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A workhorse.
A warrior.
Gable Teletubbie turns 4 years old this month, but the veteran sprinter has shown he can still compete against some of the best sprinters at Wheeling Island. Just a month ago, he notched a Grade AA victory.
From the time Teletubbie broke in at Wheeling in April 2006, he’s been a solid competitor. Never a superstar, but a steady blue collar top grade racer.
“He’s no world beater and he’s never had big win streaks, but I’d like to have a whole kennel full of Teletubbies,” Gable Kennel trainer Wayne Piquette said. “He empties his tank every time he goes to the box.”
Teletubbie, a September 2004 greyhound out of Gable Oscar-CJ Fly So Free, has been a mark of consistency throughout his career at one of the most competitive racetracks in the country. In 156 starts, he has 30 wins, 24 seconds, 33 thirds and 24 fourths – a 71 percent mark on the pay sheet.
“He’s getting a little long in the tooth, but he continues to go out and try race after race,” owner Harlyn Goebel, who operates the Gable Kennel, said. “He’s a warrior.”
Teletubbie may have lost a step or two in his 2 1/2 years of racing, but Piquette said his drive to succeed has never changed.
“With so many nice young dogs at Wheeling, it’s gotten a little tougher for Tubbie,” Piquette noted. “However, he hasn’t lost his determination and that has played a big part in his success. He’s all heart.”
Teletubbie opened his career at Gulf Greyhound Park in February 2006, winning Maiden and Grade J before shipping North. It took him 21 starts to reach Grade AA at Wheeling, but he hit the ticket in 16 of those races.
In 45 trips in 2006, Teletubbie had 9 wins, 10 seconds, 11 thirds and 5 fourths – a 77 percent mark on the pay sheet. It was only the beginning.
The 2007 racing season was a banner year for Teletubbie. In 68 starts, he had 11 wins, 11 seconds, 17 thirds and 12 fourths – a 75 percent mark on the superfecta ticket.
Teletubbie also made the semifinals of the 2007 Hound Madness Stake where he lost to eventual champion Mariska by a length in a match race format. He had three victories and two seconds in the elimination rounds.
“Mariska had a little more out of the box and he couldn’t quite catch her,” Piquette said. “That was one of the highlights of his career.”
Teletubbie only dropped out of Grade AA three times in 2007. He has never fallen below Grade A after reaching Grade AA at Wheeling in 2006.
This year, Teletubbie has 10 wins, 3 seconds, 5 thirds and 7 fourths in 43 starts.
“He’s dropped to Grade A a few times this year, but usually two or three races later he’s back in Grade AA,” Piquette said. “If he draws inside and gets a decent break, he can still win Grade AA.”
Teletubbie’s 30 career wins include 17 in Grade AA and 10 in Grade A. Several impressive races dot his resume – victories in Grade AA by 10, 9, 8 (twice), 7 1/2, 5 and 4 1/2 (twice) lengths.
Despite being more of a closer, Teletubbie eclipsed the 30-second mark twice – 29.90 and 29.96.
Teletubbie has been a very durable greyhound during his career. Not once has he been sidelined by an injury.
“He just keeps running and running. He’ll chase anything,” Piquette said. “He doesn’t have the ferocious finish he had when he was younger, but if there’s a hole he’s going to push his way through it.”
Teletubbie is a handicapper’s dream.
“He gives an honest effort each time he races,” Piquette said. “I’m very happy with what here’s done at Wheeling.”
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
$100,000 STAKE: A total of 44 greyhounds have been entered for the $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational scheduled for next month.
Director of Racing Ben Travis hopes to have a field of 40 racers for the event which kicks off Saturday afternoon, Oct. 4. The second round is set for Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 8, the semifinals on Monday afternoon, Oct. 13, and the championship final on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18.
The list of entries includes at least a dozen stake winners.
Although the final field won’t be finalized for a couple weeks, dogs entered include Starz Jenko, Family Guy, Afleet Alex, Flying Mancini, BD’s Herby, Flying Diane, Van Do, Flying Tanadak, Large Lee, Silver Jones, Braska Omni, Ale Awesome, Makin Bakin, Huska Damsel, Flying Fabian;
Soft Machine, Napkin Jack, Starz Cee Chase, Yahoo Homer, Charlie Dodgem, Flying Westover, Where’s Thinmist, Hawk Harrelson, Police Dog, D’s Tattersalad, Whiskey Spring, Diligent, AMF Far Far Away, Stat Sickem;
Kiowa Estate Law, BD’s Grayson, Hallo Cruse Gold, FTK Africa, HK’s Phenomenon, Tommy Commander, Legend Of Zorro, Braska Cando, Kiowa WW Brother, Its Qui Qui, Seldomscenetears, Pal WW Wendy, Pal WW Walker, Kansas Buzzer and Bella Alexander.
Purse breakdowns are: first, $42,000; second, $18,000; third, $13,000; fourth, $10,000; fifth and sixth, $5,500; seventh and eighth, $3,000.
According to the Invitational rules, each outside entry has to school at least once on the sprint course. Outside entries are not permitted to have an official start prior to the Invitational, unless the greyhound is going to stay at Wheeling after the stake event.
HOT DOGS: C And C Kennel’s HK’s Phenomenon has raced to four straight victories (M, D, C, B) for trainer Patrick Bever.
Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW’s Valera has raced to three straight Grade AA distance wins for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mates Pal WW Wendy (AA), Kiowa WW Brother (AA), Seldomscenetears (AA), Kiowa WW Son (B, A) and Its Quenna (C, B 7/16) have two straight victories.
Darren Henry Kennel’s Braska Gizmo has won three out of his last four starts (B, A, AA) for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate BD’s Jamie has back-to-back 3/8 wins (C, B).
Lester Raines Kennel’s USS Ricochet has won three out of his last four outings (B, A, AA) for trainer Joel Roden.
Green-Maupin Kennel’s BD’s Grayson has back-to-back Grade AA wins for trainer James Grace.
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel’s Most Needed has two Grade AA 3/8 victories in a row for trainer Joe Otto.
Mike Fynmore Kennel’s TFN Kelsey has two wins and a second in her last three outings for trainer William Davis.
Charter Kennel’s TK Spiderwick has two straight victories (C, B) for trainer Rodney Cooley.
Douglas Kennel’s Outshineeveryone has two wins and a second in her last three starts for trainer James Roche. Kennel-mate Bucky Brandon has back-to-back victories (C, B).
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com