extra quotes by James Platz / story by Ray Cotolo for Red Mile

The 12-horse competition condensed to the expected two-horse race off in the stretch of the $276,000 57th Kentucky Filly Futurity as even-money second choice Jiggy Jog S led 4-5 Joviality S in the straightaway and held firm on the front to land the spoils in 1:50 on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 9).

“That’s a big mile she put up,” Jiggy Jog’s driver Dexter Dunn told HRU’s James Platz. “I used her out of the gate and then re-moved her, then got attacked a little late. It’s a long stretch, but to her credit she stuck in there.

“I knew she was getting tired. She was sticking her head out and, you know, [Brian] Sears was coming [with Joviality S] but he wasn’t coming quick, he was just sort of grinding her down. So, I thought we had a chance of holding on, but I needed that post to come up pretty quick. I think both fillies were pretty tired. It was a big mile by them.”

Jiggy Jog S jetted for the lead to the first turn but settled for the pocket when Date Night swept to the top past a :26.4 first quarter. But Dunn promptly pulled off the pegs to retake the lead with Jiggy Jog S as Selfie Queen loomed first over with Joviality S, overcoming a second-tier post, in tow. Past a :54 half, Jiggy Jog S kept plugging on the lead as Joviality S abandoned her cover around the final turn to begin her mission for the lead. Jiggy Jog S held a two-length advantage after three-quarters in 1:21.4 and dug her heels on the lead as Joviality S crept closer with each yard of the stretch. But Jiggy Jog S remained resolute on the lead and denied Joviality S by a neck with Selfie Queen holding third from a parked trip ahead of stablemate Mon Cheval.

“She’s a little bit of a handful,” Sarah Svanstedt, wife to trainer Ake Svanstedt, said after the race. “She has a temper and the groom is doing a tremendous job to keep her happy. But I’m so happy she made it today. She has been racing against some tough fillies and there has been bad luck in the races. But here we are today. If she wants [to lead] she can, but sometimes she wants the helmet. I guess [Dunn] felt he had plenty of horse today to do it.”

A winner in eight of 22 starts, Jiggy Jog S has now banked $777,793 for owner Jorgen Sparredal Inc. The Walner filly returned $4.36 to win.

Crawford Farms sponsored the 57th renewal of the Kentucky Filly Futurity.

Lilbitalexis prevailed narrowly in the $10,000 Love You, a race for Kentucky Filly Futurity eligibles. Dexter Dunn steered the Richard “Nifty” Norman-trained daughter of Walner to a pocket-popping head victory in 1:51.1 over fast-charging Bare My Soul. She races for owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese and paid $7.16 to win in the race sponsored by Morrison Racing.