They rocked the music world in the 70s and 80s.

David Bowie, Creedence, Aerosmith and Van Halen.

Now their namesakes are making music at Wheeling Island for the Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel.

“They all have the speed to compete and win in Grade AA at Wheeling,” said Arivada-Plum Creek trainer Joe Otto, who along with Jerry Cole have handled the kennel since late March. “All have stepped up their games recently, with Creedence and Aerosmith making the final of the Mountaineer Classic.”

The foursome also have played a significant role in the Arivada-Plum Creek’s climb into the top ten in the kennel standings.

David Bowie, a June 2006 greyhound out of Jimbo Scotty-D’s Moondust, has flown under the radar as he blossomed into a steady Grade AA sprinter. In his last seven races, he has 3 wins (Grades B, A and AA), 2 seconds, 1 third and 1 fourth.

“He’s a hard trying dog with a lot of heart,” Otto said. “A few times he has run into trouble, but still made it back to get a piece of the ticket. He never gives up.”

David Bowie’s determination has been evident throughout his Wheeling career. In 28 starts, he has 7 wins, 5 seconds, 7 thirds and 5 fourths — an 85 percent mark on the pay sheet.

“You can’t do much better than that. For a 2 year old, those are impressive numbers,” Otto said. “Two of his misses came when he was tried in 3/8 earlier this year and another was in his Maiden debut when he fell. He’s been Mr. Consistency.”

Several dominating races dot David Bowie’s resume — victories in Maiden by 5 1/2 lengths, Grade C by 8 lengths, Grade B by 4 1/2 lengths and Grade A by 7 lengths. In his Maiden and Grade C wins, he jumped on top early while his other victories — including Grade AA — were closing efforts.

“In Grade AA, David needs to get around the turn third or fourth to have a shot at winning,” Otto said. “If he’s not in the top three or four, he still has the drive and finish to hit the board.”

Otto said David Bowie prefers the outside, but has had success from inside posts. His Grade AA and Grade A wins were from the two and three holes.

David Bowie has eclipsed the 30-second mark once, a 29.98 clocking in Grade B.

“He’s still learning,” Otto noted. “I think he’ll get even better once he gets more experience.”

Creedence, an April 2006 greyhound out of Flying Penske-D’s Penny Annie, has found a new home since moving back to 3/8 in March. In his last 15 trips on the backside, he has 5 wins, including 3 in Grade AA, 6 seconds and 1 third.

“He’s been a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect him to have three Grade AA wins so soon,” Otto said. “Right now I’d put him among the top eight 3/8 dogs at Wheeling.”

Creedence was tried at 3/8 in October 2007, winning Grades C and B back-to-back, but then missed the ticket in three straight Grade A trips. Then he was moved back to 5/16.

Otto said Creedence is “getting better and stronger” with each start. In his 10 Grade AA 3/8 races, he has 3 wins and 5 seconds.

Creedence’s game is getting out of the box and into his races early. He’s been third or better at the escape in eight out of his 10 top grade starts.

“His whole race is coming out. He needs to get out of the box in the top three,” Otto said. “He’ll catch dogs if he’s close but I don’t think he’s going to come from way back.”

The distance runner races midtrack, but post position isn’t a concern, Otto said. He has 3/8 victories from the two, three, four, six and eight holes.

“Creedence has really come into his own lately,” Otto said. “His future is very promising.”

Aerosmith, a September 2005 greyhound out of Gable Dodge-D’s Country Girl, is a double threat with Grade AA victories in both 3/8 and 7/16. Since coming to Wheeling from The Woodlands in August 2007, he has 6 wins, 6 seconds, 2 thirds and 3 fourths in 28 races.

Although a majority of Aerosmith’s races have been on the backside, Otto believes the longer marathon distance may end up being his best event. He has won two out of his three Grade AA 7/16 races — by 4 1/2 lengths in 42.74 and by a half length in 42.55.

“I think he will be a good marathon dog. He should break better and get around the first turn better in 7/16,” Otto said. “I know he can run that distance.”

In Aerosmith’s last 12 distance races, he has 4 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third and 1 fourth. He made the final of the Mountaineer Classic where he finished seventh.

Aerosmith doesn’t possess a lot of box speed in 3/8 which forces him to come from behind in most of his races. The rail-runner did hit it from the one hole in the semifinals of the Mountaineer Classic and romped to a 6 1/2-length victory.

“If Aerosmith gets the lead early in 3/8, I think TK Quick Strike is the only dog who might have a chance of catching him and that would be a race,” Otto said. “Most of the time he’ll be coming from behind.”

In a 3/8 race in early April, Aerosmith was eighth at the escape and fifth coming home before exploding in the stretch to get up by a half length at the wire. He also has come from seventh in the stretch to finish third and from fifth to get a second.

At The Woodlands, Aerosmith had 6 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds and 5 fourths in 18 starts.

Van Halen, a September 2005 greyhound out of Flying Penske-D’s Moonlight, has shuffled back and worth between Grades A and C since opening his career at Wheeling in April 2007. Recently he climbed the ladder to Grade AA.

In his last 15 starts, Van Halen has 4 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third and 4 fourths.

“He hasn’t been very consistent with his break, but lately he’s been breaking a little better,” Otto said. “He is a very fast greyhound when he gets loose.”

In mid-April, Van Halen smoked a 29.73 in a Grade A victory and just last week scorched a 29.77 in winning Grade AA by 6 1/2 lengths.

Van Halen has 12 wins, 10 seconds, 4 thirds and 13 fourths in 69 lifetime races at Wheeling.

Another rocker in the kennel is Metallica, who has moved up the ladder to Grade A. A littermate of David Bowie, she has 5 wins, 4 seconds, 6 thirds and 2 fourths in 29 starts.

“Metallica has a lot of speed but needs to go to the lead to have a shot,” Otto said. “She would also be in Grade AA, but she drifts out coming home which has cost her some races.”

In her last seven Grade A outings, she has 4 seconds and 2 thirds.

“We are very happy with the way they are running,” Otto said. “Hopefully they’ll continue to improve.”

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

WVGOBA DERBY: Douglas Kennel’s Bombshell and Green-Maupin Kennel’s Wuzinyurwallet remained unbeaten after the first two rounds of the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Derby at Wheeling Island.

Bombshell and Wuzinyurwallet notched their second consecutive stake qualifying wins Wednesday afternoon to hike their point total to 30 entering the semifinal round on Monday afternoon, June 9. The championship final is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, June 14.

Also advancing to the semifinal round are: Jax Calvin (Thorne-Abrahamson), Iruska Promise (Thorne-Abrahamson), CTR Diamond Lil (Steubenville) and Kicken Kalindi (Haber), 23 points each; Full Count (Douglas) and Iruska Galiford (Steve Sarras), 20 points each; Police Dog (Douglas), 18 points; Celebrate Beauty (Douglas), Rico’s Sylvia (Flying Eagles-Miner), Trust Fund Baby (Green-Maupin) and D’s Snow White (Douglas), 16 points each;

D’s Toast (Douglas) and Shadyside Lowper (Haber), 15 points each; Steve The Beast (Haber), 14 points; Big Stuff Becca (Haber), 13 points; BJ’s Tuff Enuff (Lester Raines), Hawk Harrelson (Douglas), D’s Real Itchy (Douglas), Princess Shaelee (Haber) and D’s Dominos, 11 points each; and JA’s Cloudy Day (Thorne-Abrahamson), 9 points.

A tie-breaker will be needed to determine the final spot. In contention are C’s Be On Top (Michael Fynmore), Cmon Try Me (Michael Fynmore) and Sherri Canary (Haber).

In addition to Bomb Shell and Wuzinyurwallet, second round winners were Iruska Galiford, Kicken Kalindi and CTR Diamond Lil.

HOT DOGS: Charter Kennel’s Ugo Lonesome Boy has won three out of his last four Grade AA starts for trainer Rodney Cooley.

Steubenville Kennel’s TMC’s Avenger has two wins and two seconds in his last four Grade AA races for trainer Debbie Schweizer.

Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Starz Supreme has back-to-back Grade AA 3/8 victories for trainer Ricardo Pacheco.

C And C Kennel’s Large Lee has won three out of his last four trips (A, AA) for trainer Patrick Bever.

Wayne Strong Kennel’s Powerful Trent (A, AA) and Kansas Buzzer (A, AA) have back-to-back wins for trainer Louise Strong.

Cardinal Kennel’s WJS Sweet Elijah has won three out of his last four outings (M, C, B) for trainer Jerrod Varner.

Steve Sarras Kennel’s TK Sweet Ending has back-to-back 3/8 wins (B, A) for trainer Barbara Long.

Darren Henry Kennel’s Cajun Fantasy has two wins in a row (C, B) for trainer Donna Wilcox.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com