The finals of the 2010 JGR Puppy Stakes were no nursery rhyme or fairy tale for Paddy Whacker as he came to run and was ready to show just why he is the best puppy at the racetrack.
Post position was the big question mark for him in this effort. He likes it outside and drew a tough middle post, but when you break you can overcome almost anything, and that is just what he did in the finals.
To no one's surprise, when the box opened up La's Silver hit the mark and took the lead in the first few steps, but the bad news for her was that Paddy Whacker had make up his mind to run tonight and was just off in second. As they headed to and thru the turn Silver's early lead had all but disappeared and as they started up the backside, Paddy was in full WHACK mode. He easily cleared on the rail and just drew away from the field with each and every step he took. He was never really challenged from this point on as he easily took the checkered flag 6 and a half lengths clear of the nearest competitor in a blazing time of 30.37 seconds.
What was almost more fun to watch was the battle for place. Silver still hung tough, even though she was taken off the lead, and was in a donnybrook with Leading Steps from the 660 yard box all the way to the finish line. The bad news for this duo was that Smokin Snoopy was in the mix too and he has just a bit more staying power than either of the greyhounds in front of him. At the wire he eecked out the place position in a three way photo finish. Silver managed third and Leading Steps rounded out the superfecta.
Fth Tiger Lilly finished fifth after a strong effort despite being clipped from behind as she was rushing to the first turn. She never gave up at any point and just kept on coming throughout in this effort.
Favorite Playing Amy Song finished sixth after sitting in the starting box, breaking last, and running into trouble in both turns.
Tipsy Brutus W was seventh after a slow start and a trouble ridden race, and Mw Sekhnot was eighth after being cutoff and colliding as he was rushing to the first turn.
11th Grade: S Distance: 550 Condition: Fast
Paddy Whacker 75 5 2 2 1 3 1 6.5 30.37 2.60 2010 Puppy Stake
Smokin Snoopy 70.5 3 3 4 4 2 6.5 30.82 9.30 Shutoff, Big Trip Mt
La's Silver 61 8 1 1 nk 3 3 6.5 30.83 5.80 Outdueled For The Ld
Leading Steps 74 7 6 3 2 4 7 30.87 8.70 Forced The Pace Insd
Fth Tiger Lilly 61 4 4 5 5 5 8.5 30.97 12.40 Stepped On After Brk
Playing Amy Song 59 2 8 6 6 6 9 30.99 2.20 Sluggish Start Rail
Tipsy Brutus W 70 1 7 8 8 7 10.5 31.09 8.20 Cutoff, No Rally Mt
Mw Sekhnot 67 6 5 7 7 8 11.5 31.19 9.60 Wntd Rail, Stumbled
B J Racing Kennels Inc, Bd, M, 07/08/08, Heart Rumble* - Spicy Candy
5 Paddy Whacker 7.20 6.20 3.40
3 Smokin Snoopy 8.60 4.40
8 La's Silver 4.40
QU(3-5) 39.00
PF(5-3) 109.50
TR(5-3-8) 317.00
SU(5-3-8-7) 470.80
Once again B & J pulls off the puppy stakes victory. Maybe we should just change the name at this point to the B & J Puppy Stakes. You see they have not only won this race the last three years in a row, they have also won the Jacksonville Juvenile for three straight years. So the last six puppy stakes at the racetrack have been won by a B & J greyhound.
Congratulations to owner Lisa Riches on her first every stakes victory and thanks for making the trip, with her husband Doug, all the way down from Canada for the finals. Kudos to Bill and Cathy Lambert and trainer Tom Artzer for yet another stakes title win here at the Orange Park Kennel Club.
Up next for this tremendous greyhound should be a Night of Stars appearance in early July and then on to the James J Patton Silver Cup in August.
A bright future is ahead for this great greyhound. A puppy no more, this greyhound is a stakes winner, and should have a great opportunity to vie for many more here at the Orange Park Kennel Club.
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