Darren Henry Kennel’s BD’s Flip and C and C Kennel’s Tommy Commander posted opening round victories Wednesday in the Winner’s Challenge at Wheeling Island.

The stake field features the track’s top 16 sprinters on the win leaderboard halfway through the 2008 racing season. The second round is set for Monday afternoon, Aug. 4 and the final on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 9.

BD’s Flip has been on fire for trainer Donna Wilcox since returning to Wheeling after being scratched after the first round of the Twin Rivers Sprint at Lincoln earlier this month. His opening round effort in the Winner’s Challenge was his third straight victory.

Drawing the eight hole Wednesday, BD’s Flip broke second to Kiowa WW Dot but outrushed her to the turn. Flip opened up 4 lengths on the field coming home before winning by 2 lengths over Dot in 29.71. Sol Reign, after a slow break, came back to get third.

Van Do, coming off three straight victories, looked like he was going to follow Flip around the first turn but was offstrided and knocked out of contention.

The complete order of finish in the first qualifier follows: BD’s Flip, Kiowa WW Dot, Sol Reign, Braska Omni, Kiowa Rock Vince, Doctor Blair, Van Do and BB’s Give Mine.

Tommy Commander has been a model of consistency all year long for trainer Patrick Bever. In 35 Grade AA starts, he has only missed the pay sheet three times.

Also drawing the eight hole in round one, Tommy Commander broke second to Kiowa Rock Cindy with BD’s Grayson only a few strides behind as they rounded the first turn and down the backstretch. When they reached the far turn, Tommy Commander was poised to take the lead when Grayson ran up the back of Rock Cindy.

Tommy Commander cleared the mishap unscathed, but both Rock Cindy and Grayson were offstrided and passed by Silver Jones and Cry Huron. Tommy Commander hit the wire 2 1/2 lengths in front of Silver Jones in 30.01.

The complete order of finish in the second qualifier follows: Tommy Commander, Silver Jones, Cry Huron, Kiowa Rock Cindy, Blazing Chad, BD’s Grayson, Large Lee and Kay V Arrington.

Heading into Monday’s semifinal, BD’s Flip and Tommy Commander are tops in points with 15 each. Next in line are Kiowa WW Dot and and Silver Jones, 10 points each; Sol Reign and Cry Huron, 8 points each; Braska Omni and Kiowa Rock Cindy, 6 points each; Kiowa Rock Vince and Blazing Chad, 5 points each; Doctor Blair and BD’s Grayson, 3 points each; Van Do and Large Lee, 1 point each; and BB’s Give Mine and Kay V Arrington, 0 points each.