Trainer Jesse "Sonny" Wiggington

Born: December 11, 1934 Resides: Lexington, Kentucky Family: Lydia, wife

“Sonny” Wigginton is always a high percentage trainer at Oaklawn. It is unlikely any regular trainer owns a better Spa in-the-money percent the last dozen meetings than this affable Kentuckian.

He is here for the 2008 meeting with 11 horses, including Tawfeer, a son of Storm Cat.

“We bought him from Shadwell Farm, who had acquired him at auction for $1.2 million,” mentioned Wigginton. “In one race he got beat three lengths in 1:08 and change. He underwent throat surgery so has been away since last April, but I hope to have him ready to run later the meeting.”

In recent years, Wigginton won some important races with the South American imports Paranoide and Pancho Press. He has won stakes races with Bidis and Powder. One of Sonny's best ever was the Argentinean sprinter Gold Spring.

In addition to the aforementioned, other horses to have raced well at Oaklawn for Sonny include My Sweet Lass, Russian Emperor, Jake The Flake, Dr. Right, Martyr's Glory, Panama Riddle, Wickedly Wild, Fight For Three, Hold The Truth and Bat-Que.

Wigginton grew up around horses. His father, Jesse Wigginton, Jr., managed a farm in Kentucky.