Trending
For the first six months of the 2007 racing season, Kiowa Apple Lyde was arguably the best distance runner at Southland Greyhound Park.
A Night of Stars victory in May, a track record and 19 wins were a few of his many accomplishments.
Now, Kiowa Apple Lyde is trying to make his mark at the Wheeling Island racetrack -- one of the most competitive racetracks in the country. So far, he has passed the test with flying colors.
An April 2005 greyhound out of WW Apple Jax-Kiowa Tom Lyde (two former Wheeling standouts), Kiowa Apple Lyde has 5 wins, 1 third and 2 fourths in his first eight Wheeling starts. He has at least one victory on each of the track's three distances -- 5/16, 3/8 and 7/16.
"Apple Lyde hits the lid like a speed dog, but he has the heart of a distance dog," Steubenville Kennel trainer Debbie Schweizer said. "He's the kind of dog I'd want to breed for -- speed, endurance and finish."
While WW Apple Jax was noted for his speed and power when he raced at Wheeling in 2003, Kiowa Tom Lyde was one of the track's top marathon runners in 2000-2001.
Kiowa Apple Lyde shipped to Wheeling in early October, but, according to Schweizer, wasn't in tip top shape. His last race at Southland was at the end of June and he only had two schooling races at Mardi Gras in September before shipping North.
"When Apple Lyde came to Wheeling, the plan was to run him in marathon races," Schweizer noted. "At first we had to get him back in race condition so after some morning work, we started him with a couple sprint and 3/8 races."
It didn't take long for Apple Lyde to open some eyes. A sub-30 second 5/16 race and a sub-38 clocking on the backside will draw attention.
In a Grade A 5/16 start, Apple Lyde broke fourth from the eight hole but rushed up to second heading down the backside. Around the far turn, he took control and romped home to a 4 1/2-length victory in 29.82.
"He has some very good speed when he gets loose, but he's really a distance greyhound," Schweizer said.
In his lone Grade AA sprint trip, Apple Lyde fell behind early, but rallied from sixth in the stretch to finish third.
Moved to 3/8, Apple Lyde showed Wheeling racing fans what the patrons at Southland already knew. In back-to-back Grade AA outings, Apple Lyde popped on top early and never looked back in rolling to 7-length and 5-length victories in 37.90 and 38.18.
"For a dog coming back from a layoff, those were outstanding races," Schweizer said. "Running in the 29s and in the 37s in December is impressive."
Apple Lyde was only warming up.
Switched to 7/16 in his next start, Apple Lyde made it three wins in a row with a Grade AA box-to-wire victory in 42.82.
Greyhounds capable of running all three distances competitively at Wheeling have been few and far between, but Apple Lyde turned the trick in his first five starts. The two most recent greyhounds to win races at all three distances in Grade AA at Wheeling are Braska Cando and DEA's Magictouch.
"It takes a special greyhound to be able to run and win all three distances," Schweizer said.
Apple Lyde dropped back to 3/8 in his next two starts, but experienced early traffic in each race. He was able to finish fourth in both trips.
Back in 7/16 in his next race, Apple Lyde again posted a box-to-wire effort -- winning by 1 1/2 lengths in 42.79.
"Right now he's a force to be reckoned with in 7/16," Schweizer said. "He hasn't been challenged yet so I don't know what he'll do if he doesn't get the front. I know he has a lot of bottom."
Apple Lyde broke in at Southland in October 2006. In 12 sprint starts on the Arkansas Course (583 yards) that year, he had 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third and 1 fourth.
In his last start in 2006, Apple Lyde was moved to the longer Razorback Course (660 yards) where he won by 6 lengths despite being blocked early. The race was only a taste of what Apple Lyde would serve up in 2007.
Highlighting Apple Lyde's banner 2007 year at Southland were:
-- A 10-length victory in Night of Stars XIX in May on the River Course (703 yards), setting a new track record of 39.45. The old mark of 39.57 was held by Lance Retter since 1986.
-- A runnerup finish by a nose to Whytell Gee Gee in the $20,000 Razorback Championship in June.
-- 19 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds and 2 fourths in 31 starts.
-- A pair of four-race win streaks.
-- Victories by 11, 10 (twice), 9, 8 1/2, 8 (four times), 7, 6 1/2, 6 and 4 1/2 lengths.
Barry Baldwin, former President/General Manager of Southland Park and now working for the parent company, Delaware North, said Apple Lyde was one of his favorite all-time greyhounds at the Arkansas track.
"Apple Lyde appears to be doing better at the sprints at Wheeling then Southland because he could easily be beat over the 583-yard Arkansas Course," Baldwin said. "However, run the race over either the 660-yard Razorback Course or the 703-yard River Course and look out. Apple Lyde would jump out to a commanding lead and could just not be caught."
Littermates Kiowa Rocky Road also competes at Wheeling and has a Grade AA marathon victory on his resume while Kiowa Sassafrass and Kiowa Risingstar have raced at Wheeling in the past.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOLIDAY STAKE: Braska Cando (Darren Henry Kennel), Freya (Ryan Farms Kennel), Super Lee (C And C Kennel) and Mulberry Gus (Majestic Kennel) all posted victories Sunday in the first round of the $50,000 Holiday Sprint Stake at the Wheeling Island racetrack.
The second round of qualifying is set for Friday evening, Dec. 21, and the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 26. The eight finalist will vie for the $20,000 top prize on Monday evening, Dec. 31.
The four winners from round one -- Braska Cando, Freya, Super Lee and Mulberry Gus -- top all stake entries with 15 points each.
Next in line are:
UCME Riden Dirty, TNJ Bet Me, San Tan Nomemory and Silver Jones, 10 points each.
Sol Reign, Kay V Prince Joe, FWD Power Design and Legend Of Zorro, 8 points each.
E's Sweet Fay, Kebo Klondike, Yo Where Ya Ben and Gable Tony Lama, 6 points each;
Always Classic, TMC's Avenger, Gable Pimiento and Bella Alexander, 5 points each.
Best Amigos, Umagooma, Makin Bakin and WW's Green Apple, 3 points each.
Guess, Bustling, Joe's Dog and P Nut Picker, 1 point each.
Early Wynn, TD's Flawless, Kay Shivon Sissy and Powerful Trent, 0 point each.
Following are capsules of the first round:
Braska Cando, eighth around the first turn, came storming home from fifth in the stretch to post a 1 1/2-length victory in 30.75. The distance racer went to post at 8-1.
Freya, sent to post at 36-1 odds, posted a box-to-wire 4 1/2-length victory in 29.99. She was runnerup in Night of Stars XX in November.
Super Lee, the favorite in his qualifying race, took command around the far turn and never looked back in posting a 3 1/2-length victory. He stopped the clock in 29.93.
Mulberry Gus, still going strong at nearly 4 1/2 years old, rocketed to the lead around the first turn in romping to a 6 1/2-length win. He posted a sizzling time of 29.83.
MILLION UPDATE: After winning four out of his first six starts and moving up to Grade AA at Wheeling, Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's Go Bon Outasite has headed South to St. Petersburg, Fla., where he is a possible entry in the 2008 Derby Lane Million.
Outasite's four early speed victories were by 11, 10, 8 1/2 and 4 lengths.
Several other Wheeling racers may also be headed to Derby Lane for the Million. Names mentioned as possibilities include San Tan Nomemory, Legend Of Zorro, Super Lee, Flying Mc Grath, Primco Mayes, BI's Never Late and TK Quick Strike.
HOT DOGS: Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's Flat Out Ady has three Grade AA victories in a row for trainer Jay Hawkins. Kennel-mates Go Bon Outasite has won four out of his last five races (M, C, B, A) while Flyng Mc Grath has won three out of his last four outings (C, B, A).
Darren Henry Kennel's BD's Flip has won four out of his last five starts (M, D, C, B) for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate WWW Animalhouse has three wins and two seconds in her last five 3/8 races.
Charter Kennel's TK Quick Strike has won three out of his last four Grade AA 3/8 trips for trainer Rodney Cooley.
C And C Kennel's KB's Seadog has three straight victories (B, A, AA) for trainer Patrick Bever.
Ryan Farms Kennel's Hellion has two wins and two seconds in his last four Grade AA 3/8 starts for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mate Witch Hazel has back-to-back Grade AA 7/16 wins.
Steubenville Kennel's Kay Magic Carpet has back-to-back Grade AA victories for trainer Debbie Schweizer.
Michael Green Kennel's BB's Give Mine has two wins, a second and a third in his last four starts for trainer Jim Grace.
Gable Kennel's Gable Excavator (B, A) and Cry Starsky (C, B) have two straight wins for trainer Wayne Piquette.
Lester Raines Kennel's Rooftop Dixie To (B, A) and Omega Code (C, B) have back-to-back victories for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mate Kelsos Bogman has two wins and a second in his last three outings.
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel's Rico's Sylvia has two straight 3/8 wins (C, B) for trainer Ricardo Pacheco.
A Ray Kennel's TRS Grandpa Won has back-to-back victories (C, B) for trainer Joe Palmer.
LOOKS GOOD ON PAPER: Word is two of Wheeling's top sprinters the last two years will be having puppies.
The expectant mother is Mariska and the father is Rhythmless.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS: Going To The Dogs will be taking the holiday off next week. I would like to wish all our readers happy holidays.
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com