The finals of the 2009 Jacksonville Juvenile will run in the 11th race on Saturday Evening December 5th at the Orange Park Kennel Club. Below is a breakdown of the greyhounds and my take on the race.
1. Gs Ashlynn (Rapido Rambo - Gm's Cutie) is the best closer in this race and from a very good post position, she is going to be a favor in this race. In the 3rd round she won by almost 10 lengths from this post and ran the fastest of any remaining qualifiers with a 30.44 second clocking. She will need to come out close though if she wants a shot at the win tonight. The post makes her a serious threat!
2. Gm's Cashman (Dodgem By Design - Gs Gertie) was a strong factor throughout in all of the qualifying rounds and tied for the lead in points with a pair of wins. He has a strong break and has been running well beyond his experience. The rail post goes a long way to help him out in this effort too. If he can continue to get out of the starting box, he should be right in the thick on things again in this effort.
3. Uss Fine Touch (Uss Raceway - Uss Glimmer) will be the post time favorite in this race. She was the only greyhound to win 3 of the 4 qualifying rounds, and posses all the tools needed to win this title. She has a great break and a tremendous rush to the turn, and once in front she is tough as nails on the lead. If she does get her nose in front early on, this field is going to be hard pressed to take her down before the finish line. This race is hers to lose.
4. Wp's Rainbow (Maryville Rumble* - Icu Greta) really stepped up during the qualifying rounds and really raced a bit above her head. She went toe to toe with everyone and found her way into this final round race. Loads of pressure might be on her shoulders as she has to juggle Kennel and Family pride. B & J has won 4 straight puppy stakes and her Mom, Icu Greta, won this very race in 2003. If she wants a chance to win it, she will need to come out in a hurry and keep living the dream.
5. On The Fly (Dodgem By Design - Ww Ellen's Time) is a strong closer that might be better suited for 660 yards, but here she sits in the finals of a stakes event. Tough post draw here as she would rather be on the edges, but she has done fairly well for herself in her last two from this starting box. Don't count her out just yet, she has won big time too over 550 yards and if the mood suits her, she could just fire to the front and leave the rest behind. She is a real question mark in this race, so let's see if she shows up.
6. Never Can Tell (Tnt Star Wars - Raw Passion) did just what she needed to do to make the finals by winning in the 4th round and now we have to see what she is going to do with the opportunity. Living up to her name in every start, you NEVER CAN TELL which greyhound is going to show up. The one that we have seen in the stakes, break, rusher, competitor, or the one that loaps around the track and finishes out of the money. Tonight the non-rail post might be a factor, but breaking is really the key to her success. If she stands any chance, she needs to channel her inner breaker in this race.
7. Never Relinquish (Dodgem By Design - Ww Ellen's Time) is the littermate to On The Fly and even though they come from different kennels, the rest remains very similar. Like her sister, she is a big time late speed greyhound that has won races over the 660 yard course too. Here she might be a bit over her head against these true grade A sprinters, but so far so good. Her only win in qualifying came from an outside post and tonight that is just where she starts from. It will take her best effort if she wants to upset this field tonight.
8. Miss Romy (Fuzzys Cannon - Miss Kissable) might not be the name you expected from DQ, but it's the one you get. This puppy loves the rail and will have to do whatever she can from the 8 box. Working for her is her break and rush. She should be able to outdo several greyhounds to her inside and that will just help her get closer to her beloved rail in this effort. She does have some of the late DQ magic on tap and if she can use it properly, she might have a chance to get DQ to the winner's circle once again tonight.
Ok now for the race. At the break I see Uss Fine Touch hitting the lid and jumping to the early lead over the rest of the field. She will be followed closely by Gm's Cashman and Miss Romy on the outside. Gs Ashlynn will be lurking just off on the rail followed by the rest of the field. At the 1st turn Fine Touch will be in command of this race and Romy drops down to the rail from the outside and Cashman continues to stalk. Down the backside is where Ashlynn will start to make her move. She will catch up to the stalker by the far turn and as they all turn from home, It's going to turn into a race. Fine Touch will be holding her margin over the rest of the field as Ashlynn comes flying home. Romy and Cashman will be in the hunt as well as they all creep closer and closer to the finish line. Fine Touch wins it in a thriller as Ashlynn just misses. Romy settles for show and Cashman rounds out the superfecta.
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