JIGGY JOG S TROUNCES MALE FOES IN GRADUATE TROT FINAL

Saturday, July 8, 2023

Jiggy Jog S, the magnificent 4-year-old Walner mare driven by Dexter Dunn, made one sweeping move on her seven male trotting foes to get the lead and then drew off to punctuate her dominance and win the $230,000 Graduate Series Trot Final on Saturday (July 8) at The Meadowlands.

When the field left the gate, Keg Stand and Iwon’t Backdown As got going best as Pretender broke stride, with Looks Like Moni next and Jiggy Jog S from post 1 staying close at the inside. Going into the :27 first quarter, Looks Like Moni stayed out of further trouble as Iwon’t Backdown As broke stride.

Dunn steered Jiggy Jog S out of any other problem that might arise from her foes and easily strode to an outside path and took the lead just before the :55.4 half. Slay took the overland route with a charge to challenge, but Jiggy Jog S was through with any hijinx and went into overdrive through three-quarters of 1:23.4. She drew away from all the early starters and breakers and put two, and then three, and then five lengths between her and the five horses left trotting for minor prizes.  Jiggy Jog S clocked the mile in 1:50.3, winning by 4-1/4 lengths. Looks Like Moni held the second spot at the wire and Cool Papa Bell was all out to get third over Pappardelle.

Jiggy Jog S equaled her seasonal best time while winning her eighth straight and staying unbeaten from four starts this year.

“She makes me look good, that’s for sure; the way she’s doing it,” said Dexter Dunn. “I couldn’t be more happy with the way she’s come back this year. Obviously [she] had an outstanding year [at three] but she’s just gotten stronger. She’s smartened up; she matured.

Dunn said he loves that he can do whatever he wants driving her, like in this race. “We just let the dust settle there [in the] first turn, moved her and it was all her after that.

“We probably didn’t race her as much on the front last year,” Dunn also said. “We came from behind a lot of the time. She knows what she’s doing now; put her on the front and both her ears go up, fully pricked, and she’s just as happy as anything [leading]. I’m extremely lucky. It’s always an extra pleasure to sit behind horses like her.”

Ake Svanstedt trains Jiggy Jog S. Jorgen Sparredal Inc. owns the mare that has now earned $1,369,438.

A prohibitive favorite (there was no show betting), Jiggy Jog S paid $2.20 to win.