Race Breakdown 2010 JGR Puppy Stakes

Saturday - 6/5/2010

The finals of the 2010 JGR Puppy Stakes will go to post in the 11th race on the card on Saturday Evening June 5th at the Orange Park Kennel Club.



The top 8 athletes are poised and ready to rock and roll in the final round field. The DQ Williams Kennel leads the way with 3 finalists, but don't count out the defending champs either. B & J has won this race in back to back years and has 2 greyhounds of their own in contention.



Now on to our finalists.



1. Tipsy Brutus W (Tipsy Character - Jetstar Streaker) is a super closer that will be coming off the tailgate again in this effort. He did draw a great post though. He has won 4 of 7 career starts from here and has finished in the money 6 times. If he wants to have a shot at the upset, he needs to break at least a little bit.



2. Playing Amy Song (Golddust Memory - Greys Irish Song) was almost untouchable in the rounds and should be the betting favorite come post time. She is a closer that has been breaking and that is bad news for the competition. With a good post and room early, she is going to be tough to take down in this effort.



3. Smokin Snoopy (Go Joe Jester - Smokin Dizzy) is a solid breaker and rusher that has proved very tough once he gets his nose in front. He won twice in the rounds and likes to run from the inside post positions. Here he is in tough, but one thing I know for sure, the Stacey Blanch Kennel will have him ready to go. They have won the last 2 sprint stakes in a row, tonight it might be a stakes 3 peat.



4. Fth Tiger Lilly (Take It Over - Fth Moon Dancer) wishes she was just a bit more inside in this effort. The 4 box is not bad, but she does prefer the rail. Showing that she has chops like dad, Tiger Lilly wired the field twice in qualifying and is just hoping she can repeat her father's performance in this race. He won the 2008 edition in an all time classic run. Let's see if his first offspring can do him proud.



5. Paddy Whacker (Heart Rumble* - Spicy Candy) is the fastest greyhound in this race and if he can get loose early on, he will not get beat in this effort. Working against him is the post position. He loves it wide and just needed to be a bit more outside in order to really have a great shot at winning this race. He still could pull it off. It's all up to him, if he breaks like it can, this race would be his to lose.



6. Mw Sekhnot (C Ya Costa Maya - Mw Steel Jaw) is still wondering just how he made the finals of this race. This all out puppy has just 12 races under his belt and here he is in with all of these stakes caliber greyhounds. He did earn the right though and has some chops of his own. He doesn't mind it too much out here, he will need to step up his game tonight and use that late speed if he wants to challenge.



7. Leading Steps (Lonesome Cry - Tk Ashira) is a good early speed greyhound that might be saving his best run for the stakes finals. He was the only finalist to not win a round, but his consistency got him into the finals. He didn't have it easy either, he had to compete against all of these greyhounds here throughout the rounds. If he can steal a bunch early on, he might just surprise them all in this effort.



8. La's Silver (Be Discrete - La's Felisha) is a departure from a normal DQ Williams greyhound in that fact that she has all out early speed and very little left at the finish. She is the best breaker in this field and draws a great post on the outside part of the racetrack. Here she is going to get all kinds of room to head to the turn and poke her nose in front early on. The only burning question for her is, can she hold on at the finish line?



Now let's talk about how this race is going to play out. I think that La's Silver bombs to the early lead on again in this effort. She has the best early speed and should be clear as they run to the turn. Playing Amy Song gets room as well when the one dog sits in the starting box and the rail will open up nicely for her to run to the turn. At the first turn, Silver will be in front followed closely by Leading Steps, Smokin Snoopy, Amy Song and Paddy Whacker. Down the backside they head and by the far turn, Silver is still in control but the closers will start to make their run. Leading Steps gets overtaken and starts to drift back. Amy Song will find her other gear and make a bold move late and it should be enough for the win. Silver gets edged out at the finish line and settles for second. Paddy Whacker makes it really interesting as he overcomes the post to challenge and Smokin Snoopy survives in the super. This will be another thriller to watch, so don't miss out. (2-8-5-3)