Jungle Wave has done just about everything right after he was claimed for $62,500 in May at Woodbine by trainer Sid Attard for Carlo TucciÕs Tucci Stables. In his four starts since being haltered, he has won three races and has been stakes-placed. His latest triumph came in the Aug. 29 Play the King Stakes (Can-IIT) at Woodbine.

ÒWhen you claim a horse for $62,500, you hope heÕs going to win a (claimer) for $80,000,Ó Attard said. ÒItÕs a bonus to get this good.Ó

Jungle Wave, who set a track-record for 61Ú2 furlongs at Woodbine in an allowance race three weeks before the Play the King, won the seven-furlong stakes as the favorite by three-quarters of a length over Field Commission.

AttardÕs other entrant in the Play the King, Tucci StablesÕ Just Rushing, who had won last yearÕs running, finished last. Just Rushing went into the Play the King off a victory in the Ontario Jockey Club Stakes at Woodbine.

Jungle Wave showed plenty of promise in his stakes-placing this year. Taking on defending Canadian Horse of the Year and champion sprinter Fatal Bullet in the 61Ú2-furlong Bold Venture Stakes at Woodbine, Jungle Wave finished a solid second, beaten 21Ú4 lengths.

Tucci Stables has raced several other stakes winners, including three-time Canadian champion One for Rose.

Jungle Wave was bred in Kentucky by Lonnie OwensÕ Katalpa Farm and Dr. Rodney Orr. By Hold That Tiger, Jungle Wave was produced from the Cure the Blues mare Darien Blue Wave.

ÒI liked Hold That Tiger because heÕs a son of Storm Cat, and he fit the mareÕs conformation and size,Ó Owens said about the French champion. ÒHold That Tiger had speed, and he was priced favorable.Ó

Hold That Tiger, who at the time stood for $15,000 at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., was not only a French champion at 2 but also an Irish group III winner at that age. He also ran third in the 2002 Bessemer Trust BreedersÕ Cup Juvenile (gr. I).

Darien Blue WaveÕs previous stakes winner, Castle Mountain, is by Storm CatÕs son Mountain Cat. Darien Blue Wave died several years ago.

Orr, from Oregon, keeps several mares at Katalpa near Paris, Ky. He primarily races on the West Coast.

As a sire, Hold That Tiger is represented by seven stakes winners, including four this year. At last report, he stood at Haras de la Haie Neuve in France.ÑD.S.