With a powerful charge in the homestretch, Delaware harness racing sired Purrfect Bags, racing off three qualifying races since the Dover Downs meet, won the $117,724 Lismore Pace for three-year-old filly pacers by two-lengths on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway. The favorite, Sassa Hanover, led from the start and held-on for second. Bedroomconfessions was third.
Driven by Victor Kirby, Purrfect Bags, was his biggest purse-win of his career. Another Delaware-sired filly, Totally Rusty, finished out of the money for the first time in her career.
Purrfect Bags, a daughter of Delaware stallion Roddy's Bags Again, is trained in Harrington, by Jim King and owned by his wife, Joann King, both who also owned and trained Tyra, winner of last year's Lismore.
"Last year I won as a trainer and this year as an owner. Winning as an owner is much more profitable," said Joann King. "I paid $2,000 for the filly at a Chick's horse sale and brought her home and my husband was less than thrilled."
In the companion, $300,000 Art Rooney Pace for three year-old pacing colts on Saturday at Yonkers. In An Arsenal, in 1:51.2 by a nose. Stablemate Betting Exchange was second and Rock N Roll World was third.
Saturday night, In Indiana, Wiggle It Jiggleit, a sophomore gelding who is rated first in the Hambletonian-Breeders Crown media survey, owned by the George Teague contingent of Harrington, Del. remained perfect in his 10th lifetime start, winning in 1:49.3.
During a night marred by thunder showers, Wiggle It Jiggleit, paced to a 1:49.3 victory in the $75,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final for three-year-old pacing colt at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino over a sloppy-rated track. The rain was not inconvenient to Wiggle It Jiggleit, who posted his 10th consecutive win in an undefeated 10 career starts. Freaky Feet Pete finished an impressive second place with Harfo Hanover. Third. Wiggle It Jiggleit now heads to Canada for the prestigious North America Cup.
The weather didn't bother me; you've got to race in all kinds of weather," stated driver Montrell Teague in the winner's circle. "Good horses you don't have to make excuses for and we didn't have to for him tonight, he was able to overcome it." Trained by Clyde Francis, Wiggle It Jiggleit, whose father Mr Wiggles now stands as a Delaware stallion, pushed his career earnings to $142,242 with the victory.
On Sunday, the biggest trotting race in Europe, the Elitlopp in Sweden was won by Magic Tonight, a six-year-old horse by Andover Hall. Bred by prominent North American horsemen Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, of Ontario, Magic Tonight, won wire-to-wire, in 1:52.4f, before nearly 29,000 fans. U.S. finalist, Maven finished unplaced after diminishing second in her earlier elimination. Wind Of The North, owned by Smyrna, Del. resident Daryl Bier, drew outside in his elim and did not qualify for the final. Bier was more successful on Saturday night at Pocono Downs, where his fast pacer, Bandolito, the Dover Downs Horse of the Meet, who overcame a downpour to win the feature race in 1:49.3.
Marv Bachrad
