The Charter Kennel has reloaded at Wheeling Island.

Re-armed and firing bullets.

Although setting the pace in the kennel standings since the beginning of the 2008 racing season, trainer Rodney Cooley said upgrading the operation is constant and necessary because of the high level of competition at the Wheeling racetrack.

Heading the list of newcomers in the kennel are Johnny Chase, KB’s King Cooley, Tyler’s Turf and Vince F Bundy. Also filtering in are several greyhounds from the 2008 National Greyhound Association Spring Meet.

“The youngsters are just getting started but have shown a lot of promise with only a few starts,” Cooley said. “Down the road a couple months and with more starts and seasoning, they should get even better.”

Johnny Chase, a September 2006 greyhound out of Lonesome Cry-Fuzzys Jasmine, has started out his career with a bang as he climbed the ladder to Grade AA. He has five wins and a second in his first seven career starts.

“I am surprised. He never lost in the morning when schooling against Tyler’s Turf and Vince F Bundy, but he wasn’t blowing them away,” Cooley said. “It was hard to gauge his potential. I hoped he would eventually run Grade AA, but I wasn’t really expecting it.”

Raised by Dr. Marty Tanner, Johnny Chase opened his career with back-to-back victories in Maiden by 4 lengths and Grade D by a nose. Following a seventh and a second in Grade C, Johnny Chase posted three straight closing wins – Grade C by 5 1/2 lengths, Grade B by a nose and Grade A by a neck.

In each victory, Johnny Chase broke slow but rushed up into contention. He was either second or third heading down the backside before mounting a big kick home.

“I don’t think he’s hit his break like he can. I think he can snap it better,” Cooley noted. “He does have a powerful rush to the turn and he’ll put it in another gear when he gets some air in his face.”

Johnny Chase has displayed plenty of heart early in his career.

“He can come from off the pace if he can get down under early,” Cooley said. “I’ve seen him go to the turn fifth or sixth, slide down and come out of the turn second or third.”

The youngster “runs under the rail” just like his dad Lonesome Cry, Cooley said.

Cooley feels Johnny Chase can be competitive in Grade AA.

“He may need to break a little stronger in Grade AA, but I think he can compete,” Cooley, who owns Johnny Chase, said. “He’s got a lot of room for improvement and with his youth, I think he’ll get better from here on out.”

KB’s King Cooley, an August 2006 greyhound out of Dodgem By Design-Keeper Virginia, raced at the NGA Spring Meet and came to Wheeling with high expectations. So far, he hasn’t disappointed Cooley.

“He was one of the top two dogs Ken Biehle took to the nationals. When he got to Wheeling, I only schooled him a couple times in the morning because he was ready to go,” Cooley said. “King Cooley made me put him on.”

In his two official schooling races, King Cooley won by 13 and 9 1/2 lengths. He almost got up in his Maiden debut (second by a neck) before winning his next start by 3 1/2 lengths.

King Cooley was second by only 1 1/2 lengths in his first Grade C trip after being fifth around the first turn. He rallied from fourth heading down the backside to win his next outing by 1 1/2 lengths.

“He really hasn’t mastered his break yet. If he develops a big break, he can be a monster,” Cooley said. “He has a huge rush to the turn and he runs a strong backstretch.”

Like his dad Dodgem By Design, King Cooley “will outrush you if he doesn’t outbreak you,” Cooley said.

King Cooley prefers midtrack but “he’ll move to where he needs to go on the racetrack,” Cooley said. “We saw at the nationals that he’s the type of dog who can overcome adversity.”

Cooley expects his namesake to move right up to Grade AA.

“I think he’ll be one of the most competitive dogs in the kennel real soon,” Cooley said.

King Cooley was purchased by Charter Kennel at the nationals.

Tyler’s Turf and Vince F Bundy, September 2006 littermates out of Lonesome Cry-Can She Cook and owned by Keneth Duffy, are a repeat breeding that earlier produced Makin Bakin, Ugo Lonesome Boy and Foyil.

“They are totally different from the first litter which surprised us,” Cooley said. “These guys are more come-from-behind while the first litter was more front speed. Tyler and Bundy keep coming when they get behind.”

Tyler’s Turf has 2 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds in six starts while Vince F Bundy has 1 win, 3 seconds and 1 fourth in six races.

“I think they will be competitive Grade A-AA greyhounds who hit the ticket a lot,” Cooley said. “While Tyler has more speed, Bundy runs a smarter race.”

The two times Tyler got loose early, he dominated. He won Maiden by 9 lengths and Grade C by 13 1/2 lengths.

“He’ll surprise you now and then and hit it. When he does, it can get pretty nasty real quick,” Cooley said. “He has the ability to go to the front or come from off the pace.”

The rail-running Vince F Bundy is a blue collar racer.

“He doesn’t get into his races early so he has to work for what he gets,” Cooley related. “So far, he’s done quite well hitting the ticket.”

Other Charter Kennel pups with a couple races under their belts or just starting their careers include Tempo Ooh Ah Ah, Rooster Tail, CTW Storm Chaser, Fire Foreman, CTW Thunderstorm, Craigie Sashay, Fuzzys Carmel, Buffalo Soldier, CTW Best Seller, KB’s Power Play and TNJ Confetti.

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

FIRECRACKER CLASSIC: Charter Kennel’s Silver Maverick is the only unbeaten greyhound after the first two rounds of the $10,000 Firecracker Classic at Wheeling Island.

Silver Maverick posted his second victory Wednesday afternoon in the second round of the 5/16 stake. He has accumulated a total of 30 points heading into Sunday afternoon’s semifinal round.

The final is set for Friday afternoon, July 4, with post time for the twilight card at 3 p.m. The championship final will be Race 15.

Also moving on to the semifinals and their point totals are Large Lee, 25 points; Flat Out Uma, 21 points; Kansas Buzzer and Sol Reign, 20 points each; Kiowa Estate Law, 18 points; Kiowa WW Brother, Legend Of Zorro, BD’s Grayson, BB’s Give Mine and Bella Alexander, 16 points each; BI’s Never Late, 15 points;

Kiowa WW Dot, 14 points; Kiowa Rock Vince, 13 points; Hallo Cruise Gold and Van Do, 11 points each.

In addition to Silver Maverick, posting second round wins were BD’s Grayson, Sol Reign and BB’s Give Mine.

HOT DOGS: Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Power Pak has raced to four straight victories (M, C, B, A) for trainer Debbie Schweizer. Kennel-mate Kiowa Apple Lyde has back-to-back Grade AA 3/8 wins.

Cardinal Kennel’s TNJ Kahla has three wins in a row (C, B, A) for trainer Jerrod Varner.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s Kiowa WW Mother (B, A, AA) and WW’s Kool Cherry (B, A, AA) have won three out of their last four starts for trainer Ron Otto.

Abrahamson-Thorne Kennel’s Kiowa In Side has won three out of his last four trips (C, B, A) for trainer Tom Engle.

Gable Kennel’s Gable Twinkie has back-to-back Grade AA victories for trainer Wayne Piquette.

Charter Kennel’s Silver Cobra has two straight wins (A, AA) for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mate U Too Fern has two wins and a second in her last three outings.

Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel’s O Jays has back-to-back 3/8 victories (C, B) for trainer Joe Otto.

Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Flying Westover has two wins and a second in his last three starts for trainer Ricardo Pacheco.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com