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Expectations were high in the Charter Kennel camp when Switzler Keeper was purchased at the 2006 National Greyhound Association Fall Meet in Kansas.
Keeper was a standout at the meet, easily winning both of his rounds and dipping under the 30-second mark in each race. He looked like a perfect match for Wheeling's high speed track.
A year later, however, Keeper remains a rung or two below the track's top echelon of sprinters but the early speed merchant has been a consistent in-the-money finisher. In 66 career starts, Keeper has 12 wins, 17 seconds, 9 thirds and 15 fourths -- an impressive 80 percent mark on the pay sheet.
"We thought Keeper would be a good fit for Wheeling with his early speed," Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley said. "He's been a very nice, consistent greyhound, but not the superstar we hoped he'd become."
Although Keeper -- an April 2005 greyhound out of Coldwater Keelin-Switzler Roxcee -- hasn't matched the expectations, Cooley is pleased with his performance.
"I'm extremely happy with the way he's raced. If he'd win a few more, I'd be ecstatic," Cooley noted. "I'd take any dog with his consistency. His points keep adding up."
One flaw in Keeper's game -- drifting out coming home -- has probably cost him several races during his career. In 16 out of his 17 second place finishes, Keeper was in the lead at the top of the homestretch.
"Keeper loses his races from the last turn home because he floats out in the stretch," Cooley said. "He does run out of gas a little, but I think he's gotten a bit stronger as he's gotten older."
While Keeper's finish has been his Achilles' heel, Cooley raves about the sprinter's start. Keeper doesn't possess lightning box speed, but is rolling at top speed soon after the gate opens.
"It's not so much the lid speed but his first few steps put him in the game. He can miss a step at the break and still outrush most dogs to the turn," Cooley said. "He has a monster rush. I don't think there's a dog in my kennel who can beat him to the turn and that includes Makin Bakin."
In Keeper's 66 lifetime starts, he has cleared the first turn on top in 40 of his races. A total of 55 of his trips are in the top two classes (37 in Grade AA and 18 in Grade A).
"Keeper gets into his races so quick he avoids a lot of the first turn jams," Cooley said. "His early speed definitely is a factor in him collecting a lot of paychecks."
Of Keeper's 12 wins, three are in Grade AA including back-to-back efforts in early August.
"He likes a faster track. When it's fast, he's able to get out to a bigger early lead," Cooley said. "He needs to go to the front to be successful and needs a pretty big lead to win."
In his three Grade AA victories, Keeper had a 4-length and a pair of 3-length leads coming home before winning by a length and a nose twice.
Although Cooley prefers Keeper in the eight box, post position isn't a major concern.
"I love to have him in the eight hole. When he's out there he slingshots the first turn," Cooley said. "I don't really worry about post position with him. He'll find a lane and rush to the turn."
At the 2006 NGA Fall Meet, Cooley said he was impressed by Keeper's "big powerful rush" in his two races. He won his first round by 13 1/2 lengths in 29.97 and came back in the final to prevail by 2 lengths in 29.96.
"At the Nationals, one step out of the box and he was on the front," Cooley recalled.
Keeper's brother, Switzler Fiddler, also races out of the Charter Kennel at Wheeling. He has 7 wins, 6 seconds, 7 thirds and 7 fourths in 65 career starts.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOT DOGS: Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's Kay V Prince Joe has four straight Grade AA victories for trainer Jay Hawkins. Kennel-mate Flat Out Umberto has won three out of his last four starts (A, AA).
Majestic Kennel's Armys Mistress (AA 3/8) and AK's Desertshark (B, A) have back-to-back wins for trainer Joe Otto.
Ryan Farms Kennel's Super C Simon has three wins in a row (C, B, A) for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mate Always Classic has back-to-back victories (A, AA).
Charter Kennel's BI's Never Late has won three out of his last four starts (M, C, B) for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mates Silver Jones has two wins and two seconds in his last four outings while Silver Faith has two wins and a second in her last three trips.
Darren Henry Kennel's WWW Animalhouse has two wins and a second in her last three 3/8 races for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate Velvets Dakota has back-to-back 3/8 victories (C, B).
Gable Kennel's Gable Tanzania has two wins in a row (B, A) for trainer Wayne Piquette.
Steve Sarras Kennel's J's Frontier (C, B) and Cajun Scotty (C, B) have back-to-back victories for trainer Barbara Long.
Charter Kennel's KB's Masterblast has two straight wins (C, B) for trainer Rodney Cooley.
Michael Green Kennel's Ole Roy has back-to-back victories (C, B) for trainer Jim Grace.
THE MILLION: While the lineup for the third annual Derby Lane Million is still more than a month away, three greyhounds have been confirmed as stakes competitors, according to track Media Director Vera Filipelli.
The winner of the second Derby Lane Million, Flying Stanley, will be back to defend his title at the St. Petersburg, Fla., racetrack. Stanley took charge early in last year's final and never looked back in romping to a 4 1/2-length victory in greyhound racing's richest stake event.
Stanley is owned by Flying Eagles Kennel operator Vince Berland.
Also expected to participate is KJ's Yukon Gold, who recently won the $450,000 Iowa Breeders Championship as part of Night of Stars XX. Yukon Gold is owned by James Wilshusen of Nebraska and trained by Jeff Gubbels in Iowa.
Filipelli is excited with the decision to send Yukon Gold to the Million.
"If Yukon runs Derby like he does Iowa, he will be a monster here," Filipelli noted. "That same box breaking ability that helped him win the Iowa stake will give him an edge in the world's richest greyhound race."
The one international entry to date is Irish Derby finalist Ardkill Jamie, Filipelli said.
Ardkill Jamie is owned by Jimmy Mangan and is trained by Paul Hennessey who had three entries in the Irish Derby.
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com