Zeron and Toscano take Jugette

Seven of harness racing’s best sophomore pacing fillies lined up behind the Delaware starting gate on a perfect, sunny Wednesday (Sept. 20) afternoon in central Ohio for the $255,000 51st edition of the Jugette, with New Jersey bred Ucandoit Hanover (Keystone Velocity) utilizing a perfect, pocket-trip to gain the triumph in the final heat with a 1:50.2 clocking for driver Scott Zeron and Hall of Fame trainer Linda Toscano.

“I didn’t have many options other than to take the two-hole trip,” said Zeron. “I protected my mare as much as I could, and we were on the gas pedal from the half on. She was exceptional in both heats, and I didn’t have to use her that hard in the first and the two-hole trip in the second was perfect.”

Joe Bongiorno sent 2-1 Zanatta first out of the gate from the rail and cruised easily through fractions of :27.4, :55.4, and 1:22.4 before turning for home.  Zeron then pulled 3-2 Ucandoit Blue Chip and she won easily by slightly more than a length.  Daffled Hanover finished third at 13-1 for David Miller, with 46-1 Vivian’s Dream finishing fourth for Brett Miller.

“I thought she was a big strong filly who can handle the double heats,” said winning trainer Linda Toscano. “This is great because her mom was my first Breeders Crown winner and she’s my first Jugette winner.”

UCANDOIT BLUE CHIP REPLAY

Ucandoit Blue Chip added the winner’s share of the $255,000 to her already hefty bankroll of $421,627. This marked the filly’s tenth triumph in 21 starts.

Despite getting away last initially, Ucandoit Blue Chip (Keystone Velocity) prevailed in 1:50.3 in the $25,000 first division of the Jugette for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Linda Toscana. The second division was won by Zanatta (Stay Hungry) and driver Joe Bongiorno in 1:50.1. Total purse for the Jugette is $305,000. The final heat features the top four official finishers from each first division.

A $32,000 yearling purchase by Bill J. Elliott of Woodstock,ON, UCandoit Blue Chip, this bay filly sat last through a wicket early panel of :25.4 as 9-5 Bellisima Hanover and 1-1 Earthwindfire slugged it out, and then slowed things down a bit to the :54 half.

“When I saw the first quarter, I thought we were in a good spot and said to myself, keep on marching girls,” Toscano said in the winner’s circle. “This is fun!”

As the field went pass the grandstand for the first time, David Miller pulled 9-2 Daffled Hanover, who had the lead at the 1:22.2 three-quarters. Zeron, in the meantime, had quietly followed and turning for home, his filly unleashed a tremendous late brush to gain the triumph.

UCANDOIT BLUE CHIP ELIMINATION REPLAY

“We wanted to come here, and I have to give a shout out to Linda and her whole crew, who do a tremendous job,” said winning owner Elliott. “I’m nearly speechless. I’m floating on a cloud right now; this is hard to believe.

Ucandoit Blue Chip pushed her career earnings to $421,627 with this latest victory, the ninth of her career in 20 starts. She also has four seconds and a trio of third place finishes to her credit.

Daffled Hanover was second, with Earthwindfire finishing third, and 10-1 Vivians Dream was fourth, giving each a starting berth in the final.

Joe Bongiorno gave Zanatta a perfect drive to capture the second $25,000 Jugette elimination for trainer Jennifer Bongiorno and owners the One Legend Stable Inc.

The bay filly, a $115,000 yearling purchase at the 2021 Lexington Select Yearling Sale, was sent straight to the top by her driver to a :26.3 first panel and comfortably paced to a :55.1 second panel.  Southwind Bella attacked and took the lead just past the half, with Bongiorno sitting chilly in the two-hole before pulling out at the 1;21.4 three-quarters. She then rolled past the leader to win in 1:50.1.

“I’ve really been confident all year in her and not the best racing luck, but she was my favorite horse training down after winning the Three Diamonds last year,” said trainer Jenn Bongiorno. “The last few weeks she’s been racing against the best of the best. When Joe let a horse go today, I thought it was the most “un-joe” kind of drive I’ve ever seen, but it worked out.”

Southwind Bell, the 7-2 choice, held on for second, with 7-2 Hey Hey Mama third and 8-5 Odds On Hail Mary fourth.

ZANATTA ELIMINATION REPLAY

Zanatta was foaled April 24, 2020, and is the second youngster out of the Art Major broodmare Major Dancer p, 3, 1:51.2s ($490,491), and is a half-sister to the gelding Hutner Am (by Captaintreacherous) p, 4, 1:55 h ($29,759) and to Leiter (by Captain Crunch) p, 2, 1:52.4 ($22,500).

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Kim Rinker, for Harnesslink