Dunn and Svanstedt dominate $470,000 Graduate Series Finals

Driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Ake Svandstedt swept the Graduate Series finals for four-year-olds  in harness racing action from The Meadowlands on Saturday night (Jul. 8).

Superstar mare Jiggy Jog S (Walner) kicked it off with another dominating performance, easily handling the boys in the $230,000 Graduate final for trotters.

With regular driver Dunn holding the lines, Jiggy Jog S left for position and had to wait to start her march to the front as I Won’t Backdown AS (Tim Tetrick) broke in the first turn as he attempted to take the lead. That left Looks Like Moni on the engine, and he cut a :27.0 opening quarter on a lead that was going to be short lived.

Dunn pulled the right line, Jiggy Jog S moved willingly to the front and the rest was academic as the great mare powered through a 55.4 half, before rebuffing her only real (and brief) challenge that came from Slay (Dave Miller).

After passing the three-quarters in 1:23.4, Jiggy Jog S easily opened up a few lengths on the field as she trotted a 26.4 kicker on the end of a 1:50.3 score that equaled her season’s mark. It was 4 1/4 lengths back to Looks Like Moni and last year’s Hambletonian winner Cool Papa Bell closed for third, 5 1/2 lengths in arrears.

JIGGY JOG S REPLAY

Dunn said that the chaos on the opening turn had little effect on the winner.

“She’s really matured well, she handles that stuff with no problem at all,” he said. “You can really do anything you want with her. We just let the dust settle there on the first turn, and after that it was all her.”

Dunn noted that Jiggy Jog S’s maturity allows him to be more aggressive with her, which is a bit of a change from her sophomore campaign where she was raced from behind frequently.

“She knows what she’s doing now,” he commented. “You put her on the front and both her ears go forward fully pricked and she’s as happy as anything out there. It’s a massive pleasure to sit behind horses like her.”

Jiggy Jog S, who paid $2.20 as the heavy 1 to 9 favorite, is now four for four in 2023 and the $115,000 winner’s share of the $230,000 purse boosted her lifetime earnings to $1.37 million for owner Jorgen Parredal Inc of Florida.

About 25 minutes after Jiggy Jog S. crossed the wire, Stonebridge Helios (Sunshine Beach) produced a strong winning effort in the $240,000 Graduate for pacers to complete the Svandstedt/Dunn double.

In a race that featured a lot of early action, Stonebridge Helios floated out and watched Dreamfair Arnie B (Todd McCarthy) lead, yield and retake the lead during a 26.0 opening quarter. Once that dust settled, Dunn gave Stonebridge Helios his cue and he drove to the front as he passed the half in 53.4.

Mad Max Hanover (Tetrick) meanwhile was hot on the leaders hooves and those two engaged in battle as they headed towards the three-quarter pole. As that station was passed in 1:21.2, Stonebridge Helios put away Mad Max Hanover and sprinted for home. Dreamfair Arnie B, who was lurking in the pocket, popped out with a clear shot but could get no closer than three-quarters of a length, with Stonebridge Helios holding on in 1:48.4.

Longshot Trendy Teen (Jason Bartlett) flew late for third, beaten a length and he appeared to lack room nearing the wire.

STONEBRIDGE HELIOS REPLAY

Dunn recounted why he kept the winner in the two path early and kept driving on as the lead was changing hands in front of him.

“I wanted to try to get on the front because he was so good winning in 47 in the front,” he explained. “I had Mad Max Hanover inside me who is also an extremely fast racehorse that can produce fast speed, too. Once we got out of the gate quicker than him, the plan was to just keep going forward, get him on the front and get him traveling on the bit. You know, it worked out.”

Dunn said coming off the last turn, Stonebridge Helios felt good. “I just let him roll,” he said. “He’s a big strong boy so I took our shot and hoped he would last up the straight and he did. He fought on really good.”

Stonebridge Helios was winning for the second time in five 2023 starts for owners John Fleischman and Angie M Stiller both of Ontario, Canada. His $120,000 share of the $240,00 purse boosted his lifetime earnings to just under $590,000.

For complete race results, click here.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink