Eight Indiana sired trotters and pacers competed in the prestigious Breeders Crown Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28. The first race of the series was dedicated to Older Trotting Mares and the highly anticipated matchup between M-M’s Dream and Jiggy Jog S played out for a great race.
Jiggy Jog S (inside) holds off M-M’s Dream in the track record setting performance of 1:51.1 for older trotting mares during Breeders Crown action Saturday, Oct. 28 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
From the start, M-M’s Dream and David Miller were in contention, getting away third as Raised by Lindy and Scott Zeron took over the top spot, placing :26.2 on the board at the first quarter. From there, M-M’s Dream took her cue from Miller and moved out and around for the lead, moving out to a two-length advantage at the half in :55.1. Jiggy Jog S was already on the outside in pursuit of the leader for Dexter Dunn at the half and by the three-quarters, she had a head in front.
In the stretch, Jiggy Jog S looked like she was going to be an open length winner. She moved out to a two and one-half length advantage midway into the stretch, but M-Ms Dream wasn’t done. She moved back out and was closing on the outside as the wire neared. Jiggy Jog S held her off in the final strides to win by one-half length over the hooded M-M’s Dream in a new track record time of 1:51.1. HP Mama B, a longshot in the race, rallied up for third for driver Louis Roy.
Jiggy Jog S was the favorite, paying $2.20. Jiggy Jog S is a four-year-old daughter of Walner and was bred by Vestmarka AB of Sweden. Jorgen Sparredal of Florida owns the mare who is now seven for 10 this season and has not finished back of second this season. Her Breeders Crown win moved her earnings for the year up to $950,000 and overall, she has 17 career wins in 34 starts and more than $2 million on her card.
M-M’s Dream, a four-year-old daughter of Swan for All, is owned by Eleven Star Stables, Frank Baldachino and Hillside Stables and trained by Ron Burke. Mervin Miller bred the mare, who now has more than $1.4 million on her card and 25 wins in 35 starts.
Another Indiana sired mare hit the board during Breeders Crown Saturday as Kobe’s Gigi finished third in the $400,000 Open Mares Pace. Starting from post five, Kobe’s Gigi and Dexter Dunn moved out for the first lead and were passed up at the quarter in :25.4 by Grace Hill and Doug McNair, who went onto the lead. Kobe’s Gigi followed along through the half in :54.4 before being flushed out by Max Contract and Andy Miller heading into the final turn.
In the stretch, Kobe’s Gigi had the lead for a bit before Max Contract took control, pacing home in :26.2 for the win in 1:50.2. Silver Label and Scott Zeron won the tight battle for second by a neck over Kobe’s Gigi.
Max Contract is owned by Andy Miller Stable and Jean Goehlen and trained by Andy’s wife, Julie. The four-year-old Huntsville mare earned her eighth win of the season and boosted her earnings to more than $635,000.
For Kobe’s Gigi, she pushed her career earnings to more than $600,000 by hitting the board in the Breeders Crown. The JK Endofanera mare is owned by Leander Schwartz and Black and White Stable. Missy Essig trains the mare bred by Harvey Fry of Shipshewana.