It takes a good greyhound to make a stakes final.

It takes a little luck to win a stakes final.

The old adage came into play on Labor Day as Darren Henry Kennel’s Braska Omni closed in the stretch to win the $10,000 Panhandle Sprint at Wheeling Island. It was the second straight stake victory for trainer Donna Wilcox as BD’s Flip captured the Winner’s Challenge in August.

“It’s always nice when one of your dogs wins a stake race, but to win two in a row at Wheeling is really special,” Wilcox said. “The competition keeps getting tougher and tougher.”

Charter Kennel’s Silver Jones took runnerup honors in the Panhandle Sprint while Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Juliet Kat settled for third.

Completing the final field were Kiowa WW Brother (Wayne Ward Kennel), fourth; BD’s Grayson (Green-Maupin Kennel), fifth; Primco Mayes (Charter Kennel), sixth; BD’s Farrell (Darren Henry Kennel), seventh; and Large Lee (C And C Kennel), eighth.

“It was a very talented field from top to bottom,” Wilcox noted. “Omni got a little help but he ran a perfect race.”

Owner Bill Elliott of Nebraska was thrilled with Braska Omni’s come-from-behind victory.

“Omni was the best dog on the farm when he was here so we were hoping it would carry over to Wheeling,” Elliott said. “I’m a little surprised he’s gone up there and done as well as he has. We’re sure proud of him.”

Darren Henry was just as excited with Braska Omni’s victory.

“How about that little Omni – what a hard trying dog he is. Just give him a little room and he will come and get you,” Henry said. “What can you say about Donna (Wilcox) that I have not already said. She and her help deserve praise for the great job they do.”

The Panhandle Sprint featured at least four greyhounds – Kiowa Juliet Kat, Kiowa WW Brother, BD’s Farrell and Large Lee – with a legitimate shot of taking the early lead. The four other finalists have closing speed.

From the rail out, the post positions for the championship were: 1-Kiowa Juliet Kat, 2-Braska Omni, 3-Silver Jones, 4-Kiowa WW Brother, 5-BD’s Farrell, 6-BD’s Grayson, 7-Large Lee, 8-Primco Mayes.

At the break, Kiowa WW Brother popped on top with Kiowa Juliet Kat and Large Lee close behind as the trio rushed to the turn. Silver Jones was just behind the leaders while Braska Omni was dead last.

“It was in Omni’s best interest not to break with all the early speed in the race. I didn’t want to see him going to the turn in the middle of a bunch of speed dogs,” Wilcox said. “All I was hoping for was for Omni to get good position coming out of the turn.”

Kiowa WW Brother was a stride or two from taking the lead around the first turn, but was sandwiched as Kiowa Juliet Kat lifted off the rail and Large Lee came down from the outside. Kiowa Juliet Kat righted herself quickly to assume the lead as she hit the backside.

Silver Jones also pinballed off Kiowa WW Brother before picking up his pursuit of the front-running Kiowa Juliet Kat. With the rail opening up, Braska Omni shot around the turn – moving into third and into contention.

“When Omni moved into third heading down the backside, I thought he had a shot to win the race,” Wilcox said. “He was only about three or four lengths behind and he’s got a big kick coming up the stretch.”

Kiowa Juliet Kat maintained a length lead on Silver Jones around the far turn and heading home, but Braska Omni was within striking distance. Just as Silver Jones moved up and caught the fading Kiowa Juliet Kat in the homestretch, Omni came with a thunderous midtrack rush to snatch the stake championship.

Braska Omni, who stopped the clock in 29.99, finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Silver Jones. Kiowa Juliet Kat was 3 lengths back followed by Kiowa WW Brother, who overcame early adversity to claim fourth.

“I felt confident around the last turn as long as Omni didn’t make a bad move. I kept yelling go to the outside, go to the outside,” Wilcox related. “He was absolutely flying in the stretch.”

Wilcox said Braska Omni, an April 2006 greyhound out of E’s Able-Ideal Ruckus, has become a smarter racer since he’s gotten older and gained more experience.

“He’s getting race sense which is a big plus for a fast dog,” Wilcox said. “Before he’d try to go out around dogs in the first turn, but now he’s staying down and saving ground.”

Elliott said winning a stake title takes a combination of a nice greyhound and luck.

“Sometimes it pays to come out of the box slow. With all that speed going to the turn, a lot can happen and it did,” Elliott said. “To win a stake race takes a lot of luck as well as a talented dog.”

Braska Omni, sent to post at 5-1 odds, returned $12 on a $2 win wager. The 2-3 perfecta paid $113 while the 2-3-1 trifecta returned $344.

Although Braska Omni was the only finalist to win two early round races and topped all qualifiers in points, three dogs – Kiowa WW Brother, Silver Jones and Primco Mayes – had lower odds in the championship final.

Elliott also credited Darren Henry and Wilcox for Braska Omni’s stake win.

“I’d like to thank Darren Henry for racing my dogs. He does a wonderful job,” Elliott said. “I have never met Donna (Wilcox), but I am very happy with the way she and her helpers handle the dogs.”

Elliott-raised greyhounds compete at both Wheeling and at Southland for the Darren Henry Kennel.

“Bill and Jill Elliott have raised some really nice dogs for Wheeling and Southland,” Henry noted. “They raise a diverse bunch of dogs that can go any distance, 5/16, 3/8 or even 7/16.”

Braska Omni’s victory in the Panhandle Sprint earned him an automatic slot in the $100,000 Wheeling Invitational in October. He also finished fourth in the final of the Winner’s Challenge in August.

The 2008 racing season has been a banner year for Braska Omni. He has 15 wins, 7 seconds, 5 thirds and 5 fourths in 39 starts – an 82 percent mark on the pay sheet.

While Lady Luck may have had a hand in Braska Omni’s Panhandle Sprint victory, he is without question one of the fastest dogs racing at Wheeling. In June, he smoked a 29.43 – just off Lewis And Wax’ track record of 29.37.

Braska Omni gets his speed from his father, E’s Able, who set The Woodlands track record in 2003 (since broken) and ran second by a nose to WW Apple Jax in a match race that year. Omni’s mother, Ideal Ruckus, is the sister of Inca Ruckus, a former Grade AA campaigner at Wheeling.

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

HOT DOGS: Charter Kennel’s BI’s Never Late (AA) and CTW Storm Chaser (B, A, AA) have won three out of his last four starts for trainer Rodney Cooley. Kennel-mate Switzler Salada has two wins and a second in his last three outings.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW’s Elroy has won three out of his last four Grade AA 3/8 races for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mate Its Qui Qui has back-to-back wins (A, AA).

A Ray Kennel’s AMF Gone Away has won four out of his last five starts (D, C, B, A) for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mate Stat Sickem has won three out of her last four trips (C, B, A) while Kane’s Izzy has back-to-back victories (C, B).

Darren Henry Kennel’s WWW Animalhouse has won three out of her last four 3/8 trips (C, B, A) for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate Look Now has back-to-back victories (C, B).

Ryan Farms Kennel’s Lucky Guess has three straight 3/8 victories (C, B, A) for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mate Abner has won three out of his last four starts (C, B, A).

Mike Fynmore Kennel’s PTL Burner has two victories in a row (A, AA) for trainer Chris Burgess.

Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel’s Soft Machine has two wins and a second in her last three trips for trainer Joe Otto.

Steve Sarras Kennel’s Little Elvis has two wins and a second in his last three 7/16 races for trainer Barbara Long.

Wayne Strong Kennel’s Stanley Man has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Dinna Otto.

Cardinal Kennel’s Ballys Derick has two straight wins (C, B) for trainer Roger Salem.

AMERICAN DERBY: Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Starz Supreme ran into early trouble and finished sixth Monday in the first round of the $115,000 American Greyhound Derby at Twin Rivers Greyhound Park (formerly Lincoln).

Two other greyhounds who recently arrived in Wheeling fared better in the opening round. Flying Mancini held on by a nose to win her qualifier while Magic Penny Ante was second in her race.

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.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com