Distance Dominance

It's a good thing for the Orange Park Kennel Club that we have not only one greyhound tearing up the 660 yard course, but two.

Like at most racetracks now, we just a couple of grade A boxes to be had over the added distance and these two champions have not seen each other in quite a while.

So who are we talking about? None other than the 2010 Orange Park Derby winner Eds Budby (Domingo Dodge - Cherokee Queen), and the greyhound that ran the fastest time over 660 yards in the last 17 years recently La's Lucy (Get Over - Ruby Is The Best).

Neither of these greyhounds need an introduction, but in case you don't follow our circuit, I'll give you a brief run down.

Eds Budby has really come into his own over the added distance course this year. Starting out with the stakes rounds, Budby found IT and has not let it out of his site since. He won 4 of the 5 in the stakes, including the finals, and since coming back from a try at a sprint title too, he has been fantastic.

He has not missed the trifecta in his last 8 races in a row. What is even more impressive is that he has won 5 of his last 6 efforts, including his last 4 starts in a row.

The most outstanding of those wins came 4 races back where he broke on top and left the field 11 lengths behind him at the finish line.

OP 4/26/2010E-11 660 37.61 F 73 3 1 1 3 1 3 1 3.5 37.61 *0.50 TA As Expected Mdtrk

OP 4/23/2010E-15 660 37.88 F 73 3 1 1 2 1 3 1 2.5 37.88 *0.80 A In Sharp Form Mdtrk

OP 4/17/2010E-15 660 37.59 F 73 6 1 1 4 1 4 1 3.5 37.59 *0.80 A Unopposed Mdtrk

OP 4/12/2010E-11 660 37.83 F 73 3 1 1 3 1 5 1 11 37.83 *0.50 A Outclassed Field Mt

OP 4/09/2010E-15 660 37.96 F 73 2 3 4 4 3 3 38.16 *0.80 A Ignored Early Trbl

OP 4/03/2010E-15 660 37.50 F 73.5 2 1 2 1 2 1 4.5 37.50 *1.90 A Drew Clear Late Mt

OP 3/31/2010E-09 660 37.27 F 73 8 4 3 3 2 8.5 37.87 2.00 A Gained Best Of Rest

OP 3/27/2010E-15 660 37.06 F 73 1 2 2 2 2 3 37.28 *1.90 A Chased Winner Mt

Budby is on cruise control right now. This closer has been breaking fast and once in front, no one has been able to get even close. If he can keep it up, this streak could continue for a mighty long time.

La's Lucy is no slouch herself though. She has been streaking too and has won 4 straight races and posted up 7 victories in her last 9 efforts.

Lucy competed in the Orange Park Derby this year too, but her fate was a bit different in the finals. She ran into a ton of trouble early on and was jolted back out of contention early on. She did well in qualifying with three wins and a fourth place effort.

Since that time Lucy has had one thing on her mind, WINNING! She has been blistering from the starting box and has be tenacious on the lead. No one has run her down as of yet and from the looks of it, no one is going too.

Head to head since the finals, Lucy holds the advantage over her counterpart. Lucy has beaten Budby twice over the last two meetings, including the race that saw her clock a 37.06. That time was faster than anyone has run over this surface in the last 17 years.

OP 4/24/2010E-15 660 37.82 F 58 7 3 2 1 2 1 2.5 37.82 *0.90 A Chalk Up Another Win

OP 4/19/2010E-09 660 37.58 F 58 3 1 1 2 1 6 1 8.5 37.58 *0.80 A Popped The Box Mdtrk

OP 4/16/2010E-15 660 37.75 F 57.5 6 1 1 2 1 2 1 5 37.75 *0.50 A Unchallenged Mdtrk

OP 4/10/2010E-15 660 37.68 F 57.5 6 2 2 1 5 1 4.5 37.68 *0.50 TA Driving Finish Mdtrk

OP 4/05/2010E-11 660 38.21 F 58 3 6 6 5 6 5.5 38.60 *0.70 TA Never Far Off Mt

OP 3/31/2010E-09 660 37.27 F 58 6 1 1 2 1 6 1 8.5 37.27 *1.90 A Popped The Box Mdtrk

OP 3/27/2010E-15 660 37.06 F 58 8 1 1 3 1 3 1 3 37.06 2.30 A Blistering Pace Mt

The great part about this is that you can debate it all day long and still come out a winner with either one of these greyhounds.

Both are serious competitors, both have unrelenting drives, and both are untouchable once they make the lead.

The Orange Park Kennel Club is glad to have such talented greyhounds running on our circuit and we wish best luck in the future to both of them. KEEP THE STREAKS ALIVE and who knows, Burt Roads total of 14 might be in jeopardy someday.