Monday - 3/29/2010
With just one round left before the finals of the 2010 Jacksonville Sprint Classic field is set, a bunch of greyhound still have an opportunity to step up and secure themselves a spot in the elite eight.
For this round the field has been cut down to three remaining races and each of the twenty-four greyhounds want to find their way into the finals of this event.
Loads of talent are still in the mix including former stakes competitors, finalists, and even stakes winners.
Only two greyhound have won more than one race, Lady Avery and Hallo Mr Great, tonight they find themselves in separate races once again. If either of them gets taken down tonight, it could really add a money wrench into the point totals and who makes the finals.
The first race in the semi-finals on the card is the 7th.
1. Gm's Cashman (Dodgem By Design - Gs Gertie) loves the rail and gets the one box in this effort. The post with the most will be enough to get him close early and try for the upset. He was the leader in points for the 2009 Jacksonville Juvenile, and has righted the ship at the right time in the rounds. Tonight he should contend.
2. Kiowa Gooddesign (Dodgem By Design - Flying Acme) is a big time early speeder that draws a great post position once again here on the inside part of the racetrack. Doubt it? Look at her last race where she almost won from this very same starting box. Short late, YES, but if she can steal enough early, you never know.
3. Kiowa Vanessa (Flying Hydrogen - Greg Kiowa Girl) has some early speed of her own, you just don't know when she is going to use it. In round two she did, but in rounds one and three she did not. If she wants to have a shot at the finals, she will need to come out running in this effort.
4. La's Anthony (Dustin The Way - La's Felisha) is the only returning finalist in the field and he is once again in contention to get there again this year. He has found his break and is running on fresh legs. IO know he would rather be on the rail, but the 4 box is not that far off. If he breaks again, he will be in the mix for the win at the wire.
5. Sassy Gloria (Fuzzys Cannon - Sassy Nan) had a rough trip last time out from this very same starting box and if she doesn't break well, it could be a repeat in this race. She has good closing speed, but she still needs to be close enough early on to contend. If she gets back to breaking, she might have an outside shot in this round.
6. Fay's Mcqueen (Maryville Rumble* - Rooftop Kaylee) looked great in the 1st round as he won his 4th race in a row, but since he has not looked good at the start and has found trouble on the way to the 1st turn. If he does break, he could easily wire this field on the front end, but if he sits in the box, he will have to wait until the next stakes to contend.
7. Kiowa Fly Remi (Flying Stanley - Flying Rolling) is the third Kay Smith greyhound in this field and like the other two, she is all about the early speed. In order to be effective, likes he was in round 2 from this post, she needs to beat the box and make it to the early lead. She cannot win races from behind and will need the 16 points for a chance to take home a final round position.
8. Gs Ashlynn (Rapido Rambo - Gm's Cutie) still has a shot to make her 3rd stakes final in a row, and tonight she gets a post position that could be a difference maker. She loves it wide and gets the widest of the wide posts here in the 8 box. Over 550 she is a closer and should be rushing up late to challenge the leaders at the wire for the win in this effort.
This race is going to be very interesting, and the most important part of the race might just be the break. Just who is going to come out well? Who is going to make the lead? And who is going to be close enough to possibly take down the leaders before the wire? I like La's Anthony here. He is vying for another chance at that ever elusive stakes title and remember his dad won this very race back in 2004. Here I don't expect him to beat the blazers to the turn, but he will be stalking early and in the stretch it will be a determined late victory. Setting the pace should be Kiowa Gooddesign, but I don't know if he can steal enough even to hold on for second place at the finish line. He does have the talent to wire this field on the front end, just like he did in round 1, but he will need some help behind him to get it done tonight. The post will push him along, but short is short in the stretch especially with the big guns closing in late. Gm's Cashman gets a look here too, especially from the 1 box. He loves the rail and runs as close as anyone to it in any race. He has really righted the ship and has been tough in each of the rounds so far. Remember he was the leader in points for the 2009 Jacksonville Juvenile and knows how to get it done in the qualifying rounds. If he decides to come out running, he might just upset this talented field. Another greyhound not to forget is Gs Ashlynn. This greyhound finally gets to start from her best box and that alone might catapult her into her third stakes final in a row. She needs a win to have a chance in this race and everything is set up for her to steal it in this effort. Let's see if she steps up to the plate and knocks it out of the park in this effort. (4-1-8-2)
The second of the three qualifying races in the semi-finals runs in the 10th, the 1st half of the forced out Twin-Trifecta.
1. Blaze N Ray (Craigie Whistler - Rayvan) has found his form once again and looks to be running like he was when he made the finals of this race back in 2008. His closing ability is back and he has even started to break better on occasion. He loves the rail and can really put up some big efforts from here. If he gets loose early on, this race is over.
2. Eds Mark Time (Flying Penske - Eds Cherokee Girl) is a good closer that will be making up ground throughout once again in this effort. He likes the inside and has been successful from this post position in the past, but against this talented field he is going to have his hands full. He will need every point that he can muster if he wants a chance to move on to the finals.
3. Hallo Triple A (Hallo West Acre - Cat Bird's Seat) is a solid breaker and rusher that can take over races when the mood suits him, and in the stakes his mood has been pretty good. He has factored close in two of the three efforts and both of those came from inside post positions. Here he gets another can could go toe to toe with the top guns again.
4. Bleachy Boy (Lonesome Cry - Instant Vintage) is a big time closer over 550 yards and has been coming on throughout in each of the stakes rounds. He has not been able to win one yet and will need to in this race if he wants to run on Saturday. He might be a stretch for that top spot, but clearly a shoe in for another in the money effort.
5. Uss Fine Touch (Uss Raceway - Uss Glimmer) is better than his recent lines have shown. He is still looking to make his third stakes final in a row, and let's remember he finished in the money in the other two. He did win in round one and will need to channel that breaking ability again tonight if he stands a chance.
6. Hallo Mr Great (Hallo Mr Finigan - Kiowa Kay Dime) has posted up back to back wins and is tied for the point lead heading into this round. He has blazing early speed and that has helped him get to where he finds himself today. He is the one to beat in this effort as he looks for his 6th race in a row in the Quiniela.
7. Kiowa Trent Tam (Trent Lee - Kay V Barbierie) surprised them all in his last race as he took down the not so short, La's Anthony, at the wire for the win. He was 23-1 in that effort and might find himself there again from the outside in this race. He will need to get to the rail and if he does, this Cinderella story might be over just yet.
8. Wp's Commodore (Fuzzys Cannon - M's Countess Amy) got loose on the lead in the last round and posted up the fastest time in all of qualifying. He is a monster up front and with a good post to break from in this effort, expect him to show up at the party with bells on. If he can get to the lead, it could be back to back wins for this big boy.
This race sets up well for Blaze N Ray. Ok, so he won't be in the lead early on but don't count him out. He loves this post position and is a whole different greyhound where wearing the red blanket. Here he is going to be close enough early on to take down everyone before the finish line tonight. Hallo Mr Great should be the pacesetter once again in this effort. He has the best early speed of the bunch and is running at the peak of his game. He has seen the lead in 4 of his last 5 races and in 2 of those he has held on for the win, and in the other 2 he was caught from behind. So his chances at 3 wins in a row in this effort, are 50, 50. Wp's Commodore gets a look after that tremendous effort in his last race and of course the wonderful post position that he drew in this effort. He breaks really well from the outside and as long as he is close early, he is a threat to win almost any race. The upside for him is huge, can he make the most of it tonight? Bleachy Boy is the best closer in the bunch and we all know what he is going to do late. The question is, what is he going to do early on? If he can get close enough at the start, he might have a shot at taking everyone down before the finish line, if he doesn't well then you get more of the same. Another in the money finish from off the pace. (1-6-8-4)
The third and final stakes race on the card comes in semi-final race number 11.
1. Kiowa Shag Along (Flying Stanley - Kiowa Shag Sue) draws the 1 box for the 4th straight qualifying race. It was good to him in the 1st two rounds, but it found him trouble late in the third round race. Here he needs to find his break and come out in a hurry if he wants a chance to pull off the upset.
2. KB's Next Level (Dodgem By Design - Bf Pina) has great early speed and when he hits the lid, he is tough to take down before the finish line. In round one, that was the effort he gave, but since he has not been on top of it. He has not been breaking quickly and needs to get back into form from yet another good inside post position in this effort.
3. Kiowa Kind Gel (Flying Penske - Kiowa Oneofakind) is another early speeder that needs to have the lead in order to be effective in this race. Like most true early speeders, she pays for it late and can be short, short, short in the stretch. If she can get back to the lead tonight, she might have a chance to win.
4. Lady Avery (Trent Lee - Leafs Falling) has been the picture of determination so far in the qualifying rounds. She is tied for the lead in points so far and has not been denied in back to back efforts. She is the best closer and gives her all at the wire. Will it be enough again late to post up another win before the finals? We will see.
5. Rs Libby Lu (Lonesome Cry - Sweet Sandra Sue) was the pre-race favorite to win this race, but she will need to work here just to make sure she has a spot in that final round race. She is tied for the 8th spot in qualifying right now, and would be out if the rounds ended today. She needs a big effort and we all know it's in her! Let's see the inner strength shine thru tonight.
6. Rays Scout (My Judge - Ivyona Star) has been close throughout in all of the stakes rounds and he posted up one of the best efforts so far in qualifying with his win 2 races ago in round 2. He still has what it takes to win against the best that the racetrack has to offer, but he needs to come out close if he is going to get it done in this one.
7. Dirty Picture (Coldwater Konow - Chance With Me) is an even runner with a bit of close to him at the end of the race. He likes it on the edges and the 7 box should not be a bad spot for him to start from. Breaking well will be the key to his success in this effort. If he decides to come out fast, he will factor throughout and at the wire tonight.
8. Eds Joy Of Pride (Domingo Dodge - Cherokee Queen) has really stepped her game in the stakes rounds. She has been closing like a mad woman and has been on a mission to show off her talented over the shorter course. Brother Eds Budby won the Orange Park Derby, and now she is trying to do the same in the Jacksonville Sprint Classic. If she wants to get there, she needs another big trip tonight.
This race is going to be something special to watch. With not that many big time early speed greyhounds, and a couple of slow breaking ones to either side of her, Rs Libby Lu should make the most of the empty post next to her and take the lead in this effort. Once in front, Libby will steal away as many as she can on the rest of this field and take home the very slim win at the finish line. WHY? Well there are a good bunch of closers that will be coming after her at the finish line. Lady Avery has won back to back efforts and each has been by a neck, so why would that change in this race. She is going to be giving her all throughout and in the stretch she will make another tremendous rush and see if she can complete the hat trick or not. It's going to be close and may the best greyhound on this day prevail. Rays Scout gets the benefit of drawing next to Libby and that should give him someone to chase to the turn and spark his interest throughout this effort. If he can keep up the pace to the stretch, he might have a shot to steal one away from the queen at the finish line. The other closer to consider has to be Eds Joy Of Pride. This little girl has been running her eyeballs out during the qualifying rounds and even though she has just one win, she has been a threat in the stretch in all of her efforts. She has not missed the trifecta in 6 races in a row and could keeps that streak going in this race. That is if she can overcome the post and find a way to get to the rail tonight. (5-4-6-8)
The post positions for the finals will be drawn in Wednesday Matinee at the Orange Park Kennel Club and the finals of this event will take place on Saturday Evening April 3rd in conjunction with our Mad Mad Money Machine and drink special promotions.
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