watched as Rattle My Cage (Ake Svanstedt) led through opening-half fractions of 27 2/5 and 55. McCarthy then tipped Jujubee to the outside past the half, and he would pick up cover from pocket-sitter Cuatro De Julio (Yannick Gingras) on the final bend when he popped out.

Cuatro De Julio forged his way by Rattle My Cage on the rim stepping to the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, but in the lane Cuatro De Julio would give way as Jujubee rallied by him three-wide into the top spot. Ambassador Hanover (Scott Zeron) was the only one with a shot to knock off Jujubee late in the mile after he found space following an inside trip, but Jujubee got to the wire half a length to the good in 1:50 2/5. It's Academic (David Miller), Cuatro De Julio, Rattle My Cage, and Balenciaga (Mark MacDonald) completed the order.

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"It's been a bit of a tough year for Jujubee, but the way he was today, he felt slick as an eel. I'm very excited now," McCarthy said. "It's one of those deals where if it looked like they were going to go enough, I definitely wanted to drive him off a helmet today on the big track. It kind of worked out that way where I could sneak in and then pick up a little cover in the last turn. That was the original plan but depending on the speed.

"This horse excites me so much. Every chance I get to sit behind him, he makes me happy. I'm just looking forward to the rest of the year now."

A 4-year-old son of Creatine, Jujubee is trained by Greg Wright Jr. for owner/breeder Jon Erdner. Jujubee has 17 wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 27 lifetime starts, he has now banked $1,076,157, and he paid $5.70 to win as the favorite.