Darren Henry Kennel’s Braska Omni tops all qualifiers for Monday afternoon’s final of the $10,000 Panhandle Sprint at Wheeling Island.

The Donna Wilcox-trained sprinter had two victories and a fourth in his three qualifying races to accumulate a total of 36 points. He was a finalist in the recent Winner’s Challenge stake.

Also qualifying for the Labor Day championship final of the Panhandle Sprint are Large Lee (C And C Kennel), 29 points; BD’s Grayson (Green-Maupin Kennel) and Kiowa WW Brother (Wayne Ward Kennel), 28 points each; Silver Jones (Charter Kennel), 26 points; Kiowa Juliet Kat (Steubenville Kennel) and Primco Mayes (Charter Kennel), 24 points each; and BD’s Farrell (Darren Henry Kennel), 23 points each.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s Kiowa WW Dot also had 23 points but lost out on the tie-breaker.

The post position draw for the final will be held on Friday. A total of 32 greyhounds were entered in the initial field.

Darren Henry Kennel’s BD’s Flip was scratched from the semifinal round due to a dislocated toe.

Following are capsule looks at Wheeling’s Panhandle Sprint finalists:

Braska Omni (Darren Henry): The only greyhound with two wins in the early rounds, including a determined come-from-behind semifinal victory; has 14 wins, 7 seconds, 5 thirds and 5 fourths in 38 starts this year.

Large Lee (C And C): Powerful rusher to the first turn will need a big, early lead against this talented field; has won 12 out of his 24 starts this year, including the Firecracker Classic in July.

Kiowa WW Brother (Wayne Ward): Young sprinter has come into his own lately with four wins and a second in his last six Grade AA starts; has finish but also can go to the front; has only missed trifecta ticket four times in 26 starts this year.

BD’s Grayson (Green-Maupin): Closer had two seconds and a third in the qualifying rounds as he avoided the troubles which plagued him in the Winner’s Challenge; has improved break lately; if he hits the lid like he has done on occasion, he will be a handful.

Silver Jones (Charter): This will be his fourth stake final in the last eight months – won the Holiday Sprint, second in the Winner’s Challenge and a finalist in the Superstar Challenge; he has been Mr. Consistency with seven quiniela finishes in his last eight Grade AA races.

Kiowa Juliet Kat (Steubenville): Newcomer has been a pleasant surprise since shipping in from Mardi Gras in late May; has hit the pay sheet in 14 out of her 16 Wheeling starts; needs the front early as she can be a little short.

Primco Mayes (Charter): One of the track’s top young pups when he broke in at Wheeling in June 2007, he appears to be returning to form after a 6-month layoff from December 2007 to late July; the closer had a second, third and fourth in the qualifying rounds.

BD’s Farrell (Darren Henry Kennel): Early speedster has had a terrific season while being overshadowed by littermate BD’s Flip; has won three out of his last six Grade AA starts; also needs an early cushion to have a shot in the final.

The final is tough to handicap without post positions, but the race shapes up as a speed battle to the turn between Large Lee, Kiowa Juliet Kat and BD’s Farrell. The greyhound on the lead has a shot at the ticket.

The five remaining finalists all have the closing speed to make for an interesting stretch run. Position going to and coming out of the first turn will be a key.

Posting victories in Wednesday’s semifinal round were Kiowa WW Brother and Braska Omni.

Kiowa WW Brother, who won a tie-breaker just to get into the semifinals, powered his way to an early lead and was never challenged as he rolled to a 3 1/2-length victory in 29.98. BD’s Grayson closed for second while Kiowa WW Dot settled for third.

Braska Omni ran an unbelievable race in his semifinal as he overcame early adversity. After going to the first turn last, he found a lane but was sandwiched between two greyhounds as they hit the backstretch.

Probably 6 lengths or more behind heading down the backside and coming home, Omni used a powerful, wide rush to catch frontrunner Large Lee in the homestretch to win by 2 lengths in 30.43. Primco Mayes also got up to narrowly get second.

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

AMERICAN DERBY: Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Starz Supreme has been entered in the $115,000 American Greyhound Derby at Twin Rivers Greyhound Park (formerly Lincoln).

The stake event kicks off Monday, Sept. 1. Other preliminary rounds are scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Sept. 6, and Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 10.

The semifinals are set for Monday afternoon, Sept. 15, and the final Saturday evening, Sept. 20.

Starz Supreme currently is second on the win leaderboard at Wheeling.

Competing in the stake event are two Tri-state greyhounds – Magic Penny Ante, who recently started running at Wheeling, and Bigfoot’s Bust. Flying Mancini, who schooled recently at Wheeling after competing at The Woodlands, also is in the field.

HOT DOGS: Wayne Strong Kennel’s Bella Alexander has won three out of his last four starts (A, AA) for trainer Dinna Otto. Kennel-mate Radar Colin has back-to-back 7/16 wins (A, AA).

Darren Henry Kennel’s Blazing Chad has won three out of his his last four Grade AA trips for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate Velvets Dakota has two straight 3/8 victories (C, B).

Michael Fynmore Kennel’s Cmon Ejekat Me has three straight wins (C, B, A) for trainer Chris Burgess.

Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Flying Wellsburg has two wins and two seconds in her last four Grade AA 3/8 races for trainer Ricardo Pacheco. Kennel-mate Springwater Polo has won three out of his last four outings (C, B, A).

Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel’s David Bowie has two wins and two seconds in his last four Grade AA starts for trainer Joe Otto.

Ryan Farms Kennel’s Sassy Brat has won three out of her last four 3/8 races (C, B, A) for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mates Super C Secret (C, B) and Lucky Guess (C, B 3/8) have back-to-back wins.

Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Maui has back-to-back victories (A, AA) for trainer Debbie Schweizer.

Douglas Kennel’s D’s Tattersalad has two wins in a row (A, AA) for trainer James Roche.

Lester Raines Kennel’s Kelsos Top Dog (B, A 3/8), Kelsos Bogman (B, A) and USS Makin Time (C, B) have two straight wins for trainer Joel Roden.

Charter Kennel’s KB’s Masterblast has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Rodney Cooley.

A Ray Kennel’s AMF Hockey Puck has two wins and a second in his last three 7/16 trips for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mate Stat Sickem has back-to-back victories (C, B).

Cardinal Kennel’s TNJ Roulette has two straight 3/8 victories (B, A) for trainer Roger Salem.

C And C Kennel’s Cashin In Mywish has two marathon wins in a row (C, B) for trainer Patrick Bever.

Gable Kennel’s Gable Burn has back-to-back victories (C, B) for trainer Wayne Piquette.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com