T-L Photo/STAN PAWLOSKI RICO’S SYLVIA raced to victory in the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Open Distance stake last weekend at Tri-state Greyhound?Park. She is held by Ricardo Pacheco.

Rico’s Sylvia was only 21 months old when she competed in the West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Open Distance stake at Tri-state Greyhound Park in October 2007. The youngster made the semifinals before moving back to Wheeling Island where she’s logged nearly 100 races the last two years. Early this fall, Sylvia — a December 2005 greyhound out of Flare Gun-Flying Validate — returned to Tri-state for this year’s $65,000 WVGOBA Open Distance championship. Not only did the soon-to-be 4-year-old make the final, but Sylvia captured the stake crown with a 6 1/2-length romp last Saturday evening. Sylvia’s victory gave Ricardo Pacheco and Donna Bumbaugh their first West Virginia-bred stake victory. “Exciting, ecstatic. There’s no words to describe the feeling,” Pacheco said. “West Virginia is dog racing heaven and to win our first stake race is very special.