For the first half of the 2008 racing season at Wheeling Island, TK Quick Strike and Starz Supreme dominated the 3/8 distance.

Through mid-July, the two 3-year-olds were tied atop the track win leaderboard with 18 victories apiece.

Now, there’s a new kid on the block and he’s making his presence felt on the backside.

In his last 12 Grade AA 3/8 starts, Flying Wheeling – a June 2006 greyhound out of Kiowa Sweet Trey-Flying Crestline – has 5 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third and 1 fourth. Recently he beat Quick Strike, the track record holder, in back-to-back races.

“Wheeling’s starting to get some maturity and he’s coming into his own as a 3/8 greyhound. He’s breaking better which has played a big part in his success,” Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel trainer Tom Engle said. “He was only 2 years old in June so I expect him to get faster and stronger. He has a lot of racing left.”

Flying Wheeling stepped up his game in mid-May.

After a pair of seconds, Wheeling won three out of his next four Grade AA trips by 7 1/2, 3 1/2 and 1 length. In two of the victories, the youngster was on top by the escape while in the other he closed from second in the stretch.

“When he gets the lead early, it’s going to take a dog like Quick Strike to catch him,” Engle said. “Although Wheeling is not short and can close, I prefer him out in front out of the box.”

After a third and a fourth in his next two starts, Wheeling again posted back-to-back victories – head-to-head matchups with Quick Strike. The first win was a box-to-wire 3 1/2-length effort, while in the other, Wheeling came from fourth at the escape.

“Wheeling got out of the box quickly in the first win. Quick Strike had to make up a lot of ground, and he did, but Wheeling had too big a lead,” Engle recalled. “I was very impressed with his next race. He was flying after the escape.”

Heading down the backside fourth, Flying Wheeling made up a lot of real estate as he moved up to third coming home. In the stretch, Wheeling powered his way past the leaders but had to hold off a late rush from Quick Strike.

“Wheeling run’s a big backstretch,” Engle said. “He’s probably got as big a backstretch move as any of the top 3/8 dogs at Wheeling.”

The order of finish was reversed in their next outing as Quick Strike broke his own track record with a sizzling 37.20. Wheeling stopped the clock in 37.69 as he finished second.

Wheeling has dipped under the 38-second mark four other times this year – 37.61, 37.94, 37.98 and 37.99.

“I don’t think Wheeling has track record speed, but he’s capable of breaking 38 seconds when he gets loose,” Engle said.

Despite his age, Engle said Wheeling has good track sense.

“He runs smart,” Engle noted. “He may race mid on the straightaways, but in the turns he comes down.”

Wheeling has not benefitted from favorable inside post positions. In his last 20 races, he has drawn the following holes: three (twice), four (four times), five (eight times), six (three times), seven (once) and eight (twice).

“To do what he’s done in 3/8 from mostly mid to outside holes says something,” Engle said. “I’d like to see what he would do from a one hole.”

Engle said Wheeling’s future looks bright.

“If he stays sound, I think he can be a phenomenal 3/8 runner,” Engle said.

Flying Wheeling broke in at Wheeling in November 2007, advancing to Grade AA in nine 5/16 starts. He displayed some closing power in his sprint starts, but lacked the early speed needed to compete against the track’s top sprinters.

Moved to 3/8 in February, Wheeling had 2 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds in his first 11 trips.

“He was very young when he started in 3/8. It was a learning experience for him,” Engle said. “Since we got Wheeling in our kennel in late May, he’s been our top dog. He’s been a great addition.”

Wheeling previously raced out of the Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel at Wheeling, but was moved to the Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel after Dean Miner sold several of his greyhounds.

“When you sell greyhounds, you are torn between wanting them to do well for the new owner and thinking maybe you didn’t sell them for enough when they do well,” Miner said. “Wheeling hadn’t won a Grade AA for us in two months – that’s not a knock on Ricardo Pacheco (Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel trainer), but some greyhounds respond differently to different trainers and obviously Wheeling has responded well to Tom Engle,” Miner said. “Either way, it’s all a positive as it’s good for the new owner and for the Flying Eagles brand name.”

Engle also thanked new owner Adrienne Miner for giving him the opportunity to race Wheeling.

“I’d like to thank Adrienne for buying Wheeling and allowing me to race him,” Engle added. “Wheeling may not be up there with Quick Strike and Starz Supreme, but I’d put him in the top five with dogs like Wuzinyurwallet and Creedence.”

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

HOT DOGS: Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Juliet Kat has won four out of her last five starts (B, A, AA) for trainer Debbie Schweizer. Kennel-mates Hallo Cruise Gold and Kiowa Rock Cindy have back-to-back Grade AA wins while Hallo Mad Max has two wins and a second in his last three races.

Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Flying Westover has four wins and a second in his last five Grade AA outings for trainer Ricardo Pacheco.

Charter Kennel’s TK Quick Strike has two straight Grade AA 3/8 victories for trainer Rodney Cooley.

Lester Raines Kennel’s Sol Reign has back-to-back Grade AA wins for trainer Joel Roden.

C And C Kennel’s Tommy Commander has two wins and two seconds in his last four Grade AA starts for trainer Patrick Bever.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW Has Glory has three wins and a second in his last four Grade AA distance races for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mates JG’s Korean War (A, AA), WW Gale Irish (A, AA), Pal WW Walker (B, A) and WW Fast Rosa (C, B) have two straight victories while JD John Boy has won three out of his last four trips (C, B, A).

Mike Fynmore Kennel’s Movin Down has back-to-back wins (A, AA) for trainer Robert Britton.

Douglas Kennel’s D’s Tom Tom (B, A) and D’s Toast (C, B) have two victories in a row for trainer James Roche.

Wayne Strong Kennel’s Bella Olympus has back-to-back wins (B, A) for trainer Dinna Otto.

Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel’s Fed Factor has two straight 3/8 victories (C, B) for trainer Tom Engle.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com