Walner mare scores with ease in $145,150 Cutler

The world champion Walner mare, Jiggy Jog S, was given a perfect trip by harness racing driver Dexter Dunn in capturing the $145,150 Arthur J Cutler Memorial Trot Saturday (May 18) at the Meadowlands.

The 11th race feature got underway with Hillexotic (Yannick Gingras) going out to the early lead with Asteroid (Tim Tetrick) grabbing the two-hole trip as they sped to the opening quarter mile in :27.3.

Racing unopposed on the lead, Hillexotic led the field past the half mile marker in :55.3 and then the action began to heat up.

In the backstretch, Dover In Motion (David Miller) came first-over from third place and following their outside cover was the 2023 Dan Patch winner Jiggy Jog S. By the three-quarters in 1:23.3, Dover In Motion had collared Hillexotic with Jiggy Jog S ready to pounce on the leaders.

Coming down the stretch, Dunn needed only to lift the lines at Jiggy Jog S and she pulled away with a :26.1 last quarter mile to win with ease by two lengths in 1:50. The pocket-sitting Asteroid was second with Dover In Motion third.

“You sit behind a horse like Jiggy Jog, and they make you look good,” Dexter Dunn said. “I got great cover from Davey (Miller) and once I tipped her off cover, she showed the speed she’s got. I think she’s a little better than last year. She’s gotten bigger, filled out a lot, really has grown. I think she was happy to be back at the races.”

JIGGY JOG S REPLAY

It was the first start of the year for Jiggy Jog S and her time tied her lifetime mark. She becomes only the fifth mare ever to win the Cutler Memorial. The five-year-old mare, a career winner of $2.2 million, is trained and co-owned by Ake Svanstedt with Steve Stewart, John Lengacher and Hickory Hollow Stables. As the 4/5 race favorite, she returned $3.80 to win.

To read about Karl’s win and all the undercard action, click here.

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink