Bragging Rights Weekend

Friday - 3/5/2010

As we get closer and closer to the upcoming 2010 Jacksonville Sprint Classic, the top greyhounds are trying to put their final stamp on who will be the prerace favorite.

In each of the three sprint races we will look at this weekend, we some pretty good candidates for that top spot. How about 2 greyhounds with 4 wins in a row? Or, what about a greyhound with 5 wins in 6 starts who is also a stakes winner?

All of them have a shot at the title as who might be the one to beat, but they have to get thru the races this weekend to earn the bragging rights. Will it be Fay's Fonda, Ray's Scout, or Rs Libby Lu? Tune in and find out this weekend at the Orange Park Kennel Club.

Out first race on the weekend comes in the 11th race for Friday evening.

1. Gs Tank (Craigie Whistler - Gm's Peachykeen) is a good early speed greyhound that can wire fields on the front end when he gets loose. You just never know when that is going to be. With another rail post, you need to keep an eye out for him here.

2. Eds Mark Time (Flying Penske - Eds Cherokeegirl) has some great closing skills and will need them against this talented field. He was too far behind in his last effort and being up three grades in this effort, he needs to get out closer if he wants a chance at the money.

3. Fay's Fonda (Maryville Rumble* - Rooftop Kaylee) is clearly the one to beat in this race. She has an explosive rush to the turn and has won 4 races in a row. All she has to do is keep on keeping on and win 5 will be in her grasp.

4. Kiowa Stan Cay (Flying Hyrogen - Flying Monica K) is not really running up to his peak form as of late. Sure he has been tough a couple of outings when he has been close early and if he can follow Fonda to the turn, he might have an outside shot at the money again tonight.

5. Willing Effort (Dodgem By Design - Ww Ellen's Time) showed up big time in her last effort with a win, but this is the 5 box not the 8 box. She too has big time early speed, but is really short in the stretch. If she wants a chance to repeat here, she must be out to a long lead early on.

6. Kiowa Gooddesign (Dodgem By Design - Flying Acme) is Fonda's biggest rival in this race. Another big time early speed greyhound that has won 4 of his last 6 races in grade A. He has the tools to take Fonda down and from a favorable post, he might just do it in this effort.

7. Jean's Hiedi (Golddust Memory - Gifted Lex) never gets enough credit and from the outside she is especially tough. Ok, so she might not win every races, but she closes in all of them and gives her all for the duration. With 6 efforts in a row in the money, it will be tough to keep her off the paysheet here.

8. Cjc's Buckshot (Pacific Mile* - Gable Ruth) is a stakes veteran that has enough late speed to run everyone down if the mood suits him in this effort. He can break on occasion too and those races can get quite UGLY! His only drawback in this race is the post. He loves the rail and will have to work to get there tonight.

This race brakes down into two parts as the box opens up, the big early speed greyhounds and the closers coming after them in the stretch. Most likely Fay's Fonda and Kiowa Gooddesign will come out running in this effort and duel on the front end for the majority of this effort. I think Fonda gets 5 in a row as he holds on his rival at the wire. The closing duo to consider will be Jean's Hiedi and Cjc's Buckshot. Both greyhounds have tremendous closing ability and if either of them gets too close too soon, this could turn into quite a finish at the wire. Winning might be a stretch for either, but playing them under on your tickets should be a good play.

Saturday - 3/6/2010

Up second on the weekend is the 11th race in Saturday matinee's card.

1. Ctw Anti Gravity (Maryville Rumble* - Greys Gravity) is an all rail all the time greyhound that draws the one box in this effort. She loves it here and can hang, when close, with almost anyone at the racetrack. She has the skills, she just needs to show them today.

2. Kiowa Shamrock (Kiowa Mon Manny - Kiowa Sweet Sue) is looking for some March luck to get her over the hump in this race. She too is much better from the rail and close enough her to make a dent. She has good closing speed and should put it to use again in this race.

3. Wp's Hylander (Flying Hydrogen - Fuzzys Kennedy) is moving back up into grade A in this effort after a strong winning performance in his last race. He has started to break again and that has been the main difference in turning it around. The post might hinder him though as he likes to run on the wide side.

4. Wsr Ace (Stan's Boy Flyer - Miss Mattox) has some good early speed and will need to come out running in this effort if she is going to contend with this crowd. She gets room early with the empty box, but I don't know if it will be enough. She needs to get some help if she wants a chance.

5. Its Atoughracket (Let's Winendine - Faith Keeper) is a strong closer from the DQ Williams Kennel, no really, and you can bet on it that she will be making up ground throughout in this effort. She is long overdue for a win, but against all this early speed, it might be hard to do. Under on your tickets she is a safe play.

6. LRC Last Dance (Late Late Show - Hot Cargo) has shown some good late speed and has not missed the money in her last 6 races in a row. She was solidly 4th in all of her A starts and from a post where she might get clear early, she might just be around again at the finish line.

7. Jayvan (Ra Blazer - Shake My Soul) is in the wrong post position to start this race. She is a closing machine from the rail, but from the outside, well that's a different story. At the break she is headed inside and could find some trouble, but if she gets thru cleanly, she might get a piece of this pie.

8. Rs Libby Lu (Lonesome Cry - Sweet Sandra Sue) is the one to take down today in this race. She has won 5 of her last 6 races and has a stakes title under her belt at the Orange Park Kennel Club. She has more speed than the rest and once in front, YOUCANFORGETABOUTIT!

As the box comes open today, the 7, Jayvan, goes to the rail and Rs Libby Lu breaks on top, that is really all you need to know in this effort. Libby gets all the room in the world heading to the 1st turn and once in front, no one here will stand a chance to catch her before the finish line. Not only winning this race, Libby Lu makes a statement. Chasing the pace early should be the other posted up greyhound Ctw Anti Gravity. Away from the crowd on the rail, she clears and challenges for the duration. Closing late to steal away the final spots in the cash should be Its Atoughracket and Kiowa Shamrock.

Saturday - 3/6/2010

The 15th race for Saturday evening at the Orange Park Kennel Club is out distance race feature.

1. Xtra Style (Kl's Doug - Exceptional Bid) is the ultimate closer that just finished 2nd in the finals of the 2010 Orange Park Derby. She will like it on the rail tonight, and if she gets around close she is going to make it a fun race to watch as they head for the finish line.

2. Gs Ashlynn (Rapido Rambo - Gm's Cutie) is tough over this distance when she gets out of the box well and the post might hurt her here in this effort. She is a wide runner that would rather be in the 7 or 8 box and will have to make due from the rail. If she does hit the mark early, she has a chance to win.

3. Cjc's Smooth Move (Pacific Mile* - Gable Ruth) is back in the party on mode as she returns to grade A in this effort. The turnaround has been because she has been getting out of the starting box much better as of late. If she wants to hang around in the money here, she needs to keep up the good work.

4. Where's Finalhit (Flying Penske - Finaldestination) is a big time early speed greyhound over the 660 yard course who has drawn some great posts over the last 5 or so starts. The middle box tonight is a departure from the rail and outside ones in the past, so a quick start is paramount for a good finish.

5. Penny Candy (Stan's Boy Flyer - Majestic Angle) is looking better in each and every effort over the distance, but the third straight 5 box is not doing her any favors. This dual stakes winning All-American just needs to have a clear trip and she might get back to winning in this effort.

6. Bad For Ya (Trent Lee - Leafs Flying) just can't seem to get out of the starting box like he has in the past. He took the 660 course by storm by winning 4 straight, but has not seen that domination since. He has all the tools to win, he just needs to find whatever IT was and get back to doing IT tonight.

7. Eds Budby (Domingo Dodge - Cherokee Queen) was the 2010 Orange Park Derby Winner and made up for a couple of rough starts in his last race with another impressive win. This greyhound is the real deal and can win from any post and any position on the racetrack. The whole packages goes for another win.

8. Candy Girl (Flying Penske - Solitary Flyer) has taken well to the racetrack and has used her early speed to move up to the grade A ranks in this effort. The competition is way tougher up here and she is going to need to come out in a hurry in this effort. The good news, the post is on her side in this one.

In this race I think a couple of greyhound might come out early on to challenge for the lead. Cjc's Smoothmove and Penny Candy should both be up for the mark, but I don't know if either of them can hold off the man before the wire. Penny normally would if she were in the lead, but she might need a few more races to get back into the tip top shape. I just think Budby breaks to close early on in this effort and makes the most of it in the later stages to steal away the win. Penny for place and early leader Smoothmove for third. Closing from the clouds to round out the money, well Xtra Style of course.

Sunday - 3/7/2010

Capping off the weekend on Sunday matinee's 11th race, we continue the red hot greyhounds.

1. Mr. Duncan (Fuzzys Cannon - Miss Kissable) is from a fantastic litter that has produced many grade A runners. He can run hot and cold at times and hasn't had a ton of success in grade A as of yet. The upside is that he finally is on the rail and that might make a difference. Breaking is his key to success.

2. Wp's Clinton (Fuzzys Cannon - M's Countess Amy) loves the rail post positions and gets one here in the 2 box. Clinton runs his best near the early lead in the race, even though he has enough late speed to come from just off the pace to win races. If he wants to run, he could challenge for the win.

3. Rays Scout (My Judge - Ivyona Star) has been on fire since moving back to 550 yards after finishing 3rd in the finals of the 2010 Orange Park Derby. He has been breaking and once in front, no one is going to catch him. With 4 victories in a row, Scout is the one to try and beat in this effort.

4. What A Charmer (San Tan Riffraff - Majestic Angle) is a huge closer that won't make a move until the final turn in this race. Sometimes he gets caught behind traffic and the 4 won't be doing him any favors today, and even though he might be hard pressed to win, factoring in the money should be a sure thing.

5. Uss West Coast (Lonesome Cry - Uss Mysterious) is a speed burner that comes out running in almost all of his races at Orange Park. He stole away a win on the early lead in his last effort and if he can get away enough early, back to back might be a possibility. Otherwise, getting caught will be a definite.

6. Pat C Tremor (Trent Lee - Pat C Aida) needs the rail in order to be effective and starting out in the 6 box, he is going to have his work cut out for him in this effort. His solid rush to the turn will be his biggest asset in this race and if he wants a chance, he must be close early on.

7. Dance With Me (Get Over - Sugarnooche) has shown some good closing speed in the past, but against the A's the break maybe more critical to her in this race. She didn't fare well against the best at the racetrack in her first grade A race from the outside, and in this race she has more of the same. We'll see.

8. Kiowa Vinita (Flying Hydrogen - Greg Kiowa Girl) gets to start off this race in the right spot, the outside part of the racetrack. She breaks well from outside and even though she can close, she needs to be close early in order to keep winning hope alive. No big upset here if she gets it done from a favorable set up.

Ok so Rays Scout is the one to beat in this effort. He has won 4 races in a row and has been breaking like a mad man. He also has some late speed over 550 and even without the front in this race, he will find a way to get it done, just like he did 4 races back from this same post position. Kiowa Vinita should be his biggest challenge as she has everything going for her at the get go. Posted up well, she clears early and challenges for the duration of this effort. Also coming on late will be What A Charmer. This greyhound will make the rest look slow in the stretch as he switches gears and that leaves Uss West Coast to complete the superfecta. Breaking fast and pressing throughout, he does challenge, but all that early speed comes with a price and that price is being short in the stretch.