3rd Round of the 2010 Jacksonville Sprint Classic

Friday - 3/26/2010

The third round of the 2010 Jacksonville Sprint Classic, on Friday evening March 26th, is going to be a hot one. No greyhound remains undefeated in this stakes and the points are all over the place. Tons of greyhounds are still within striking distance of the point lead, and with the field being cut down to just 4 races, everyone is going to have to battle for those dwindling spots.

Who will show up in this round?? Can the first round winners get back on track tonight, or will the second round dominators keep the good times rolling on? One thing we do know, you needed to be close to get it done, so breaking is going to play a big roll once again in the outcome of these races.



The first stakes race on the card comes in the 7th race.



1. Kiowa Shag Along (Flying Stanley - Kiowa Shag Sue) must be living right as she draws the one box for the third race in a row. In the first two rounds she finished in the money from here, tonight you might expect more of the same.



2. Gm's Cashman (Dodgem By Design - Gs Gertie) showed mad skills in the 1st round with a win, but the 5 box did him in the second round. Back inside at the start of this race, he could return to breaking and winning tonight.



3. Wp's Commodore (Fuzzys Cannon - M's Countess Amy) got off the snide in the stakes rounds with a strong second place effort last time out. Post doesn't matter all that much to him, but breaking does. He need to be close early to be effective in this race.



4. Kiowa Trent Tovi (Trent Lee - Kay V Barbierie) looked good in the 1st stakes round, but struggled in the second. Closing is his best attribute, but he needs to have a clear lane to rush up in if he wants to be in the mix in the stretch.



5. Uss Fine Touch (Uss Raceway - Uss Glimmer) showed the form that got him in the money in back to back stakes finals in round 1, but in the second round he missed his break and got into trouble. Tonight he need to rebound and show his stuff.



6. Game Candice (Flying Penske - Home Town Charm) ran a huge race last time out and flew home to challenge the leader for the win. Normally a router, Candice need to want it again in this effort if she wants to move on in the stakes.



7. Bleachy Boy (Lonesome Cry - Instant Vintage) has made up ground throughout in both rounds but it has been too little too late for a shot at the win. Here he is a long way from the rail, but if he can get there untouched he might have a chance to steal away a victory.



8. Dirty Picture (Coldwater Konow - Chance With Me) is riding high off a couple of big efforts so far in the stakes rounds. He has been breaking very well, for him, and even though he showed some tough trips from the outside, I think this is an ok spot for him to start from. Watch out again tonight.



As the rabbit rounds the bend and the box pops open a couple of different greyhounds may be trying to get to the early lead, but only one will make it. Uss Fine Touch. Touch will take the extra room at the break from the empty box and find a lane to rush up into. He will be pressed throughout, but should be good enough for the win. Chasing the leader will be Kiowa Shag Along and Dirty Picture. Both greyhound has not missed the ticket so far in the stakes and from decent post positions, you should get more of the same in this effort. Don't count out Bleachy Boy either. We all know he will be flying at the end of this race trying to run down the leaders and if there is any trouble up front, he has a chance to take home the win. (5-1-8-7)





Second up in the remaining qualifying heats is the 10th race on the card.



1. Lady Avery (Trent Lee - Leafs Falling) is tied for the lead in points after two rounds of the stakes. She has been closing extremely well and has enough gears late to get to anyone here in the stretch too. Did I mention that she has the one box tonight? Well, you can figure out the rest.



2. Kiowa Gooddesign (Dodgem By Design - Flying Acme) is a blazing early speed greyhound that outrushed everyone to the lead and took home a win in round 1. Round 2 was not as kind as she was taking out of contention in the far turn. Here she should be unabated to the lead on the rail.



3. Kiowa Fly Remi (Flying Stanley - Flying Rolling) surprised them all in round two as he grabbed quick command of the race and held on all the way to the wire for the win. Early speed is his only weapon, and if he wants a chance to win again, he must hit the lid.



4. Hallo Triple A (Hallo West Acre - Cat Bird's Seat) was a first round winner, but finished out of it after trouble in round 2. He has a solid rush to the turn and can hang with the best of them when he wants to run, the problem is you never know when that is going to be. If he wants it here, pay attention.



5. Fay's Mcqueen (Maryville Rumble* - Rooftop Kaylee) was riding high on a 4 race win streak heading into the second round, but there he missed his break and that was the end to that. All he has to do is decide to fire out fast and this race will be his to lose.



6. Whistle Bit (Get Over - Lap Baby) might be a bit over her head against this talented field, but so far in the stakes she has been holding her own. Ok, so she hasn't challenged for the win or anything, but she has finished in the money twice. Not too bad for a grade C greyhound!



7. Charmurpantsoff (San Tan Riffraff - Majestic Angle) is still running for adoption and looks to improve on a couple of so, so efforts. Here he is in with not a lot of early speed and that should help him get closer at the start of this race. He needs to step it up, let's see if he is up to the task.



8. Steel Reserve (Iruska All Star - Gable Pops) looked good in the 1st round, but didn't fare so well in the second. Here he needs to do one thing if he is going to compete, he MUST break. He only runs when he is close to the early lead, so that is where he needed to be in this race.



Time for a new win streak to start. I don't expect Fay's Mcqueen to miss the start in back to back races, and against this field, she should easily be able to make the lead. Once in front she can prove short on occasion, but should steal enough early on to survive the late chargers in the stretch. Tying to make it interesting will be Lady Avery. Lady Avery is the best closer in the bunch and if she gets around close, she might be the one that continues her win streak in this effort. She is really on top of her game right now and if she were to run down the rivals late, frankly I would not be surprised at all. Kiowa Gooddesign is the only other greyhound in this field that has the early speed to get in front of Mcqueen before the first turn. If he does decide to hit it in this effort, he could see himself getting back on track with another win in the qualifying rounds. Post, yes that is helping him out as well tonight. Charmurpantsoff is way better than his lines show, he just hasn't been running up to his former form. He has not been breaking and that is the main reason that he has been finishing like he has. The outside post might help him get a lane early on, and if he does come to play in this effort, he has the skills needed for the upset. (5-1-2-7)





Race three of four comes your way in the 11th race on the card.



1. La's Anthony (Dustin The Way - La's Felisha) is the only returning finalist in this field and he looked like it in round 2. He loves the rail and the one box will go a long way to help him contend again tonight. If he gets loose early, it could be back to back winning efforts.



2. Kiowa Trent Tam (Trent Lee - Kay V Barbierie) gets another good rail post in this race and slowly she is getting back into closing in time form over 550 yards. She needs to make the transition a bit faster though if she wants to move on in the stakes.



3. Rs Libby Lu (Lonesome Cry - Sweet Sandra Sue) was the pre-race favorite and in her round 2 effort she looked like it. There she got back to breaking and was in complete control from box to wire. Here she is posted up well and should show off her true talented again.



4. Kiowa Vanessa (Flying Hydrogen - Greg Kiowa Girl) is a big time early speed greyhound that just missed out on stealing away a win in round 2. Breaking on top is her only chance to get around with these big dogs and finish in the money.



5. Fth Chinook Arch (Dodgem By Design - Cm Lil Bit) got close early in round two and that was difference between an 8th in round 1 and a 2nd place finish in round 2. A solid even running, Arch, needs to make the most of the empty box next to him, and find a way into early contention tonight.



6. Eds Mark Time (Flying Penske - Eds Cherokeegirl) hasn't been to threatening to the leaders so far in the stakes, but he has been consistent. In both rounds he has been closing throughout the race and has factored in the money at the finish line. As long as he can stay clear, he has a money shot again here.



7. Kiowa Kind Gel (Flying Penske - Kiowa Oneofakind) is an early speed demon that can go to the turn with the best of them at the racetrack. Her drawback is that she can be short at the end of the race. So far in the stakes, so good, two in the money efforts. Tonight more of the same.



8. Blaze N Ray (Craigie Whistler - Rayvan) the 2008 finalist might be an older dog, but he still has some new tricks for the competition. He posted up a win in his last effort and has finished in the money in both stakes starts. He can do it from the lead or from off the pace. His only concern here, the 8 box.



This race is going to be a know down drag out affair that might be decided by a photo finish. I expect Rs Libby Lu and Kiowa Kind Gel to both come out running in this effort. These two should be clear of the rest as they head to the turn and it could turn into a quite a battle on the lead. Stalking close behind will be La's Anthony, from his best box, and then the rest of the field. By the far turn Anthony will be rolling and things will start to get interesting. As they turn for home, Kind Gel starts to fade, Libby holds strong, Anthony will be closing, and a new player comes into the mix and his name is Blaze N Ray. Four greyhounds, all out, all competing for the win. This finish should be tremendous. I like Libby to hold on, Anthony just missing in place with Blaze N Ray just off in third as Kiowa Kind Gel holds on for a spot in the super. (3-1-8-7)





Capping off the stakes rounds, and the evening, the 15th and final race is a speed duel.



1. Kb's Next Level (Dodgem By Design - Bf Pina) has loads of early speed and showed that off in the 1st round of the stakes with a win. Here posted up in the one box, with no speed around, she has a shot to pull off another win in this effort. Especially with some early room from the 2 dog.



2. Gs Ashlynn (Rapido Rambo - Gm's Cutie) will have to try and make due from an inside post once again in this effort. She is looking for her 3rd stakes final in a row, but needs to collect a big lump sum of points in this race if she wants to get there. Breaking well would go a long way in helping her tonight.



3. Fth Keystone Cop (Dodgem By Design - Cm Lil Bit) looked like a former stakes winner in round 2 of the stakes and that was mainly because his break returned. When he can come out fast, he has a good chance at getting into the money and from an advantageous post in this race, he might get it done in back to back efforts.



4. Ctw Anti Gravity (Maryville Rumble* - Greys Gravity) runs his best from the inside part of the racetrack and I just don't know if the 4 box is close enough to the rail in order for him to show up in this effort. If he does decide to break, he should be able to get a piece of this pie at the wire.



5. Sassy Gloria (Fuzzys Cannon - Sassy Nan) has finished close in both of the stakes rounds so far but has been shut out of the winner's circle on both occasions. Tonight the tough 5 box may give her troubles as she tries to get to the inside part of the racetrack. Winning might be a stretch, but factoring is not!



6. Rays Scout (My Judge - Ivyona Star) made up for a missed break in round one, with a dominated and qualifying best run in round 2. He rushed to the early lead and ran faster than anyone else on the card. He has all the skills and if the lights are back on, he is going to be a force again tonight.



7. Hallo Mr Great (Hallo Mr Finigan - Kiowa Kay Dime) is probably the best breaker in this field, but like most true early speed greyhounds, he is short at the end of the race. Here he might be able to see the lead again, but I don't know if he can hold on to win like he did in his last effort. Tied for the point lead, he will be a factor throughout in this one.



8. Eds Joy Of Pride (Domingo Dodge - Cherokee Queen) is at the top of her game right not as she took home a win in the 1st round, the third in a row for her, and finished in the money in the second. She has great closing speed, but this post is nowhere near the rail. This 8 box will be bothersome at best.



No doubt that the posted up breakers are going to come out running at the start of this race, but I don't think that either Kb's Next Level or Hallo Mr Great can get it done all the way to the wire. WHY? Well, Rays Scout is back and is going to be WAAYYY to close early on to be denied a victory tonight. This greyhound can break fast and can go 660, and in a sprint race that is bad news for a couple of frontrunners in the stretch. I see the battle for place won by Mr Great as he is a little bit more determined without the lead in any race and KB's Next Level holds on for a game show. Sassy Gloria is the other greyhound to pay attention to in this effort. She has not missed the trifecta in 6 races in a row and is just waiting to pull out that whooping stick. She is as fast as anyone in this race and could also get it done from off the pace too. Sleeper alert, pat attention to her in this effort. (6-7-1-5)