The Master of his DOMAIN



Friday - 10/2/2010


It's spot play weekend at the Orange Park Kennel Club in each and every one of our featured races.

Just pick one, any one, and you will see that there is a distinct advantage for a greyhound in each race that should allow them to have an edge throughout the race and at the finish line.

Granted a couple could win on skill alone, but put them where they want to be and get a little help around them and you better really watch out.

So without further ado, it's time to get this party started at the Orange Park Kennel Club.


Race one come on the Friday evening card, as we save the best for last, let's look at race 15.

1. Kiowa Top Design (Dodgem By Design - Flying Acme) saw his win streak stopped in his last effort, but should rebound here with a fantastic post position. All he has to do is be close early, and it's over.

2. Sayitwasseth (Deerfield Site* - Mystic Opal) is a strong closer over the shorter distance, but he needs to get out closer early if he wants a chance to win. The post is a plus, let's see if he uses it to his advantage.

3. Orion Lee (Trent Lee - Hurry Hannah) is the best breaker in the bunch , but he has not show it in his last couple of starts. He's posted up and if he finds it in this effort, he might just wire this field.

4. Big Drama (Get Over - Rooftop Flojo) is a big time closer that can come from way off the pace to challenge. She loves the rail and will need to get there to be competitive. Without trouble, she challenges.

5. Gs Tee Up (Afleet Alex - Gm's Peachykeen) is still just a puppy, but has proven already that he can hang with the grade A's. The tough 5 box awaits in this effort. Even though he can close, he has to break.

6. Wp's Commodore (Fuzzys Cannon - M's Countess Amy) is a solid grade A threat from the lead or from off the pace. He can run from anywhere, but likes the rail best. If he can clear, he could be a winner.

7. Kiowa Mon Dolly (Kiowa Mon Manny - Kiowa Kays Dream) is all about the early speed and finally gets to compete against the big boys and girls again. The post is in her favor, she just needs to hit the lid tonight.

8. Kiowa Class Run (Flying Penske - Kiowa Classylady) is up 3 grades in this race tonight and might find the competition hard to handle. She is a long way from the rail too. If she doesn't break well, it could be a long evening.

This is race could be rather tough if everyone that has talent decides to show up and do what they do best, so you have to go with who gets the most help. In this race that greyhound is Kiowa Top Design. Top Design gets the one box and will loads of room to rush the turn in as the 2 is slow from the starting box. Helping out too could be that red hot 5 race win streak showing in his lines. He has been on fire and even without the front end he can come from just off the pace and steal away a victory. All in all, he will be too close too soon not to win this effort. So who will get the lead? I think Orion Lee. This greyhound has not fired like he can in his last couple of efforts, but tonight he gets back to the inside, and he is faster from the box than either of his competitors to his left. Like most early speed greyhounds though, he can be caught from behind in the stretch. His hope is to come out running, steal enough of a lead early so that he can have an opportunity to hold on for the win. Gs Tee Up might be short on starts, but he is long on talent. This greyhound has all the gears that he wants and can keep on coming at the end of the races. What is even more noticeable is that he has run the fastest of any greyhound in this field. Sure he might still be figuring it out, sure he might be in the 5 box, sure he might not have things the other do, but sometimes you just can't measure or predict what HEART can do for you. Just ask his dad! Big Drama is the other greyhound that might get overlooked that shouldn't in this race. She has loads of late speed over 550 and loves to race from the inside part of the racetrack. The 4 box is close enough to contend, but she is going to have to not be last early if she wants to factor in this race. The most crucial part of this effort will be the start. (1-3-5-4)


Saturday - 10/2/2010

The best of the best match up in the 15th and final race on the card for Saturday Evening.

1. Kiowa Vic (Flying Hydrogen - Greg Kiowa Girl) likes the rail and can be tough on the front end when he decides to come out running. He is in tough here, but has a great post. We'll see about the effort.

2. Eds Budby (Domingo Dodge - Cherokee Queen) is the best of the best over 660 yards currently has a 4 race win streak going! This OP Derby winner likes the rail, and he gets it. Frankly, it's almost unfair.

3. Kiowa Trent Tam (Trent Lee - Kay V Barbierie) would have 6 wins in a row if Eds Budby was not around. She has finished 2nd to him in both match-ups. Posted up well, she has revenge on her mind.

4. Starla Vintage (Fuzzys Cannon - Instant Vintage) is from the long line of DQ Williams closers and recently she has started to do them proud again. Even though she can close, she need to break tonight.

5. Jjb Dibaba (Lonesome Cry - Joe's My Man) jumped up to grade A with back to back to back wins. Now 3 grades tougher, the fields are getting to her. No break here in the 5 box. This rail runner needs one.

6. Wp's Lonesumdove (Lonesome Cry - Fuzzys Spider) can be tough on the front end, but you never know when that is going to be. Without the lead, she has been suspect in the past. She has to fire to the lead if she wants to contend.

7. Changeling (Craigie Whistler - Magic Niki Nite) has taken well to the added distance, but now gets to meet up with the big dogs. We'll see if she can keep up the torrid pace from another good post position.

8. Gm's Cashman (Dodgem By Design - Gs Gertie) the NOS winner did well in his first trip over 660. From the same post tonight, he gets another chance to shine. If he gets out of the box better, he could be a sleeper.

Ok the one, two punch is back in this race. Talk about playing a solid Perfecta, well here it is. Eds Budby over Kiowa Trent Tam. These two greyhounds have separated themselves from the rest of the 660 yard crowd, and so far Eds Budby has been superior to Trent Tam in their recent match-ups. Eds Budby is the best greyhound running at the racetrack right now and should continue on with his fifth win in a row. This Orange Park Derby winner, and 2nd place finisher in the recent James J Patton Silver Cup, is a dual threat that can win from the lead or from off the pace. Clearly the choice, Budby gets it done again. Trent Tam is no slouch herself, she just has not been able to outrun Budby in their match-ups. Without those races, she would have won six races in row, but has to settle for eight straight in the quiniela. She too is posted up well in this effort and will give her all, too bad it will be for next best. Gm's Cashman is a proven winner that gets to take on new challenges over the added distance and so far he has looked good. Breaking from the same post, I expect him to give another strong effort. Never count out DQ over 660 yards and that is why Starla Vintage gets another look in this effort. She has got the train back on the tracks over her last couple of efforts and has shown off that good closing speed in the stretch. She might want to be a bit more inside tonight, but will make due from the 4 box. Breaking better would go a long way for her contend in this effort. (2-3-8-4)


Saturday - 10/2/2010

Race two comes our way in the 11th race on the card for Saturday Matinee.

1. Miss Romy (Fuzzys Cannon - Miss Kissable) seems to have righted the ship all of a sudden with back to back winning efforts. She could always close, but is getting out quicker from the box. From her best box today, Watch out!

2. Wp's Clinton (Fuzzys Cannon - M's Countess Amy) has a lot going for him as well in this race. He is posted up, he has been hot, and he has enough late speed to overcome trouble. If he wants to go, he could upset.

3. Kiowa Kay Wilber (Kiowa Sweet Trey - Kiowa Kay Kattie) is a solid grade A competitor that hangs around a lot in the money in his efforts. What gets him there is his early speed. A good break will be needed again.

4. Kiowa Mc Gee (Kiowa Sweet Trey - Kiowa Wild Color) is back in grade A, hot off a win in his last effort. Here the 4 box is not the rail and that could be bad news for this puppy. He has the skills to win, but will he apply them.

5. Aristides (Rhythmless - Midnite Maddness) was running well in grade B, but that has not transferred well to grade A. No easing up today with the 5 box. If he doesn't break, he could be in a tough place.

6. Hallo Honey Bea (Lonesome Cry - Kay Casino Queen) has had a couple of rough starts in a row, but has experience against the A's and has had success in the past. She just needs to wake up & show that she has to offer.

7. Uss West Coast (Lonesome Cry - Uss Mysterious) has not broke in 4 races, but to his credit, he has not missed the money. He is a steady runner that can contend in any effort. To win, he has to be out first.

8. Gs Rae (Dodgem By Design - Gs Gertie) is a strong closer that can hit the lid on occasion. He has won twice in his last 4 starts, but the 8 box is not the 2 box. Getting to the rail will be his biggest hurdle here.

Once again post plays a huge role in who is going to win this effort. Miss Romy is all rail all the time and seems to be a whole different greyhound when she starts out in the red dress. She has a solid rush to the turn and can come home with the best of them at the racetrack. Right now she has found it again, and that has been the difference in her back to back winning efforts. Uss West Coast might not be winning like he has in the past, but he still has been a force in each and every start that he has competed in. He always seems to be around the lead and that has really paid off well for him at the finish line. He would rather be on the rail, but if he breaks it really won't matter that much. He clearly could win this race if he can rush best from the box. Wp's Clinton has turned into a closer as of late, but even with his break leaving him, he still has been factoring at the finish line. Working for him in this effort is the post position. He loves the rail and gets way close enough here with the 2 box. He should clear behind Miss Romy and have all kinds of room on the rail to rush and run. If he can find an inkling of his early speed, he could be a long shot winning today. Gs Rae is the other closer in the field and even though he is not in the best starting box, he still has a chance to steal away the win in this effort. He has 2 wins in 4 starts, and both of those were very impressive victories. The only thing he needs to do today is remember that he can't let the field get too big of a lead on him early on, or his hopes at a win will be dashed. (1-7-2-8)


Sunday - 10/3/2010

Capping off the weekend, we head to the 7th race on the card for Sunday Matinee.

1. Gs Shabam (Dodgem By Design - Gs Gertie) gets the double bonus with the rail and a wide breaking and running greyhound in the 2 box. All he has to do is come out close and he should have a good shot to win.

2. Black Licorice (Heart Rumble* - Spicy Candy) is not in the right post to start this race. Wide is where it's at for him, and he will do whatever to get there. If he doesn't break, this could be a troubled trip.

3. Kiowa Fly Remi (Flying Stanley - Flying Rolling) is rested up and ready to come back and challenge in the grade A ranks. Showing some early speed recently, he needs to hit it today to contend.

4. AHK Lady Deanna (Coldwater Keelin - C Y Martinique) runs her best from the front end and without the lead she is not the same greyhound. You will know in the first couple of steps if it is her day or not.

5. Kcon Told You So (Maryville Rumble* - Cafe Queen) has stepped up her game as of late and has turned into a solid grade A threat. She relies on her early speed, so from a tough post, she has to show up early on.

6. Kiowa Destina (Ww Apple Jax - Kay Kelly) has some good late speed and seems to like the outside part of the racetrack. Although she gets not love at the windows, don't discount her here, she could be a sleeper pick.

7. Shorty's Nana (Be Discrete - La's Felisha) is the best early speed greyhound in this field. She has not been beaten to the turn in 4 straight. She is short at the end of the race, and even with the lead, holding on will be hard but not impossible.

8. Hs Babe (Flying Stanley - Kiowa Brownsugar) has made it to grade A, now she just needs to prove that she belongs there. She has been successful from the outside before, she just needs to get out fast in order to contend. Can she?

Here I like the spot play of Gs Shabam. Talk about getting everything you wanted for Christmas, Gs Shabam's wish list just came in. He loves the rail and gets to start from the railest of post positions, and not only that, he also gets the widest running greyhound breaking next to him in the 2 box. He is going to have his personal blocker thru the early stages of this field and that will allow him to be close early and find a way late to take home his 4th win in 6 starts. Kcon Told You So and Shorty's Nana both have better early speed than Shabam does and these are the two greyhounds that he is going to have to take down before the finish line. I see this duo battling it out on the front end for the majority of this effort, with the slight edge early to Shorty's Nana and the slight edge late to Kcon Told You So. Either way you like them, this pair will be a threat throughout in this effort. Kiowa Destina is the best closer in the bunch, and if you read here often, you know I love the closers to round out the superfecta. They can overcome any trouble and if they break that normally vie for the win in the race. The outside post will help her in this effort and if she keeps to form, she should be right there in the money at the finish line.
(1-5-7-6)