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Brothers shine on backside

Expectations were high when littermates Hallo Mr Brendon and Hallo Mr Pete arrived in Wheeling late last summer.

So far, they haven’t disappointed Steubenville Kennel trainer Debbie Schweizer.

Both have climbed the ladder to Grade AA and have become solid 3/8 racers.

“We had high hopes for both Brendon and Pete when they came in last year,” Schweizer said. “They still have room to develop, but I’m very happy with the way they have grown.”

The two brothers, January 2006 greyhounds out of Hallo West Acre-Kiowa Baby Betty, have found a new home since moving to the backside. In 28 combined 3/8 races, the pair have 8 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds and 4 fourths — a 92 percent mark on the pay sheet.

“In their sprint races, Brendon and Pete showed distance. Both had a lot of finish,” Schweizer noted. “From the beginning, we knew they would go distance.”

Another brother, Hallo Mr Dalton, recently shipped to Wheeling after opening his career at Mardi Gras (Hollywood). In 20 starts at the Florida racetrack, the top grade middle distance runner had 6 wins, 7 seconds, 1 third and 3 fourths.

“I also have high hopes for Dalton. He’s looked good in the morning,” Schweizer said. “I wish I had another half a dozen greyhounds just like them.”

Brendon broke in at Wheeling in August 2007 with a bang. He won four out of his first five 5/16 starts, including Maiden by 8 1/2 lengths, Grade C by 8 1/2 lengths, Grade B by 10 lengths and Grade A by a nose.

In each sprint victory, Brendon cleared the first turn third or better. Once in Grade AA, however, it was a different story.

“Brendon was having trouble clearing the turn in Grade AA and running into traffic,” assistant trainer Chris Stadler said. “Grade AA is so tough at Wheeling and being so young, I think Brendon lost some confidence.”

After dropping back to Grade A and missing the ticket in two of three races, Schweizer took Brendon off for a month. The rest and a move to 3/8 was the perfect remedy.

Brendon won his 3/8 debut (Grade A) with a closing 3-length victory and has not missed the pay sheet in 13 Grade AA starts on the backside — 2 wins, 5 seconds, 3 thirds and 3 fourths.

“I had no doubt Brendon would be able to go 3/8,” Schweizer said. “He’s been very consistent since he moved up from 5/16.”

Brendon isn’t lightning quick out of the box but he likes to get into his races early.

“He’s more of a speed dog while Pete has more power coming home,” Stadler said. “Brendon also breaks and rushes better from an inside post.”

Unlike Brendon, Pete gradually climbed the ladder to Grade AA. It took him 18 races to reach the top grade.

“Pete took a little longer to mature. He was pretty green early on,” Schweizer said. “Pete’s personality is the opposite of Brendon’s — Pete is hyper while Brendon is very mellow.”

Several impressive sprint wins dot Pete’s resume — Maiden by 5 1/2 lengths, Grade C by 3 1/2 lengths and Grade B by 5 1/2 lengths.

In Pete’s first four 3/8 races, he had a fourth, a second and a win in Grade B and a second in Grade A. Then he was sidelined in December for a couple minor ailments, but came back strong a month later.

In Pete’s next nine 3/8 races, he had 4 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third. He is five-for-five in his Grade AA trips (2 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third).

“They’re getting better and better each time out,” Schweizer said. “It exciting to watch them.”

Stadler is looking forward to spring and summer.

“I’m anxious to see what they will do when it warms up,” Stadler said. “They look like a nice one-two punch.”

Come spring it may be a nice 1-2-3 combo if Dalton follows in his brothers’ footsteps.

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

HOT DOGS: Lester Raines Kennel’s E’s Sweet Fay has raced to four straight wins (A, AA) for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates Sol Reign has three straight Grade AA victories while USS Ricochet has won four out of his last five races (B, A, AA).

Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Starz Supreme (AA 3/8) and Kiowa Nephew (AA) have three wins and a second in his last four starts for trainer Ashley McMillen. Kennel-mate Flying Connie has back-to-back victories (A, AA).

C And C Kennel’s Van Do has four wins and a second in his last five Grade AA trips for trainer Patrick Bever. Kennel-mate Hack Sign has two wins and two seconds in his last four outings.

Charter Kennel’s TK Quick Strike has won three out of his last four Grade AA 3/8 races for trainer Rodney Cooley.

Steubenville Kennel’s Mohican Direct has won three out of his last four starts (A, AA) for trainer Debbie Schweizer.

Darren Henry Kennel’s Braska Omni has two wins, a second and a third in his last four trips for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate Macs Makenna has back-to-back victories (C, B).

SIZZLING: Charter Kennel’s TK Quick Strike followed up his near-record 37.41 clocking on the backside (.01 off the track mark) with a 37.49 time in his next race last Saturday night, winning by 7 1/2 lengths in a box-to-wire effort.

Kennel-mate BI’s Never Late smoked a 29.57 sprint time last Sunday in a box-to-wire 7 1/2-length victory.

SPRINT STAKE: D’Arcy Kennel’s Kinloch Brae stunned the field by rolling to a box-to-wire 2 1/2-length victory in last weekend’s $85,000 Sprint Classic at Derby Lane in Florida.

Sent to post at nearly 20-1 odds, Kinloch Brae alertly popped out of the four box and was never headed. Djays Itchintogo and Flying MacBeth rounded out the trifecta ticket.

Completing the final field were Red Dirt Road, fourth; Ballet Lady, fifth; Flying Stanley, sixth; Flying Fabian, seventh; and Brady Thomas, eighth.

SUPERSTAR CHALLENGE: A field of 42 greyhounds has been assembled for the $10,000 Wheeling Superstar Challenge which begins Saturday afternoon, March 15.

The second round is scheduled for Wednesday matinee, March 19, and the semifinals Sunday matinee, March 23 (Easter). The final is set for Saturday matinee, March 29.

Entries by kennel include:

Arivada-Plum Creek: UCME Ridin Dirty, Croce.

Lester Raines: USS Ricochet, E’s Sweet Fay.

Mike Fynmore: Kebo Klondike.

Flying Eagles-Miner: Flying Connie, Kay V Prince Joe, IRS Dave.

Thorne-Abrahamson: AK’s Castnaspell.

Douglas: FWD Power Design.

Ryan Farms: Freya, Hellion.

A Ray: AMF Far Far Away, KB’s Royal Flush.

Cardinal: Umagooma, Kiowa Cleanwater.

Michael Green: BB’s Give Mine, Sidney’s Fritz, Bustling.

Steubenville: Kiowa Rock Vince.

C And C: Tommy Commander, Van Do, P Nut Picker, KB’s Seadog.

Gable: Cry Audrey, Gable FX, Cry Huron, Gable Twinkie.

Darren Henry: Legend Of Zorro, BD’s Flip, Braska Cando.

Charter: Silver Jones, Makin Bakin, BI’s Never Late, Figs Lone Case, Ugo Lonesome Boy.

Wayne Ward: Pal WW Wendy, WW’s Green Apple, WW Out Spongebob.

Wayne Strong: Bella Alexander, Thagomizer, Fortunate Son.

GREYHOUND HONORS: A pair of Derby Lane greyhounds have captured the Rural Rube and Flashy Sir Awards, the National Greyhound Association announced this week.

Flying Stanley won the Rural Rube Award as the nation’s top sprinter while Flyin Bridgeport captured the Flashy Sir Award as the country’s top distance runner.

Both greyhounds are owned by Vince Berland and the Flying Eagles Kennel. It is the first time the same owner won both awards with different greyhounds.

Flying Stanley had a monster year in 2007, highlighted by his victory in the Derby Lane Million. His earnings for the year were just under $600,000.

Stanley also won the World Classic at Mardi Gras and the Fall Sprint and the All-Star Kennel Preview at Derby Lane. He was a finalist in the Grand Classic at Palm Beach.

In 47 races, Stanley had 31 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds and 3 fourths.

Flyin Bridgeport won the two major distance stake races at Derby Lane, the Distance Classic and the Challenge. He also qualified for the final of the American Derby at Twin River.

Bridgeport ran second in the consolation final of the Derby Lane Million.

In 63 distance races, Bridgeport had 26 wins, 12 seconds, 12 thirds and 3 fourths.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com

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