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Two of the best West Virginia-bred greyhounds to grace the Wheeling Island racetrack in recent years have been retired.
Ending their outstanding careers this summer were Cardinal Kennel's Rhythmless and Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel's Iruska Creme Pie. The pair combined for 93 victories while racing against some of the top greyhounds in the country.
Both Rhythmless and Iruska Creme Pie broke in at Wheeling in 2005 and their success was fueled by tremendous box speed and rush to the first turn.
"Rhythmless was one of the better dogs racing at Wheeling the last couple years," Cardinal Kennel trainer Jerrod Varner said. "Early speed was his specialty but he also had a lot of heart."
Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel trainer Tom Engle said, "Creme Pie was a box-breaker with a ton of front speed who opened up lengths early in her races. She proved herself. She beat a lot of the good dogs at Wheeling."
After breaking his Maiden at Southland Greyhound Park, Rhythmless -- a July 2003 greyhound out of Jimbo Scotty-Tempo Lizzie and owned by J.B. Jackson -- shipped to Wheeling in June 2005. The sprinter advanced to Grade AA in just eight starts.
In 2005, Rhythmless had 15 wins, 3 seconds, 4 thirds and 2 fourths in 32 starts. It was only the beginning.
Rhythmless had a banner year in 2006. Some of the highlights included:
? Second in wins for the year with 26 (BB Becool had 28).
? 10-race win streak to start the year.
? Second in Night of Stars XVII in May.
? Third in Night of Stars XVIII in November.
? Won Father's Day Feature Race in June.
"To win 10 Grade AA races in a row at a track like Wheeling is quite an accomplishment," Varner said.
In addition to Rhythmless' 26 wins in 2006, he had 13 seconds, 5 thirds and 2 fourths in 52 races.
Earlier this year Rhythmless was second to Mariska in the final of the Hound Madness Stake.
In 113 career races at Wheeling, Rhythmless had 49 wins, 23 seconds, 13 thirds and 5 fourths -- a 79 percent mark on the pay sheet.
Rhythmless is standing at stud at the Bohemian farm in Kansas.
Iruska Creme Pie, a July 2003 greyhound out of Kiowa Sweet Trey-Iruska Zinnia and owned by Riggin Racing and Joe or Erin Davis, hit the Wheeling track in April 2005. She climbed the ladder to Grade AA in a mere seven starts.
Highlighting Creme Pie's first year of racing was a sweep of the 2005 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Juvenile in June and the 2005 WVGOBA Sprint in July. She is believed to be the only greyhound to ever capture both stake races in the same year.
"We are really proud of her and what she accomplished during her career at Wheeling," Marena Riggin said. "Off the track she's as sweet as can be but on the racetrack she was all business."
Creme Pie was dominating in the two West Virginia-bred races.
In the Juvenile, Creme Pie ran second in the first round before winning her next two qualifiers and then the final. In the Open, she won all three of her qualifying rounds and then the championship final.
In 41 races her rookie year, Creme Pie had 19 wins, 8 seconds, 4 thirds and 4 fourths. She was tied for fourth in wins.
Creme Pie continued to excel during the 2006 racing season -- 22 wins, 4 seconds, 5 thirds and 4 fourths in 52 starts. She was third in wins behind BB Becool and Rhythmless.
During one stretch in 2005 and 2006, Creme Pie competed in 62 straight Grade AA races before dropping to Grade A.
In 119 career trips at Wheeling, Creme Pie had 44 wins, 15 seconds, 12 thirds and 12 thirds -- a 70 percent mark on the pay sheet.
"Right now we're waiting for the opportunity to breed her," Riggin said. "Hopefully she'll be as good a producer as her mother."