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Patricia Byers has enjoyed plenty of success at Wheeling Downs.
Last year, four of her Daytona Beach invaders -- littermates P Nut Picker, Amalee, Snowbiz and Careful Carly -- made an immediate impact. Each competed in Grade AA and won races against the track's top sprinters.
Although all but Careful Carly are still racing in Grade AA this year, the foursome has hit the pay sheet in 69 percent of their 323 combined Wheeling starts -- 63 wins, 59 seconds, 52 thirds and 49 fourths.
In late July, another of Byers' Daytona Beach connection -- Van Do -- arrived in Wheeling. Glancing at his early races at the Wheeling Island oval, he just might be the best yet.
Van Do can do.
A May 2005 greyhound out of Stan's Boy Flyer-Cat Can Do, Van Do has 6 wins, 3 seconds and 3 thirds in 13 Wheeling starts.
"Being a speed dog coming to a speed track, I thought Van Do would be a really nice dog here," C And C Kennel manager Norm Secia said. "I am a little surprised he's taken to the track so quickly. He's really kicked it in his last 10 races."
In his last nine top grade trips, Van Do has 5 wins and 3 seconds.
"To do what Van Do has done at Wheeling is very impressive," Secia said. "Patricia's (Byers) dogs seem to like this track and they've had a lot of success."
Byers feels her dogs gain valuable experience at Daytona Beach but also credits the personal care given to each dog while growing up on the farm.
"Breaking in at Daytona gives them a little more time to mature but it's a tough track too. You can take an A dog at Daytona and run top grade at a lot of tracks," Byers said. "I'm not surprised at all how well my dogs have raced at Wheeling. They run from their hearts."
Byers praised Bill and Shirley Etheredge of Pensacola, Fla., and Ardis Reed of Sayre, Okla., for their care in handling and training her greyhounds before they are track ready.
"Each one of our dogs get a lot of personal attention every day. They're talked to just like babies which I think is very important," Byers said. "Bill, Shirley and Ardis as well as the trainers at Wheeling are wonderful with the dogs."
Van Do didn't shine right off the bat at Wheeling.
After a third in a schooling race, Van Do ran third in his first official start in Grade B. He was passed in the stretch after being second for most of the race.
"He ran wide coming home and a dog got under him," Secia said. "I think he may have tired out a little too."
In his next start, Van Do was offstrided early but recovered and closed from fifth to get third.
"He ran a big race," Secia said. "That race showed me he had a lot of heart."
After winning Grade B in his next effort by 5 1/2 lengths and finishing third in his first Grade A race, Van Do caught fire. He had four wins and three seconds in his next seven races -- all but one in Grade AA.
"It took him a few races to get adjusted to a different racetrack. Now he seems comfortable with his surroundings," Secia said. "His first couple races he was running really wide, but now he's running more in a straight line."
His four Grade AA wins have been by a combined 11 1/2 lengths -- nearly a 3-length average margin of victory.
The key to Van Do's success is getting into his races early.
"He'll break fourth or better but has a huge rush to the turn. If he doesn't get sandwiched early, he'll make a big run to the turn," Secia noted. "Van Do needs to be in the top two to the turn. He's not going to come from way behind but he won't pack it in if he doesn't get the front."
Secia also said Van Do isn't short of courage.
"He's gutsy. He'll drive to the turn in between greyhounds," Secia said.
Although Van Do has a pair of victories from the two hole, Secia prefers the speedster draw "from the six hole out. He just needs a chance to rush."
The sprinter has drawn in Friday's matinee card and breaks from the eight box in race 17.
Van Do broke in at Daytona Beach in February 2007 -- climbing the ladder to Grade A in five starts. After winning nine of his first 17 starts, he shipped to Palm Beach in May for the $120,000 Palm Beach Grand Classic.
In three starts in the stake event, Van Do had a third and a fourth.
After returning to Daytona Beach, Van Do won 11 straight Grade A races. In 32 starts at Daytona Beach, he had 21 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds and 1 fourth.
In 48 career races, Van Do has 27 wins, 10 seconds, 6 thirds and 2 fourths -- a 93 percent mark on the pay sheet.
"He's had unbelievable success and at different racetracks," Secia said.
Littermate Jon Tee also has been a consistent money finisher at Wheeling after opening his career at Daytona Beach. He is currently racing in Grade AA.
In 21 Wheeling starts, Jon Tee has 4 wins, 2 seconds, 4 thirds and 8 fourths while at Daytona Beach he had 5 wins, 4 seconds, 4 thirds and 4 fourths in 30 trips.
"It took him awhile but he finally made it to Grade AA," Secia said. "He's shown some great speed to the turn in a few of his races."
In his first Grade AA start, Jon Tee actually outbroke and outrushed Gable Pimiento to the turn before finishing fourth.
Another littermate, Mel Practice, recently schooled back after a minor injury.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOT DOGS: Charter Kennel's Makin Bakin has won four out of her last five Grade AA races for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mates U Too Parker (C, B 3/8) and Silver Maverick (C, B) have back-to-back wins.
Keota Kennel's Bella Alexander has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Louise Strong. Kennel-mate Bella Olympus has won three out of his last four starts (C, B, A).
Majestic Kennel's CS Bosco has won three out of his last four 3/8 races (A, AA) for trainer Joe Otto. Kennel-mate Blackbear Pinner has back-to-back 3/8 wins (C, B).
A Ray Kennel's KB's Pullover has won three out of her last four 3/8 races (A, AA) for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mate AMF Whisk has back-to-back wins (C, B).
C And C Kennel's TA's Comanche (B, A) and B's Nikki Boyce (B, A) have two straight victories for trainer Patrick Bever.
Mike Fynmore Kennel's Elizabeths Ezra has won three out of his last four outings (C, B, A) for trainer James Stewart.
Gable Kennel's Gable Thailand has two Grade AA wins in a row for trainer Wayne Piquette.
Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's Flying Leland has back-to-back victories (A, AA) for trainer Jay Hawkins.
Wayne Ward Kennel's JGs's Cold War has two wins in a row (A, AA) for trainer Ron Otto.
Ryan Farms Kennel's Tovi The Proud has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Terry Green.
STAKE FINAL: The field has been set for Saturday's $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Distance Championship at Tri-state Greyhound Park.
Qualifying for the final are Kicken Kalindi (Haber Kennel), Garrison WV (Pierce Kennel), WV's Lavalette (Country Roads Kennel), Steve The Beast (Haber Kennel), Fresh Catch (Haber Kennel), Chanel WV (Pierce Kennel), Sidewalk Swinger (Haber Kennel) and Shary Canary (Haber Kennel).
REMEMBER …
Flying Song
– Raced at Wheeling from 1977-1979
– Record of 39-18-6-3 in 1977
– Set then track record of 30.63 on June 18, 1977
– Winner 1977 $3,000 Spring Derby (3/8)
– Finalist 1977 $7,500 City of Wheeling Stakes (3/8)
– Littermate to Cool Highway
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com