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Double threat.
Double trouble.
Braska Cando is a force to be reckoned with on either the backside or the marathon course at Wheeling Downs.
Since moving to the distance races in late July, Cando has never missed the pay sheet -- 4 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds and 2 fourths in 13 starts. He has Grade AA victories in both distances.
"From the beginning, Cando showed all the signs of being a distance dog," Darren Henry Kennel assistant trainer Ken Otto said. "In his sprint races, he always had that big late kick."
Cando, an August 2005 greyhound out of Flying Penske-Eeyore, also displayed flashes of his closing power on the farm, said Bill Elliott of Nebraska, who raised and owns Cando.
"He showed quite a bit of promise on the farm," Elliott recalled. "We only run our dogs on a quarter track but he had a lot of pickup on the backstretch. He looked like he had plenty of finish."
Breaking in at Wheeling in late April, Cando experienced trouble in his Maiden debut but rebounded with three seconds and a third in his next four starts. In each race, Cando came roaring home to catch the trifecta ticket.
Cando broke his Maiden in his next outing -- coming from fifth around the first turn and fourth in the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths.
"He was coming like a runaway freight train," Otto said. "With his running style, there was no question he would run distance. Another sign was the Flying Penske breeding."
Following a subpar effort in Cando's first Grade D start, the youngster rolled to four straight 5/16 victories -- Grade D by 10 lengths, Grades C and B by 2 lengths each and Grade A by a head. Cando got down to the turn fourth in both Grades D and C, second in Grade B and third in Grade A before powering his way to victory.
"He started breaking a little better in those races and rushing up closer to the lead," Otto said. "When he gets moving and clear of traffic, he's a handful."
Once Cando reached Grade AA, it was a different story. In five top grade sprint races, Cando had only a pair of thirds.
"Coming off the four straight sprint wins, we decided to give him a few 5/16 starts in Grade AA to see how he could handle it," Otto said. "We quickly found out there was too much speed for him. It was inevitable he was going distance so we decided it was time."
Cando got bumped in his first 3/8 race (Grade A), but battled back -- closing from fifth in the stretch to finish second by only a half length.
"After that first 3/8 start, Cando looked like he was going to be a nice dog over there," Otto said. "It's going to take a heckuva dog to run by him."
Cando won his next 3/8 start -- again displaying an electrifying stretch rush. Racing fourth around the far turn, Cando rocketed down the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths.
Not only does Cando have plenty in his tank coming home, but he has the determination to match it.
After a pair of seconds in his first two Grade AA trips on the backside (one coming from seventh at the escape), Cando posted a box-to-wire victory out of the one hole. It's the only time he's popped on top early in a 3/8 race.
"Usually he breaks in the middle of the pack and starts picking it up down the backstretch," Otto noted. "He's rolling pretty good coming home."
Following two more seconds and a fourth (bumped) in 3/8, Cando moved to the marathon distance.
"If you can get a good marathon greyhound at Wheeling, that's where the most money is to be made," Otto said. "Cando definitely looked like he had the potential to go the longer distance."
After Cando finished third in his initial 7/16 race, he took the lead early in his next effort and never looked back in winning by 2 lengths in a quick 42.59 -- just off Gable Bob's top seasonal time of 42.56. He ran third in his next outing, only a length behind the winner.
"Unlike 3/8, Cando broke in the top three in all three of his marathon starts," Otto said. "In 7/16, I think he needs to be close to the lead to run his best race."
Back in 3/8 in his next start, Cando broke second from the six box and stalked the leader until pulling away in the stretch for a 3-length victory.
"He's listed both 3/8 and 7/16 so he may bounce back and forth between the two distances," Otto said. "He's run well in both. I couldn't be any happier."
Elliott also is quite pleased with Cando's progress.
"I'm extremely happy with the way he's run. Darren (Henry) and the trainers at Wheeling have done a great job with Cando," Elliott said. "Hopefully he stays healthy."
Overall, Cando has 9 wins, 8 seconds, 5 thirds and 2 fourths in 29 starts -- an 82 percent mark on the pay sheet. In 10 starts on the backside, Cando has 3 wins, 5 seconds and 2 fourths while he has 1 win and 2 thirds in three 7/16 trips.
"He's run both distances but I think 3/8 will be his forte," Elliott said.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOT DOGS: Charter Kennel's Makin Bakin has won five out of her last six Grade AA starts for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mates Silver Patriot has won three out of her last four trips (B, A, AA) while KB's Inferno (B, A) and CTW In Vogue (B, A) have back-to-back wins.
Gable Kennel's Gable Pimiento has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Wayne Piquette. Kennel-mates Gable Indonesia (AA) and Gable Burma (B, A) have back-to-back wins.
Majestic Kennel's Mulberry Gus has won four out of his last five Grade AA races for trainer Joe Otto.
A Ray Kennel's Greys Mysticfate has won three out of his last four starts (B, A, AA) for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mate AMF Well Armed has back-to-back wins (C, B).
Steubenville Kennel's TMC's Avenger has three wins, a second and a third in his last five trips for trainer Debbie Schweizer.
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel's Wild Jason (B, A 3/8) and Shark Boy (C, B) have back-to-back victories for trainer Ricardo Pacheco.
C And C Kennel's Van Do (AA), Amalee (A, AA) and Quick Trent (B, A) have two straight wins for trainer Patrick Bever.
Michael Green Kennel's Bustling has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Jim Grace.
REMEMBER …
Cashmaker
– Raced at Wheeling from 1983-1985
– 23 wins in 1984
– Third in 1984 West Virginia Classic (3/8) in a race with three All-Americans
– Second 1984 Connecticut Derby (3/8)
– Finalist 1985 Hollywoodian (3/8)
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com