Driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Ake Svanstedt paired for wins in the pair of Graduate Series finals at The Meadowlands on Saturday night (July 8).
Jiggy Jog S, the magnificent four-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.
When the field left the gate, Keg Stand and Iwont Backdown As got going best as Pretender broke stride, with Looks Like Moni next and Jiggy Jog S from post one staying close at the inside. Going into the :27 first quarter, Looks Like Moni stayed out of further trouble as Iwont 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 equalled 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 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."
Svanstedt trains Jiggy Jog S and Jorgen Sparredal Inc. owns the mare that has now earned $1,504,905.
A prohibitive favourite (there was no show betting), Jiggy Jog S paid $2.20 to win.
One race after Jiggy Jog S strolled to victory in the final for the Graduate Series Trot, the tandem of driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Ake Svanstedt united on another odds-on promise in Stonebridge Helios (pictured above) and secured the spoils in the $240,000 Graduate Series Pace for pacing four-year-olds.
Dunn floated Stonebridge Helios forward in a first-turn skirmish led by I Did It Myway to a :26 first quarter. Dreamfair Arnie B edged off the pylons to the backstretch sweeping to the lead before Stonebridge Helios seized control just before a :53.4 half. Mad Max Hanover, the 3-1 second choice, followed the flow but then raced uncovered and pressed Stonebridge Helios to the final turn.
Though Mad Max Hanover only challenged briefly and he began backtracking midway through the final turn. Stonebridge Helios, meanwhile, attempted to scoot clear through three-quarters in 1:21.2, but grew leg weary in the last eighth. Dunn held the four-year-old stallion by Sunshine Beach together through the lane as he strolled three-quarters of a length in front at the finish of a 1:48.1 mile. Dreamfair Arnie B vacated the pocket and held second from a headstrong Trendy Teen charging for third with I Did It Myway back in fourth.
“I wanted to try and get him on the front – he was so good winning in [1:]47 on the front,” Dunn said after the race. “I had Timmy [Tetrick and Mad Max Hanover] inside of me that can go out with fast speed, too. But once we got out of the gate quicker than him, the plan was to keep going forward, get him on the front and get him churning on the bit. It worked out.
“Coming off the last turn, he was travelling pretty good, but I could still hear horses on my back – Toddy [McCarthy and Dreamfair Arnie B] was still travelling pretty good behind me. I just let him roll. He’s a big strong boy and he fought on really good.”
Ake Svanstedt trains Stonebridge Helios, who moved into the barn at the start of his four-year-old season. He competes for owners John Fleischman and breeder Angie Stiller, and has now won 12 times from 21 outings while accruing $699,380 in earnings. He paid $3.40 to win.
Saturday's card also featured eliminations for the Meadowlands Pace. For complete recaps, click here.
(with files from The Meadowlands)