As much that went right for Jujubee in 2021, is as much that has gone wrong for the four-year-old trotting stallion in 2022.
Injuries and unhealthiness limited Jujubee’s ability to get on the racetrack this year.
Coming off a 2021 that netted championships in the Kentucky Futurity and Breeders Crown and being named the 2021 U.S. Trotter of the Year, the struggle this year has been real.
Saturday night, however, Jujubee can wipe away a lot of frustration as he is entered in the Breeders Crown final of the Open Trot worth a purse of US$600,000 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
“It’s been pretty frustrating,” said trainer Greg Wright Jr. “Last year, there were no bumps in the road. Really, there wasn’t a plan last year. Everything just fell into place.”
Jujubee will leave from post six with morning-line odds of 7-2.
He won his last race, the Allerage Farms Open Trot, on Oct. 9 in 1:50.2 with a :26.2 last quarter at Lexington’s Red Mile. It was Jujubee’s first win – other than a qualifier – since the Breeders Crown final last Oct. 30.
Jujubee has raced just four times this year after winning 14 of 18 starts with three seconds last year. Jujubee has 17 lifetime wins and earnings of $1.07 million. Andrew McCarthy will hold the reins.
Ecurie D DK (Dexter Dunn) is the favourite at 5-2. Other contenders are Back of the Neck (Tim Tetrick) at 9-2 and Fashion Frenzie (Louis-Philippe Roy) at 5-1.
Wright said there have been a variety of issues, none more problematic than a hairline fracture that kept him on the sidelines for six weeks. The injury was revealed on an MRI but wasn’t picked up on X-rays.
Jujubee was scoped sick after a race in early September and had been battling a virus prior to that race.
In that race Sept. 2 at Eldorado Scioto Downs, Jujubee went to the front and led until the stretch when he broke stride, finishing sixth.
Wright said Jujubee looks good now after swimming at a spa in New Jersey.
“It has been one thing after another,” Wright said. “We’re giving him his shot. We feel he is coming into this sharp. We are hoping he can finish off the year good.
“Andy has jumped back on the bike. He trusts and likes the horse.”
After last year’s performance, owner John Erdner was approached about selling Jujubee. He and Wright thought Jujubee would enjoy a big four-year-old season.
Wright said Erdner has been patient and puts Jujubee’s health at the forefront.
“These kinds of things happen to a lot of racehorses,” Erdner said. “It has taken a long time to get him tight. He feels good.
“(Winning another Breeders Crown) would be very nice. It doesn’t happen often. It’s just good to be in it.”
And if Jujubee repeats?
“We’ll wait to see the result,” Erdner said. “If he wins, it will probably solidify our position.”
All four Breeders Crown finals for two-year-olds were contested Friday at Mohawk. The finals for horses three and up are Saturday, starting at 7 p.m.
To view the complete entries for Saturday's Breeders Crown finals, click one of the following links:
- Saturday, Oct. 29 — Entries / Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT)
(Breeders Crown)