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Top dogs.
Sprint stars Gable Pimiento (Gable Kennel) and Makin Bakin (Charter Kennel) shared top honors at the Wheeling Island racetrack in 2007 as they each notched 30 victories to top the win leaderboard. Mulberry Gus (Majestic Kennel) was third with 26 victories.
It was only the second time the Wheeling track had co-win leaders in its 31-year history. In 1978, Diamond's Rose and E.Z. Ike tied for the top spot with 27 victories.
Both Gable Kennel trainer Wayne Piquette and Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley couldn't be any happier with their sprinter's achievements.
"Pimiento had a fantastic year. To win 30 races at Wheeling is quite an accomplishment," Piquette noted. "She had to be one of the top dogs in earning too as all of her victories were in Grade AA."
Cooley said he is "very proud" of Makin Bakin's 2007 season. "She ran good all year long and deserved a share of the win crown," Cooley said. "It's quite a fete to win 30 and to be able to tie such a nice dog as Pimiento."
Co-champions Gable Pimiento and Makin Bakin waged a head-to-head battle throughout the 2007 racing season. The crown went down to the final race on the Dec. 31 New Year's Eve card as Makin Bakin won her 30th race to tie Gable Pimiento for top dog honors.
Gable Pimiento, a November 2004 greyhound out of Gable Dodge-R's Carolina, started out slowly in 2007. In January, February and March, she only had four victories.
"She hates the cold. At times, she wouldn't even want to go out for turnout when it was cold," Piquette noted. "I thought she'd win a few more races when the weather got warmer, but I was surprised she won 30. I thought she'd win 15 or so."
As the weather warmed up, so did Pimiento.
Beginning in April and continuing through part of July, Pimiento was blazing. In an 18-race stretch, she had 15 wins, including 12 in a row, and 3 seconds against Grade AA company.
"Pimiento was right on her game," Piquette said. "At times it seemed like she was coming out before the lid opened."
The early speed merchant created plenty of excitement when she flirted with the track's all-time record of 16 straight held by Casual Casey.
"It was pretty exciting," Piquette recalled. "I was more amazed with each victory."
Pimiento cooled off a bit the next couple months, but caught fire again in September and October as she won five straight races.
Getting out of the box and down to the first turn is Pimiento's trademark, Piquette said. She's not going to come from far behind.
During Pimiento's 12-race win streak, she hit the backstretch on top in all but one of those starts. In the other race, she was second heading down the backside.
"She's not the fastest dog at Wheeling, but one of the quickest to the turn," Piquette said. "That's her whole race."
Pimiento was selected for Night of Stars XX in November and finished fourth.
In 67 starts in 2007, Pimiento had 30 wins, 15 seconds, 4 thirds and 3 fourths -- a 77 percent mark on the pay sheet.
She is owned by Ruth Fulcher of Texas.
Pimiento broke in at Gulf Greyhound Park in the spring of 2006 before shipping to Wheeling in September.
Makin Bakin, a February 2005 greyhound out of Lonesome Cry-Can She Cook, spent the first three months of the 2007 racing season in St. Petersburg, Fla., competing in the second Derby Lane Million. She qualified for the Consolation Final but experienced early trouble and finished eighth.
Once Makin Bakin arrived in Wheeling, it didn’t take long for her to make her presence felt. Following a second and a fifth in her first two starts, she smoked a Grade A field by 8 lengths.
It was only the beginning.
In the next three-month period, Makin Bakin was nearly as hot as Gable Pimiento. In a 19-race stretch, Makin Bakin had 14 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third and 1 fourth.
"The track got faster which Bakin prefers and she started breaking better. She stopped jumping out of the box," Cooley said. "I think she matured quite a bit while she was at Derby Lane."
Makin Bakin had a five-race, a four-race and four three-race winning streaks during the year.
"Her game was get to the front and run as fast and as far as she can," Cooley said. "She doesn't get caught very often."
Makin Bakin also raced in Night Of Stars XX, finishing third just a half length behind winner San Tan Nomemory.
Owner Clement Woodhull of Connecticut is thrilled by Makin Bakin's success at Wheeling.
"She's just the sweetest little dog, but that little girl can run. She took to the track like no tomorrow," Woodhull said. "Once she gets out front, she's gone. I am so proud of her and hopefully she keeps it going."
The Charter Kennel speedster opened her career at Southland Greyhound Park in August 2006 before going to The Woodlands for the Great American Greyhound Futurity in November. She finished sixth in the Championship Final.
"Makin Bakin has been well-traveled but Wheeling is her track of choice," Cooley said. "This is her home."
In 55 starts in 2007, Makin Bakin had 30 wins, 8 seconds, 3 thirds and 2 fourths -- a 78 percent mark on the pay sheet.
In addition to Night of Stars XX, Gable Pimiento and Makin Bakin split in two other head-to-head matchups in 2007.
While Gable Pimiento and Makin Bakin topped the win leaderboard with 30, a total of 18 greyhounds won at least 15 races in 2007 at Wheeling.
Win leaderboard:
30 -- Gable Pimiento (Gable), Makin Bakin (Charter).
26 -- Mulberry Gus (Majestic).
22 -- C's Bosco (Majestic), Flat Out Ady (Flying Eagles-Miner).
19 -- Bow Grasshopper (Ryan Farms).
18 -- CTW Plaza Rio (Douglas), Gable Indonesia (Gable), Flying Speedo (Flying Eagles-Miner).
17 -- Gable Hannah (Gable), Kay V Arrington (Flying Eagles-Miner), Bella Alexander (Keota), Ugo Lonesome Boy (Charter).
16 -- Silver Patriot (Charter).
15 -- Armys Mistress (Majestic), U Too Floy (Charter), Figs Lone Case (Charter), Lazy K Kandycane (Steubenville).
Flat Out Ady topped all West Virginia-bred greyhounds in wins.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOT DOGS: Ryan Farms Kennel's Witch Hazel has won five out of her last six Grade AA distance starts for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mate Bow Workaround has back-to-back 3/8 wins (A, AA).
A Ray Kennel's Diligent has won five out of his last six outings (M, D, C, B, A) for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mates AMF Far Far Away has won four out of his last five starts (M, C, B, A) while Greys AMF Hawaii has back-to-back 7/16 victories (C, B).
Charter Kennel's Silver Jones has four straight Grade AA wins for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mates Makin Bakin has won three out of her last four Grade AA races while TK Sword Drawn has back-to-back victories (C, B).
Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's Starz Supreme has two wins and a third in his last three Grade AA 3/8 starts for trainer Ashley McMillen.
Gable Kennel's Gable Dingdong has won three out of his last four outings (C, B, A) for trainer Wayne Piquette. Kennel-mate Cry Audrey has back-to-back Grade AA victories.
Wayne Ward Kennel's Gale WW Ebb Tide has two wins and a second in her last three 3/8 races for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mate WW Pacific Fleet has back-to-back victories (C, B).
Keota Kennel's Bella Alexander (A, AA) and Loyal (C, B) have two wins in a row for trainer Louise Strong.
Darren Henry Kennel's BD's Flip has two wins in a row (A, AA) for trainer Donna Wilcox.
Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel's Fed Factor has back-to-back 3/8 victories (A, AA) for trainer Tom Engle.
Michael Green Kennel's BB's It's Mine has two straight wins (C, B) for trainer Jim Grace.
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel's Blindsided has back-to-back 3/8 victories (C, B) for trainer Donna Bumbaugh.
TWIN TRIFECTA: The track has instituted a new "mandatory payout" procedure for the late twin trifecta.
According to track officials, this carryover pool will be capped at $10,000. Once the cap is reached, this pool will be frozen and a specific date and performance within 10 days will be selected for the payment.
A separate and new carryover pool will begin on the following performance once the cap is reached. The new carryover pool will not be offered on the performance of the mandatory payout.
REMEMBER …
Big Albert
– Raced at Wheeling from 1982-1984
– 31 wins in 1983
– Set Buckeye Course track record on Oct. 17, 1983 at 43.31
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