Jay Is Jay sets 2023 Million Dollar Chase pace in MDC semi finals
Queensland greyhound Jay Is Jay headed south and conquered the Million Dollar Chase (MDC) semi-finals at Wentworth Park on Friday night, running the fastest qualifying time for the October 13, final.
Trained at Willow Vale by Selena Zammit, the chaser lined up in the 520m contest as the +130 race favourite on greyhound betting apps.
Jumping from box two, Jay Is Jay got out to sit second behind early leader Twin Turbo around the first corner.
Twin Turbo fractured a hock soon after giving Jay Is Jay the clear lead, with fellow Queensland-trained chaser Villante (+8000) moving into second in the home straight.
Jay Is Jay beat Villante by 5.0 lengths in 29.45, with Zipping Orlando finishing third.
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 3 – Jay Is Jay (29.56) T: Selena Zammit
The winning time was the fastest of the eight MDC semi-finals while also improving the winner's previous best time of 29.73, clocked last time out on September 30 in the MDC City Qualifier.
Kicking off his career in June last year, in the Wayne Harris Sprint maiden down the Capalaba 366m straight, Jay Is Jay finished third on that occasion.
A week later, he would have his first start over the 520m trip at Albion Park, breaking his maiden in dominant fashion and beating home Tiger Vision by a whopping 19 lengths.
He has gone on to be runner-up in last year's Listed Queensland Flame before finishing runner-up in the 2023 Group 1 Gold Bullion and saluting in the 2023 Group 2 Queensland Derby, 2023 Group 3 Golden Ticket Final, 2023 Listed QGold Winter Sprint Final,a Listed Brisbane Cup Prelude, and the 2023 Listed Origin Greyhound Series Match Race.
The son of Sennachie and Kealoah has 17 wins and eight placings from 33 career starts and $316,250 in prize money banked for winning connections.
Jay Is Jay has won twice from three runs over the 520m Wentworth Park trip, and his bloodline is proven at the distance on the big stage, with sire Sennachie having won three Group 1 features along with Group 2 and Group 3 at the 520.
The other semi-final winners who now have a chance at next week's $1 million final were Bella Una (29.70), Has Ability (29.81), One Hot Bandit (29.64), Yachi Bale (29.98), Postman Pat (29.58), Tinker Norm (29.96) and Cumbria Kid (29.84).
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 1 – Bella Una (29.70) T: Ray Smith
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 2 – Has Ability (29.81) T: Stuart Hazlett
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 4 – One Hot Bandit (29.64) T: Andy Lord
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 5 – Yachi Bale (29.98) T: Mark Delbridge
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 6 – Postman Pat (29.58) T: Jason Thompson
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 7 – Tinker Norm (29.96) T: Craig Burns
2023 Million Dollar Chase Semi Final 8 – Cumbria Kid (29.84) T: Steve Fitch
Greyhound bookmakers have listed Jay Is Jay as the +155 second favourite to take out the 2023 Million Dollar Chase Final next week.
Ex-kiwi and now Victorian chaser Postman Pat is the +120 favourite.
Tinker Norm (+700) and One Hot Bandit (+750) are the only other chances at single-digit odds in the markets.
New South Wales will start four greyhounds in their states feature race final, with Bella Una, Has Ability, One Hot Bandit, and Cumbria Kid, attempting with stand the challenge from Victorian greyhounds Postman Pat, Yachi Bale, and Tinker Norm; while Jay Is Jay will be Queensland's sole representative.
The box draw for the $1,000,000 to the winner final was performed after the last MDC semi-final and has delivered favourite Jay Is Jay and Postman Pat every possible hope in the final after drawing boxes two and three, respectively.
2023 Million Dollar Chase Final
2023 MDC Box Draw & FieldWentworth Park520m $1,000,000 to-the-winnerFriday, October 13, 2023
|
|
 |
1 Cumbria Kid
T: Steve FitchF: 4131Career: 68: 17-10-13Prizemoney: $75,165
+3300
|
 |
2 Jay Is Jay
T: Selena ZammitF: 1411Career: 33: 17-5-3Prizemoney: $316,250
+155
|
 |
3 Postman Pat
T: Jason ThompsonF: 4141Career: 30: 22-4-1Prizemoney: $284,840
+120
|
 |
4 Bella Una
T: Ray SmithF: 3421Career: 21: 7-5-3Prizemoney: $49,450
+4000
|
 |
5 Has Ability
T: Stuart HazlettF: 1111Career: 27: 8-10-3Prizemoney: $44,210
+4000
|
 |
6 Tinker Norm
+700
|
 |
7 One Hot Bandit
T: Andy LordF: 2131Career: 19: 11-1-4Prizemoney: $80,610
+750
|
 |
8 Yachi Bale
T: Mark DelbridgeF: 2521Career: 49: 12-16-7Prizemoney: $768,305
+900
|
| Reserves | |
 |
9 Magistrate
T: Greg StellaF: 2122Career: 41: 21-11-3Prizemoney: $286,690
+800
|
 |
10 Tom Keeping
T: Matt LaniganF: 1222Career: 44: 9-11-7Prizemoney: $36,900
+4000
|
.jpg){kind=logo}
Odds correct at time of publication