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The stars will be out Saturday night at Wheeling Downs.
It's Night of Stars XX -- a simulcast program featuring top-grade races from 17 racetracks across the country on one card.
Wheeling will be Race 12 on the American Greyhound Track Operator's Association-sponsored NOS program (separate from the regular Saturday evening card) and a spectacular field has been assembled for the 5/16 race. Post time for Wheeling's Night of Stars feature race is 10:55 p.m.
A portion of the proceeds from each Night of Stars broadcast goes to Greyhound Pets of America, the largest greyhound adoption organization in the Untied States. Two NOS programs are held each year.
From the rail out, the Wheeling 5/16 NOS field features:
1 -- Van Do (C And C Kennel); 2 -- Gable Pimiento (Gable Kennel); 3 -- Sol Reign (Lester Raines Kennel); 4 -- Makin Bakin (Charter Kennel); 5 -- Freya (Ryan Farms Kennel); 6 -- Legend Of Zorro (Darren Henry Kennel); 7 -- Kay Shivon Sissy (Wayne Ward Kennel); 8 -- San Tan Nomemory (Majestic Kennel).
Racing Director Ben Travis, who recently came to Wheeling from Wichita Greyhound Park, is excited about the Night of Stars field and expects a great race.
"This is one of the best races I've seen in quite awhile," Travis said.
The Wheeling Night of Stars lineup would rival any stakes final field.
The eight finalists have combined for 108 wins, 51 seconds, 31 thirds and 15 fourths in 252 starts -- an 81 percent mark on the pay sheet.
Following are capsule looks at Wheeling's Night of Stars performers and their records this year:
Van Do (15-8-3-3-0) -- Daytona Beach invader has won five out of his last six Grade AA starts and has hit the trifecta ticket in 14 out of 15 starts; needs to get to the turn first or second which will be a challenge in this speed-filled field; also prefers an outside box.
Gable Pimiento (56-27-14-3-1) -- The track co-win leader regained her form in her last start with a box-to-wire 3-length victory; early speed merchant needs the front to be successful; has 12- and 5-race win streaks this year and has hit the paysheet in 45 out of 56 races; likes the inside post.
Sol Reign (38-13-8-5-4) -- Sandwiched between two of the early burners in Gable Pimiento and Makin Bakin, he needs to save ground inside in hopes of coming out of the turn right behind the leaders; has cooled off recently but still showed he has plenty in his tank with a 7-length Grade AA victory in his last start.
Makin Bakin (44-27-6-2-1) -- The track co-win leader has won eight out of her last 11 Grade AA trips and has hit the paysheet in 36 out of 44 starts; blessed with super early speed, she also needs the front or near the lead to be successful; if she hits the lid, post position makes no difference.
Freya (42-10-9-11-3) -- Has hit the trifecta ticket in seven out of her last eight Grade AA starts after returning from a nearly 3-month layoff; possesses nice closing speed as she has hit the paysheet in 33 out of 42 races this year; must overcome a tough post position.
Legend Of Zorro (16-7-3-3-2) -- The youngest greyhound in the field showed early on she'd be a force to be reckoned with; has back-to-back Grade AA wins, including a closing victory over Makin Bakin; has hit the paysheet in all 16 of her races; has plenty of bottom and has a shot if she can stay close to the leaders.
Kay Shivon Sissy (27-8-5-2-3) -- Early speed runner has been on a nice roll since late September with three wins and two seconds in her last six Grade AA starts; relies on her early speed and will need all she has to stay with the leaders to the first turn.
San Tan Nomemory (14-8-3-2-1) -- The young gun appears to be coming into his own with three straight Grade AA victories; has hit the trifecta ticket in 13 out of his 14 starts; has closing speed and likes a midtrack post position.
Travis is picking Makin Bakin to end up in the winner's circle Saturday night.
"It was surprising to me that Makin Bakin got caught in the stretch by Legend of Zorro her last race, but I'm still picking her to win this one even though these two are paired up again. For second place, I like Van Do who has won five of his last six and should be close to the lead coming out of the first turn," Travis said. "To round out the trifecta, I'm going to leave out Legend of Zorro, which may come back to haunt me, but I really like San Tan Nomemory. He has won his last three races and out of 14 career starts has only missed the trifecta once."
STAN'S RACE ANALYSIS:
Speed, speed and more speed.
Look for Gable Pimiento and Makin Bakin to match their blazing speed as they battle for the lead to the first turn. Whichever of these two is on top heading down the backstretch will hit the trifecta ticket while the other will have a tough time hitting the board.
Just behind the pair of frontrunners will be San Tan Nomemory, who should have ample room to rush up on the outside from the eight hole. Behind Nomemory will be Legend Of Zorro and Freya.
Heading down the backside San Tan Nomemory will begin to pick up serious ground as he zeroes in on the frontrunner (either Gable Pimiento or Makin Bakin). Coming off the final turn, Nomemory will swoop to the lead and never look back in rolling home to a Night of Stars victory.
Legend of Zorro and Freya also will challenge for second and third if they are not too many lengths behind coming home.
We'll go with San Tan Nomemory on top in the trifecta with Gable Pimiento, Makin Bakin, Freya and Legend Of Zorro second and third. On the side, put Makin Bakin on top with San Tan Nomemory second and the threesome of Gable Pimiento, Freya and Legend of Zorro grabbing the bottom of the trifecta play.
Several other Grade AA greyhounds were considered for Wheeling's Night of Stars field, including Mulberry Gus, Flat Out Ady, Bella Alexander, TMC's Avenger, Yo Where Ya Ben and Kiowa Gale Maloy.
Following is the complete Night of Stars XII schedule (times are EST):
6:50 p.m. -- Preview show
7:10 p.m. -- Raynham
7:28 p.m. -- Daytona
7:46 p.m. -- Twin River (Lincoln)
8:05 p.m. -- Tri-state
8:25 p.m. -- Bluffs Run
8:47 p.m. -- Dairyland
9:06 p.m. -- Naples
9:28 p.m. -- Mardi Gras
9:50 p.m. -- Palm Beach
10:12 p.m. -- Derby Lane
10:34 p.m. -- Orange Park
10:55 p.m. -- Wheeling
11:15 p.m. -- Woodlands
11:34 p.m. -- Gulf
11:53 p.m. -- Southland
12:12 a.m. -- Tucson
12:30 a.m. -- Phoenix
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOT DOGS: Charter Kennel's TK Quick Strike has won three out of his last four Grade AA 3/8 starts for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mate Silver Patriot has back-to-back wins (A, AA).
Keota Kennel's Powerful Trent has won three out of his last four races (A, AA) for trainer Louise Strong.
Ryan Farms Kennel's Bow Grasshopper has three wins and a second in her last four Grade AA trips for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mate Always Classic has back-to-back victories (A, AA).
Mike Fynmore Kennel's Kebo Klondike has two wins, a second and a third in his last four Grade AA starts for trainer James Stewart.
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel's Going Out has won three out of his last four 3/8 races (C, B, A) for trainer Ricardo Pacheco. Kennel-mate Rent has two wins and a second in his last three outings while Maxmilian Kohler (AA) and Creedence (C, B) have back-to-back 3/8 wins.
C And C Kennel's CC's Talinna has two straight 7/16 victories (B, A) for trainer Patrick Bever.
Michael Green's Kennel's BB's Freegazer has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Jim Grace.
Cardinal Kennel's Saddle Shoes (C, B) and Flexible Flyer (C, B) have two wins in a row for trainer Jerrod Varner.
A Ray Kennel's AMF Sharpshooter has back-to-back victories (C, B) for trainer Joe Palmer.
Wayne Ward Kennel's WW's Bomb Blast (B, A 3/8) and Clara Potts (C, B) have two straight wins for trainer Ron Otto.