Trending
Young guns.
They are loaded and firing bullets.
Only time will tell if they turn into the next Kiowa Sweet Trey, WW Apple Jax, Iruska All Star or Slatex Striker, but the new wave of youngsters are making their presence felt early in their careers at the Wheeling Island racetrack.
Not only are the pups shining on the track, but they’ve brought excitement to local and national racing fans.
A few of the ones to watch include KB’s Seadog of the C And C Kennel, WW Hey Alfalfa of the Wayne Ward Kennel, Manassa Mauler of the Ryan Farms Kennel, BI’s Never Late of the Charter Kennel and Flying Mc Grath and Go Bon Outasite of the Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel.
“It’s always exciting for racing fans to watch young talented greyhounds begin their careers,” Director of Racing Ben Travis said. “When they come to the top greyhound track in the country and are able to reel off three or four wins right away, that’s a pretty good indicator of just how talented they actually are.”
KB’S Seadog
(C And C Kennel)
A February 2006 greyhound out of Trent Lee-Kebo Katrina, KB’s Seadog started out his career with a bang — three straight victories in Maiden by 2 lengths, Grade D by 6 1/2 lengths and Grade C by 4 1/2 lengths. In his Maiden and Grade C wins, Seadog fired to the front early and never looked back while in Grade D he closed from second in the stretch.
As impressive as his opening wins, Seadog really opened some eyes in his first Grade B outing.
Seadog broke last from the seven hole, but rushed up on the outside to fourth around the first turn. The youngster continued to drive down the backstretch and far turn as he moved up to second coming home.
The speedster put on a valiant closing rush only to come up a head short at the wire.
“A fantastic effort … he showed me some serious heart,” C And C Kennel’s Norm Secia said. “For a puppy that was very impressive. He wants it.”
Prior to coming to Wheeling, Seadog shined at the National Greyhound Association Fall Meet, winning his first round by 3 lengths in 30.19 and his final by 5 1/2 lengths in 29.77.
“I was real excited after watching him race at the Nationals. He went right to the front and was gone,” C And C Kennel trainer Patrick Bever said. “When he ran in the 29s, I knew he would be a contender at Wheeling. Whether he’ll be a Grade AA star, time will tell.”
The quick-breaking Seadog is following in the footsteps of many other Trent Lee pups, Bever said.
“A lot of early speed and he’s gutsy in the turns,” Bever said. “Speed is what you need to be successful at Wheeling.”
Bever would like to see the youngster shoot straight up the ladder to Grade AA.
“I hope Seadog keeps rolling all the way to Grade AA,” Bever said. “Then we’ll see what he’s made of and how he handles it.”
Flying Mc Grath
(Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel)
A May 2006 greyhound out of WW Apple Jax-VJ’s Kintes Gal, Flying Mc Grath is without question the most exciting racer of the newcomers. He has back-to-back Maiden and Grade D victories — both with come-from-behind efforts — and a near-miss in Grade C.
“I absolutely love dogs that have a come-from-behind running style. It excites me and it excites racing fans,” Dean Miner, co-operator of the Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel, said. “With his style, he could become a fan favorite. After only a couple races, he’s already gained a reputation.”
In two schooling races, Mc Grath went right to the front and never looked back in romping to 14 and 8-length victories. It was a different story when Mc Grath made his Maiden debut.
Breaking near the back of the pack, Mc Grath rushed up to fourth around the first turn but still trailed the frontrunners by a ton of lengths. Turning on the jets down the backside and far turn, Mc Grath moved up into contention before exploding in the stretch for a 3-length victory.
“His schooling races were an aberration. There was no reason to believe he had that much early speed,” Miner said.
In Grade D, Mc Grath broke slow once again but rushed up to third heading down the backside with a nifty first turn move. Once loose, Mc Grath devoured the leaders as he romped to a 10 1/2-length victory.
“I’ve been impressed with the way he’s changed lanes on the far turn and in the stretch,” Miner said. “He’s switched to the right lane and to the left lane which bodes well for the future.”
After falling behind early in his Grade C race, Mc Grath once again made a big move from third in the stretch only to come up a length short at the wire.
“This dog has a ton of energy. To fall behind as far as he has and still be able to win by a bunch is impressive,” Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel trainer Jay Hawkins said. “In the higher grades with faster dogs, it’s going to be tougher for him. If he doesn’t start breaking better after about 12 starts, we may have to look at a longer distance.”
Go Bon Outasite
(Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel)
A March 2006 greyhound out of Kiowa Sweet Trey-Shelbourne Lady, Go Bon Outasite may turn out to be the best of the 2007 rookie class. A quick glance at Outasite’s lines from the NGA Fall Meet and official schooling at Wheeling indicates he has Trey-like speed.
At the Nationals, Outasite won his first round by 2 1/2 lengths in 30.11 and his final by 2 1/2 lengths in a sizzling 29.69.
“Outasite was running some of the fastest times in Abilene (Kansas) every time he schooled,” Lance Berland of the Flying Eagles Kennel said. “Then he ran the fastest time of the NGA meet.”
In schooling at Wheeling, Outasite smoked a 30 flat in a 12 1/2-length victory and a 30.23 in a 9-length win.
“Outasite is the fastest dog at the track in any grade,” Miner said.
In Outasite’s lone Maiden trip, he missed his break and was offstrided early as he finished out of the money.
“It looked like he had trouble getting his footing (in his first start),” Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel trainer Jay Hawkins said. “I think he’ll be one of our top dogs next year.”
Berland said Outasite could be making a trip to Florida.
“Time will tell, but if he’s as fast as Dean says, we may take him to Derby Lane at the end of the year for the Million.”
Manassa Mauler
(Ryan Farms Kennel)
An April 2006 greyhound out of Molotov-Mountaylor Dolly, Manassa Mauler has climbed the ladder to Grade B with 2 wins, 1 second and 1 fourth in four starts.
“I think he’s the fastest pup I have broken in in a long time,” Ryan Farms Kennel trainer Terry Green said. “When we schooled him in the morning, I knew he was going to be something special.”
After back-to-back official schooling victories by 8 1/2 and 3 1/2 lengths, Manassa Mauler was nipped by a nose in his Maiden debut. The youngster broke his Maiden in his next start with a driving victory by half a length and then won Grade C with another come-from-behind effort by 5 1/2 lengths.
Manassa Mauler’s two victories were from the one and two holes.
“I like him on the inside. He runs a pretty tight rail when he can get it,” Green related. “Right now he’s learning the ginny pit (holding area) and the box. Eventually I think he’ll be a get out and go dog.”
In his lone Grade B trip, Manassa Mauler overcame some crowding to run fourth.
“He had a middle box and didn’t break very well, but he was able to come back and get a fourth,” Green said. “I was pleased with the effort.”
Green said littermate Kid Blackie is only a step or two behind Manassa Mauler.
“I think Manassa Mauler and Kid Blackie will be two of the better Grade AA dogs we have,” Green added.
WW Hey Alfalfa
(Wayne Ward Kennel)
A March 2006 greyhound out of Larking About-WW Hey Bale, WW Hey Alfalfa has climbed the ladder to Grade B with 3 wins, 3 seconds and 1 fourth in seven starts.
“Not much was said about Alfalfa when he came to Wheeling so he’s been a very pleasant surprise,” Wayne Ward Kennel trainer Ron Otto said. “So far he’s done everything right.”
Alfalfa has taken his time moving up in grade following 5 1/2 and 5-length schooling wins.
After breaking his Maiden with a 2-length victory, Alfalfa won Grade D on his fourth try by an impressive 7 1/2 lengths. He raced second in his first Grade C effort before closing in the stretch to capture his next outing by a half length.
“I think he’s better off gradually going up the ladder,” Otto said. “It’s given him a chance to gain some experience.”
Alfalfa isn’t blessed with great box speed, but he still has been able to get into his races early enough so his closing kick has been effective.
“He has shown he doesn’t need the lead. He can come from off the pace,” Otto said. “He’s still a little green passing dogs, but he won’t quit.”
Otto said Alfalfa prefers an inside post.
“He’s as rail as you can be. He looks for the rail as soon as the box opens,” Otto said. “Once he gets in the top grades it might be tougher getting the rail.”
BI’s Never Late
(Charter Kennel)
An April 2006 greyhound out of Dodgem By Design-Tempo Moon Eyes, BI’s Never Late has only a Maiden victory on his resume but looks like a star in the making. His driving 5 1/2-length Maiden victory followed 11 and 8-length schooling wins.
“With less than a handful of starts, Never Late has shown me signs he’ll be a top grade dog. He has Grade AA potential,” Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley said. “We handslipped him four times and he looked so good we put him straight into official schooling.”
Never Late raced at the NGA Fall Meet, winning his first round by 5 lengths in 30.15 and his final by 9 1/2 lengths in 30.10.
Cooley said Never Late “can get out of the box,” so post position isn’t a concern, but he prefers the inside.
“He’s a rail rubber. If he can get to the rail, he’ll take it,” Cooley noted. “He also has plenty in the tank coming home.”
In Never Late’s Maiden victory, he closed from second in the stretch to win going away. In both of his schoolers, he extended the margins coming home.
“Never Late was my first choice of all the new pups we purchased at the NGA Fall Meet,” Charter Kennel operator Cary Alsobrook said. “There is a certain look (physical quality) I expect in a greyhound and I detected it in Never Late the first time I laid eyes on him. He stood out before I ever saw him run.”
Travis said fans will be in for a treat when watching these youngsters compete.
“I would anticipate these youngsters providing a lot of excitement as they eventually race against each other and take on the best greyhounds we have,” Travis added. “I know I’m certainly looking forward to it.”
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOT DOGS: Ryan Farms Kennel’s Witch Hazel has four straight 3/8 victories (A, AA) for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mate Bow Workaround has two wins and a second in her last three 3/8 races.
C And C Kennel’s Super Lee has raced to three straight wins (A, AA) for trainer Patrick Bever. Kennel-mate Mel Practice has two wins and a second in his last three trips.
Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Apple Lyde has three Grade AA distance wins in row for trainer Debbie Schweizer. Kennel-mate Kay Bet To Win has back-to-back victories (C, B).
Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel’s Jax Carl has three straight wins (C, B, A) for trainer Tom Engle.
Darren Henry Kennel’s Legend Of Zorro has two wins and a second in her last three Grade AA starts for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate Braska Caleb has won three out of his last four 3/8 races (C, B, A).
Charter Kennel’s CTW In Vogue has won three out of her last four starts (B, A, AA) for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mates Ugo Lonesome Boy (A, AA) and Primco Mayes (B, A) have back-to-back wins.
Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Kay V Prince Joe (AA) and Flat Out Umberto (A, AA) have back-to-back victories for trainer Jay Hawkins.
Mike Fynmore Kennel’s Bustling has two Grade AA wins in a row for trainer James Stewart.
Douglas Kennel’s Early Wynn has two straight wins (A, AA) for trainer Jim Roche.
Cardinal Kennel’s WJS Rumble Roses has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Jerrod Varner.
Majestic Kennel’s Risky N Frisky has two straight 3/8 wins (B, A) for trainer Joe Otto.
Keota Kennel’s Thagomizer has back-to-back victories (C, B) for trainer Louise Strong.
Pawloski can be reached at s’>sjpawloski@yahoo.com’>sjpawloski@yahoo.com