Bluegrass crowns for Jiggy Jog, Joviality & Peyton

LEXINGTON, KY— Jiggy Jog S (Walner) ground into the race and jetted away to a 1:50.1 harness racing victory in the second of three divisions for the $242,300 Bar Hopping Bluegrass Stakes on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 1) at The Red Mile.

Manon motored to the lead after a :27.3 first quarter and rolled toward a :55.2 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, 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 slipping through the inside to settle for third.

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.

JIGGY JOG S REPLAY

Joviality S (Chapter Seven) went for an afternoon stroll to cash the winning check in her division of the Bar Hopping.

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 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 three-quarters.

Joviality S laid her attack onto Selfie Queen spinning for home and effortlessly seized the lead as she widened to the finish of a 1:50.4 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 drove,” owner Anders Strom said after the race. “And today… 1:50.4, 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. She returned $2.12 to win, won her 19th race from 24 starts and deposited to her account now worth $1,817,818.

JOVIALITY S REPLAY

Another Marcus Melander trainee won in the first Bar Hopping division with Peyton Hanover (Muscle Hill) powering first over to a 1:51.2 victory.

Unleashed Kemp cleared control from post 9 to a :28.1 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 half and stayed on the pedal as Adore Me stalled to the outside around the final turn.

Past three-quarters in 1:24.1, 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. She won her fifth race from 22 starts, has now earned $244,574 and paid $5.22 to win.

PEYTON HANOVER REPLAY

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

For complete race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile