There’s no place like home.

Just ask Darren Henry Kennel trainer Donna Wilcox.

Since BD’s Flip returned to Wheeling after competing in the Twins Rivers Sprint at Lincoln, R.I., in July, he has been on fire – capturing four out of his five starts including last weekend’s $5,000 Winner’s Challenge at the Wheeling Island racetrack.

Flip’s stake victory wasn’t easy as the April 2006 greyhound out of Kiowa Sweet Trey-BD’s Cindy withstood a late challenge from Charter Kennel’s Silver Jones to win by half a length in a swift 29.69.

“I don’t think Flip wants to leave home again,” Wilcox said. “He likes it here and he’s comfortable here. He’s also spoiled.”

C And C Kennel’s Van Do, winner of the Superstar Challenge in March, rounded out the trifecta ticket by edging Darren Henry Kennel’s Braska Omni in a photo finish.

Completing the final field were Kiowa Rock Vince (Steubenville Kennel), fifth; Tommy Commander (C And C Kennel), sixth; Cry Huron (Gable Kennel), seventh; and Sol Reign (Lester Raines Kennel), eighth.

The original field of 16 greyhounds featured the top sprinters on the win leaderboard halfway through the 2008 racing season. The eight finalists had combined for 101 victories.

“It’s always special when you win a stake race and this was against a very tough field,” Wilcox said. “Every dog in the final was capable of winning the race.”

Flip’s owner, William Denton of Alabama, was thrilled by the sprinter’s stake victory.

“Getting into a stake final is an accomplishment in itself,” Denton noted. “Flip’s some kind of dog and I’m real proud of him. The competition was pretty fierce.”

The Winner’s Challenge championship shaped as a speed battle to the turn with several of the finalists having a legitimate shot of getting to the front early.

From the rail out, the post positions follow: 1-Braska Omni, 2-Van Do, 3-Tommy Commander, 4-Kiowa Rock Vince, 5-Cry Huron, 6-BD’s Flip, 7-Silver Jones, 8-Sol Reign.

At the break, Kiowa Rock Vince hit the lid from the four box with Flip and Silver Jones close behind on the outside. With a power rush, Flip roared to the lead going into the first turn with Silver Jones following along.

“Flip’s racing style is go to the front and catch me if you can,” Wilcox said. “I sure was glad Kiowa Rock Vince was inside of Flip. I thought he’d break out, but Flip just outrushed him to the turn.”

Flip hit the backside on top with Silver Jones second – only a length or so behind – and Kiowa Rock Vince third. Down the backstretch, Flip opened up a couple lengths on Silver Jones but the race was far from over.

“I wasn’t worried going down the backstretch, but that changed coming home,” Wilcox said.

Van do moved into third down the backside, but the stake had already turned into a two-dog race between Flip and Silver Jones. As they rounded the far turn, Silver Jones inched closer and closer.

When they hit the stretch, Flip’s lead was down to a length.

“I’m usually quiet during stake races, but not this time. I was yelling, come on Flip, come on Flip,” Wilcox recalled. “He was getting a little too close for comfort.”

Silver Jones appeared to make an inside, then outside move which may have cost him a little ground, but Flip would not be denied as he held off the challenger for a half length at the wire. Van Do and Braska Omni, the race favorite, both finished 5 lengths back.

Tommy Commander, Cry Huron and Sol Reign all experienced first turn trouble.

Flip, sent to post at 4-1 odds, returned $10.40 on a $2 win wager. The 6-7 perfecta paid $124.20 while the 6-7-2 trifecta returned $254.60.

“We were fortunate Flip broke well and he had just enough at the end,” Denton said. “It’s been a long time, four or five years, since I’ve had any stake wins. Now we’ve gotten two in a month’s time.”

The Denton-owned BD’s Herby captured the Twin Rivers Sprint in late July at Lincoln. In that stake, Flip was scratched after he encountered late trouble in the first round.

Back in Wheeling, Flip cruised to two straight victories in 29.69 and 29.77 before posting a win in 29.71 and a third in his two Winner’s Challenge qualifying races.

Wheeling Director of Racing Ben Travis, who predicted Flip as the stake winner, was a little surprised the champion went off at 4-1 odds.

“In my opinion, I think Flip is the fastest 5/16 dog at Wheeling. Post position is always a factor, especially in a stake event, and I believe that is the reason patrons didn’t make him the betting favorite,” Travis said. “You can’t discount Flip from any post. I’m looking forward to him taking on the best greyhounds in the country in the $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational in October.”

Denton said a lot of the credit for Flip’s success goes to Bobby Parker of Keota, Okla., who finished the speedster as well as BD’s Herby.

“Bobby knew from the very beginning that Flip was going to be something special,” Denton said. “He said Flip was the fastest dog he ever trained.”

In 32 career races at Wheeling, Flip has 17 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds and 4 fourths.

Kennel operator Darren Henry had high praise for Flip and thanked Wilcox, Denton and Parker.

“Flip has been one of those dogs that has stood out since the training track. Bobby Parker said we were getting a good one when Flip left his farm,” Henry said. “I’d like to thank Donna Wilcox and the help we have in the kennel for the great job they’ve done. I’d also like to thank Bill Denton for the opportunity to run his dogs and for raising such nice dogs.”

Flip broke in at Wheeling in November 2007, climbing the ladder to Grade AA in six starts. He has only dropped to Grade A once.

In March, Flip was second to Van Do in the final of the Superstar Challenge stake.

During his career, Flip has posted Grade AA victories by 12, 9 , 8, 7 (twice), 6, 5 , 4 (three times), 4 and 3 lengths.

Flip has dipped under the 30-second mark 12 times 29.63, 29.67, 29.68, 29.69 (twice), 29.71 (twice), 29.77, 29.81, 29.82, 29.87 and 29.95.

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

SOUTHLAND DERBY: Former Wheeling racer Camerlengo has qualified for Saturday evening’s final of the $50,000 Southland Derby in Arkansas.

Completing the field are Soprano Drive, Flying Penske Eve, Jim Morrison, Ba My Hope, Jon Monad, I Do Run Run and Whytell Broom.

HOT DOGS: Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Flying Fabian has won five out of his last six Grade AA starts for trainer Ricardo Pacheco.

Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel’s Flying Wheeling has back-to-back Grade AA 3/8 wins for trainer Tom Engle.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s Sol Duncan has won three out of his last four outings (B, A, AA) for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mates Pal WW Wendy has back-to-back wins (A, AA) while WW’s Fast Nadine has two wins and a second in her last three trips.

Douglas Kennel’s Hawk Harrelson has back-to-back victories (A, AA) for trainer James Roche.

Charter Kennel’s TNJ Teardrop has two 3/8 wins in a row (B, A) for trainer Rodney Cooley.

Ryan Farms Kennel’s Tovi The Proud has two straight 3/8 victories (C, B) for trainer Terry Green.

Mike Fynmore Kennel’s Bob’s Splash has back-to-back wins (C, B) for trainer Chris Burgess.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com