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He is one of the most dominating 3/8 greyhounds to ever race at Wheeling Island.
He has speed and he has power.
In the eyes of Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley, TK Quick Strike is the "perfect 3/8 greyhound."
A July 2005 greyhound out of Flying Penske-Joanne's Peach, Quick Strike displayed his superior speed earlier this week when he smoked a 37.41 over the 3/8 course. His time was just off the track record of 37.40 set by DEA's Magictouch on June 4, 2003.
"Quick Strike is scary fast when he gets loose. He is probably the fastest dog I have ever touched," Cooley said. "Dr. Marty Tanner said Quick Strike is the fastest dog he ever raised and I can see why."
Breaking from the eight box in his near-record run, Quick Strike shot to the top early and never looked back in romping to a 6-length victory. He held a 2-length margin throughout the race before pulling away in the stretch.
"Quick Strike is so smooth, he reminds me of Talentedmrripley," Cooley said. "He has unbelievable ability."
In addition to the 37.41 clocking, the middle distance ace has eclipsed the 38-second mark three other times this year -- 37.52, 37.63 and 37.64. Last year, Quick Strike dipped under 38 seconds five times after returning to Wheeling in June from the 2007 Great American Greyhound Futurity at The Woodlands.
Cooley feels Quick Strike will set the 3/8 track mark this year.
"If he stays healthy, I believe he will break the track record," Cooley said. "If he draws an inside post, gets a decent break and the track is fine, he's good enough to do it."
Cooley said it would be quite an achievement to top Magictouch's record. She also holds the Wheeling 7/16 record (42.09 set on Feb. 15, 2004).
"Magictouch was a very nice greyhound," Cooley said. "It would be an honor to beat her record."
Although Quick Strike has several box-to-wire victories on his resume, he also can come from off the pace.
"He can do both -- go to the front or come from behind," Cooley noted. "All he needs is a lane. He runs a little mid, but he breaks better from the inside."
In mid-December 2007, Quick Strike shipped to Florida as a possible entry in the Derby Lane Million but returned to Wheeling after the stake event was canceled.
"He schooled a couple times at Derby Lane before coming back," Cooley said. "I think the time off helped him."
Quick Strike has had a number of dominating efforts since mid-January, including 12-length, 6 1/2-length, 6-length and 5 1/2-length victories. All four were box-to-wire races.
"When he gets the front, it's over -- it's a win," Cooley said. "It's just a matter of by how many lengths. I've seen him ahead by a couple lengths in the stretch and the next thing you know he's up by 5 or 6 lengths."
Quick Strike pulled away in the homestretch in each of his last four victories. The margins ballooned from 5 to 12 lengths, 3 to 6 1/2 lengths, 1 to 5 1/2 lengths and 2 to 6 lengths coming home.
The stalwart also has posted 3/8 victories by 15 lengths, 10 1/2 lengths (twice), 10 lengths, 9 lengths (twice), 8 1/2 lengths and 6 1/2 lengths at Wheeling.
"He's a special one and he's made for 3/8," Cooley said. "Even if he gets jammed, he still has a shot for the pay sheet. He tries hard every race."
In 48 career starts at Wheeling, Quick Strike has 18 wins, 9 seconds, 3 thirds and 8 fourths -- a 79 percent mark on the pay sheet.
Last June when Quick Strike launched his Wheeling career, Cooley said the youngster "has the potential to be a star at Wheeling. He can be a force on the backside."
Quick Strike has not disappointed.
Charter Kennel purchased Quick Strike from Tanner at the 2006 National Greyhound Association Fall Meet in Kansas from Tanner for $21,000.
"Marty (Tanner) cares for the majority of our broods, whelps the pups and raises them until they are ready to leave for the racetrack. He also takes his own greyhounds to the meet in Abilene (Kansas) every six months," Charter Kennel operator Cary Alsobrook said. "Marty owned, raised and trained TK Quick Strike. I also was impressed with TK Rocketman, but I liked Quick Strike better since he showed distance potential."
Alsobrook followed Quick Strike's schooling through the week prior to the NGA Fall Meet.
"Quick Strike confirmed what I was looking for, but he was very young (15 months old). Buying pups at that age is more difficult as you have to sit on them longer before they can begin their careers," Alsobrook said. "Rodney (Cooley) and I agreed to bring him along slowly and spend the extra time usually accomplished at the farms with pups his age."
Alsobrook believed Quick Strike had the talent to be something special.
"We felt Quick Strike held special attention or we wouldn't have paid the price we did for him," Alsobrook noted. "We have had the utmost confidence in him for quite awhile and knew he was one of the better 3/8 greyhounds around."
Alsobrook also likes Quick Strike's chances of rewriting the Wheeling record book.
"I know it can happen if the conditions are just right. Quick Strike definitely has the speed to pull it off," Alsobrook said. "There are always a few greyhounds at the different tracks around the country who are potential threats to break a record, but they must find themselves in a special spot with the track conditions to their liking.
"Greyhounds, like people, are mentally higher on some days than others so that takes part in molding that opportunity," Alsobrook added.
A track record would be the "kind of credential that may draw interest in Quick Strike as a stud dog" down the road, Alsobrook said.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
SPRINT STAKE: Flying Eagles Kennel-owned Flying Stanley tops all qualifiers for Saturday night's $85,000 Sprint Classic at Derby Lane in Florida.
Stanley posted three wins and a third in the qualifying rounds to accumulate a total of 56 points. He is one of three Flying Eagles runners earning spots in the final.
Also qualifying for the final are Brady Thomas, 48 points; Flying MacBeth, 42 points; Red Dirt Road, 41 points; Ballet Lady, Flying Fabian and Djays Itchintago, 36 points each; and Kinloch Brae, 31 points.
HOT DOGS: Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's Kay V Prince Joe has three straight victories (A, AA) for trainer Ashley McMillen. Kennel-mates Kay V Arrington has three wins and a second in her last four Grade AA starts, Kiowa Nephew has two wins and a second in his last three Grade AA trips while Starz Jamboree has two wins and a second in his last three Grade AA 3/8 outings.
C And C Kennel's Van Do has three wins and a second in his last four Grade AA starts for trainer Patrick Bever.
Charter Kennel's Bay Oaks Wind has three wins and two seconds in his last five 3/8 races for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mate Rock Lee has back-to-back victories (B, A).
Lester Raines Kennel's Sol Reign (AA) and E's Sweet Fay (A, AA) have two straight wins for trainer Joel Roden.
Gable Kennel's Cry Audrey has two wins and a second in her last three Grade AA trips for trainer Wayne Piquette. Kennel-mate Gable Silk has back-to-back 3/8 victories (C, B).
Steubenville Kennel's Kiowa Rock Vince has three wins and a third in his last four Grade AA races for trainer Debbie Schweizer.
A Ray Kennel's AMF Just Away has two wins in a row (C, B) for trainer Joe Palmer.
Darren Henry Kennel's Legend Of Zorro has five wins and a third in her last six Grade AA starts for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate Macs Toocansam has back-to-back victories (C, B).
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com