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Flat Out Ady holds a special spot in owner Dean Miner's heart.
It's not her number of Grade AA victories or the amount of her earnings.
Ady's story goes far beyond her accomplishments on the racetrack. It's about heartache, perseverance, hope and determination.
"She's the only dog I can remember in my 18 years of owning greyhounds that I openly root for out loud," Miner, a co-operator of the Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel at Wheeling, said. "She's that special to me."
While fans at Wheeling have watched Ady -- an October 2003 greyhound out of Flying Penske-La Killy -- race since December 2006, few may be aware she opened her career at Tri-state Greyhound Park in October 2005. At Tri-state, Ady climbed the ladder to Grade AA in just nine starts.
"We were thrilled. We thought Ady would be a nice dog but nothing exceptional," Miner said. "We had solid expectations, not high ones. That's why we broke her in at Tri-state instead of Wheeling."
Unfortunately, misfortune struck in February 2006. Competing against Grade AA company, Ady broke a hock.
Miner said the prognosis was not good.
"I wanted to retire her to the brood barn, but Lance Berland (Flying Eagles Kennel) said let's lay her up on the farm and see how it goes. He stuck with her," Miner said. "Although you hate to see any greyhound get hurt, fortunately she was so young it gave her the time to rehab. All the credit goes to Lance and the Flying Eagles farm."
Ady underwent surgery before shipping to the Berland farm in Kansas.
"She had a couple pins and about eight screws put in her leg," Miner said.
For the first couple months on the Berland farm, Ady was mostly inactive -- almost forgotten.
At one point, Berland also considered sending Ady to the brood barn but it was full at the time. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Slowly and slowly Ady began to mend and she got stronger and stronger.
"Then one day one of our helpers schooled Ady and she looked pretty good," Berland recalled. "The next thing you know she's beating our best pups. She beat Flying Rugby head-to-head and he was one of our fastest pups."
Berland was amazed as Ady's rehab progressed.
"We had no expectations for her," Berland said. "To come back as she did is fascinating."
After Ady continued to "run like a house on fire," Berland called Miner and the sprinter shipped to Wheeling.
Nine months after her injury at Tri-state, the "Comeback Kid" launched her career a second time in December 2006.
"When they carried her off the track at Tri-state, I never imagined she'd ever make it back," Miner said.
Ady returned better than ever.
"She came back faster than she was before. She's better than new," Miner said. "I think age and maturity also were factors the second time around."
Ady won six out of her first 15 Grade AA starts at Wheeling, including victories by 6 lengths (twice), 5 lengths, 4 lengths and 3 lengths.
In May 2007, Ady was a finalist in the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Sprint Championship at Wheeling after two victories and a second in her qualifying rounds. In the final, Ady was shut off early from the six hole and finished seventh.
In 16 Grade AA trips since she turned 4 years old in October, Ady has 8 wins and 4 thirds.
"I keep waiting for the drop off but it hasn't happened," Miner said. "She'll have a bad race now and then, but come right back and win a couple in a row."
In 57 starts this year, Ady has 20 wins, 7 seconds, 11 thirds and 1 fourth. Only three sprinters have more wins than Ady -- Gable Pimiento (30), Makin Bakin (28) and Mulberry Gus (25).
Ady's game is getting out of the box and into her races early. She also prefers an inside post.
"She runs under the rail. I wish they had a zero box, that's how far under the rail she runs," Miner said. "She almost never misses her break. If she draws outside and gets brushed trying to get to the rail, that makes it more difficult for her to be successful."
Miner also is proud of the fact Ady came from the first litter of his West Virginia breeding program.
Being a West Virginia-bred greyhound, Ady has proved very profitable on the track with earnings topping $100,000.
"She's like winning the lottery and not buying a ticket," Miner said. "If only she knew what she's done for me, she'd be holding out for more cookies. Thank goodness she doesn't have an agent."
Berland also is proud of Ady's accomplishments.
"It's an awesome story to be able to come back and run better than she did before," Berland said. "She's definitely an over-achiever -- a blessing every day."
Miner said it will be a sad day when Ady retires.
"It will be tough, but I'm looking forward to seeing her pups run some day," Miner said. "Ady and Kay V Carter will be the cornerstone of our future breeding program."
In 91 career starts at Tri-state and Wheeling, Ady has 30 wins, 13 seconds, 15 thirds and 3 fourths -- a 67 percent mark on the pay sheet.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
STAKES TIME: The $50,000 Wheeling Holiday Sprint Championship will kick off Sunday afternoon with a field of 32 sprinters.
The second round is slated for Friday evening, Dec. 21, and the semifinal on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26. The final is scheduled for Monday evening, Dec. 31.
Greyhounds competing for the $20,000 top prize include:
Arivada-Plum Creek: Guess, UCME Riden Dirty
Lester Raines: Sol Reign, E's Sweet Fay
Mike Fynmore: Kebo Klondike, Yo Where Ya Ben
Flying Eagles-Miner: Kay V Prince Joe, Best Amigos
Douglas: FWD Power Design, Early Wynn
Ryan Farms: Always Classic, Freya
Cardinal: TNJ Bet Me, Umagooma
Michael Green: Bustling, Joe's Dog
Majestic: San Tan Nomemory, Mulberry Gus
Steubenville: TD's Flawless, TMC's Avenger
C And C: P Nut Picker, Super Lee
Gable: Gable Pimiento, Gable Tony Lama
Darren Henry: Legend Of Zorro, Braska Cando
Charter: Makin Bakin, Silver Jones
Wayne Ward: WW's Green Apple, Kay Shivon Sissy
Keota: Bella Alexander, Powerful Trent.
HOT DOGS: Steubenville Kennel's TD's Flawless has won three out of his last four Grade AA races for trainer Debbie Schweizer.
Mike Fynmore Kennel's Kebo Klondike has won three out of his last four Grade AA starts for trainer Brandon Grizzle. Kennel-mate Escrow Officer has two straight victories (B, A).
Majestic Kennel's San Tan Nomemory has captured three out of his last four Grade AA outings for trainer Joe Otto. Kennel-mate AK's Castnaspell has two victories in a row (C, B).
Lester Raines Kennel's Kelsos Topper has two wins and a second in her last three Grade AA trips for trainer Joel Roden.
Charter Kennel's Silver Jones has back-to-back Grade AA victories for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mate TK Quick Strike has two wins and two seconds in his last four Grade AA 3/8 races.
Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's Go Bon Outasite has won three out of his last four starts (M, C, B) for trainer Jay Hawkins. Kennel-mate Flying Real Hot has back-to-back wins (A, AA) while Flat Out Oliver has two wins and a second in his last three outings.
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel's Lennon has two straight 3/8 victories (A, AA) for trainer Ricardo Pacheco.
C And C Kennel's KB's Seadog has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Patrick Bever.
Darren Henry Kennel's Macs Beau Regard has two victories in a row (C, B) for trainer Donna Wilcox.
Ryan Farms Kennel's Cassidera has back-to-back wins (C, B) for trainer Terry Green.
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com