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It’s showtime.
Some of the best sprinters in the nation are ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
A field of 40 greyhounds will go to post Saturday afternoon in the opening round of the $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational. It’s the track’s richest stake event since 2002.
The second round is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 8, and the semifinal Monday afternoon, Oct. 13. The championship final will be held during the Saturday matinee card on Oct. 18.
Director of Racing Ben Travis’ goal was to make the Wheeling Invitational “one of the top stake races in the country this year.” He has succeeded – it’s a stellar lineup of explosive sprint stars.
The Invitational field is loaded with greyhounds with stake final experience as well as dynamic credentials.
Unfortunately World Classic champion Starz Jenko, one of the big name invaders, has been withdrawn from the stake. Jenko won his initial Wheeling start in September, but has not been sharp in his last three races.
A sentimental choice in the stake event is Afleet Alex, the 4-year-old Lester Raines Kennel sprinter who launched his career in Wheeling in July 2006 before heading South.
Afleet Alex not only won the Mardi Gras Challenge and was fourth in the Orange Park First Coast Classic in 2007, but he received All-American honors. This year he was third in the Palm Beach Grand Classic.
Other greyhounds hoping to collect the $42,000 winner’s share and their highlights follow:
Flying Mancini: first 2008 Kansas Bred Sprint, first 2008 Woodlands Countdown, second 2008 Great American Greyhound Futurity, second 2008 Shamrock Stakes, finalist 2008 American Derby, Woodlands track record (770 yards).
Flying Fabian: first 2007 Kansas Bred Sprint, first 2007 Woodlands Kansas Cup, fourth 2007 Derby Lane 660 Challenge, finalist 2008 Derby Lane Sprint, finalist 2007 Great American Greyhound Futurity.
Makin Bakin: 2007 Wheeling win co-champ, fourth 2008 Wheeling Superstar Challenge, finalist 2007 Derby Lane Million Consolation, finalist 2006 Woodlands Fall Futurity.
Bella Alexander: finalist 2008 Wheeling Firecracker Sprint, finalist 2008 Wheeling Superstar Challenge, finalist 2007 Wheeling Holiday Sprint.
Tommy Commander: first 2007 Gulf March Mania, finalist 2008 Wheeling Winner’s Challenge, finalist 2007 Palm Beach Grand Classic.
Kansas Buzzer: second 2008 Woodlands Countdown, third 2008 Wheeling Firecracker Sprint, 11 consecutive wins at Woodlands.
Silver Jones: first 2007 Wheeling Holiday Sprint, second 2008 Wheeling Winner’s Challenge, second 2008 Wheeling Panhandle Sprint, finalist 2008 Wheeling Superstar Challenge.
Braska Omni: first 2008 Wheeling Panhandle Sprint, fourth 2008 Wheeling Winner’s Challenge.
Yahoo Homer: first 2008 Palm Beach Puppy Stakes, finalist 2008 Palm Beach Grand Classic.
Flying Diane: first 2008 Dairyland Sprint, third 2007 Dairyland Sprint.
Van Do: first 2008 Wheeling Superstar Challenge, third 2008 Wheeling Winner’s Challenge.
BD’s Herby: first 2008 Twin River Sprint.
Huska Damsel: first 2008 Southland Razorback Championship.
Ale Awesome: first 2008 Dairyland All-Star Challenge.
Flying Westover: finalist 2008 Great American Greyhound Futurity.
Police Dog: finalist 2008 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Derby.
Kiowa Estate Law: fourth 2008 Wheeling Firecracker Sprint.
BD’s Grayson: finalist 2008 Wheeling Panhandle Sprint.
Kiowa WW Brother: fourth 2008 Wheeling Panhandle Sprint.
Pal WW Walker: first 2008 Melbourne Sprint.
D’s Tattersalad: finalist 2007 WVGOBA Juvenile.
AMF Far Far Away: finalist 2008 Wheeling Superstar Challenge.
BD’s Farrell: finalist 2008 Wheeling Panhandle Sprint.
Family Guy: 11 consecutive wins at Tri-state.
In addition to Starz Jenko, other greyhounds withdrawn from the stake include Large Lee, Flying Tanadak, Braska Cando, Diligent, BI’s Never Late and HK’s Phenomenon.
Following are Saturday afternoon’s first round lineup:
RACE 7
1 Silver Jones 4-1
2 Afleet Alex 7-1
3 Van Do 9-2
4 Flying Mancini 9-2
5 Legend Of Zorro 9-2
6 Its Qui Qui 7-1
7 Soft Machine 4-1
8 Gable Twinkie 20-1
RACE 9
1 Amf Far Far Away 6-1
2 Makin Bakin 7-1
3 Family Guy 4-1
4 Seldomscenetears 9-1
5 Police Dog 5-1
6 Flying Fabian 12-1
7 Hallo Cruse Gold 6-1
8 Braska Omni 2-1
RACE 13
1 D’s Tattersalad 9-2
2 Ale Awesome 13-1
3 Kiowa Ww Brother 3-1
4 Se’s Revenge 7-2
5 Bd’s Herby 10-1
6 Whisky Spring 10-1
7 Stat Sickem 10-1
8 Cry Huron 3-1
RACE 15
1 Pal Ww Walker 6-1
2 Bd’s Grayson 7-2
3 Gable Fx 3-1
4 Huska Damsel 10-1
5 Flying Diane 15-1
6 Kansas Buzzer 6-1
7 Ftk Africa 5-1
8 Hawk Harrelson 5-1
RACE 17
1 Bella Alexander 10-1
2 Tommy Commander 3-1
3 Flying Westover 2-1
4 Kiowa Estate Law 13-1
5 Pal Ww Wendy 13-1
6 Bd’s Farrell 3-1
7 Oshkosh Divinity 10-1
8 Charlie Dodgem 7-1
In addition to the $42,000 winner’s share, the prize breakdown includes second, $18,000; third, $13,000; fourth, $10,000; fifth and sixth, $5,500; seventh and eighth, $3,000.
The last huge stake race at Wheeling was the $100,000 Commissioner’s Cup in 2002 won by EA’s Itzaboy. Other past major races at Wheeling follow:
– 1990: $100,000 Wheeling Downs Invitational won by Magic Duncan.
– 1989: $100,000 Wheeling Downs Invitational won by He’s My Man.
– 1985: $145,000 W.Va. Classic won by GH’s Dr. Pepper.
– 1984: $145,000 W.Va. Classic won by Olly’s Ace.
– 1983: $100,000 W.Va. Classic won by My Problem.
– 1982: $100,000 W.Va. Classic won by Mr. Wizard.
In conjunction with the final of the $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational, the track will hold its first annual Weiner Dog nationals on Sunday, Oct. 19 with $500 in cash prizes up for grabs.
The Weiner Nationals will consist of afternoon qualifying rounds beginning at approximately 3 p.m. The final will be held at 7 p.m.
The dachshunds will race over a 30-yard course with the top eight advancing to the championship.
For more information, visit www.wheelingisland. com or call 1-304-231-1812 for complete rules and registration information.
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
HOT DOGS: Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW’s Valera has won four out of his last five Grade AA distance races for trainer Ron Otto. Kennel-mates WW Land Of Lakes has won three out of his last four 3/8 races (C, B, A) while WW’s Evan has back-to-back victories (B, A).
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel’s Most Needed has won three out of her last four Grade AA 3/8 races for trainer Joe Otto.
Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Myth has three victories in a row (C, B, A) for trainer Debbie Schweizer.
Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel’s Flying Wellsburg has won three out of her last four Grade AA 3/8 outings for trainer Pamela Webb. Kennel-mate Kiowa Neon Night has back-to-back victories (B, A).
Gable Kennel’s Gable Twinkie has won three out of his last four trips (A, AA) for trainer Wayne Piquette. Kennel-mates Gable FX (AA) and Gable Virgil (B, A) have two straight victories.
Charter Kennel’s TK Spiderwick has won three out of his last four outings (C, B, A) for trainer Rodney Cooley.
Darren Henry Kennel’s Legend Of Zorro has back-to-back Grade AA wins for trainer Donna Wilcox. Kennel-mate Really Rockin has won three out of her last four trips (D, C, B).
Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel’s Backwood Jim has two wins and a second in his last three 3/8 races for trainer Tom Engle. Kennel-mates Pikes Big Mama Z (B, A) and Blackbear Pinner (C, B 3/8) have back-to-back victories.
Ryan Farms Kennel’s Kendra has two 3/8 wins in a row (A, AA) for trainer Terry Green.
C and C Kennel’s EYC Taylor Tide has back-to-back victories (A, AA) for trainer Patrick Bever.
Lester Raines Kennel’s USS Race By has two wins and a second in her last three trips for trainer Joel Roden.
Mike Fynmore Kennel’s Glo’s Dr. Beeper has two straight wins (B, A) for trainer William Davis.
WVGOBA STAKE: Favorite Onward Ozzie closed in the stretch to catch longshot Bonita Star by a neck to capture the $35,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Fall Juvenile Stakes last Saturday evening at Tri-state Greyhound Park.
Bonita Star, sent to post at 36-1 odds, rushed out to the early lead and nearly stunned the field until Onward Ozzie mounted a powerful stretch rush to capture the stake event. WV’s Rawl settled for third.
Completing the final field were Peppermint Star, fourth; Stakes, fifth; Bet It All Betsey, sixth; MAC’s Dr Cameron, seventh; and MAC’s Dr Foreman, eighth.
Onward Ozzie, a January 2007 greyhound out of Lonesome Cry-Remember My Mom, is owned by Monroe Racing and competes out of the Haber Kennel.
LOTTERY REVENUE: Despite a struggling national economy and competition from Pennsylvania slots, the West Virginia Lottery is doing well.
In August, revenue from all sources totaled $133.5 million. That’s up $2.2 million from August 2007.
The Lottery’s share of table game profits for August totaled $2.7 million. Racetrack video lottery revenue reached $80.3 million, up 3.4 percent from August 2007. Limited video lottery revenue was $34.4 million, up about 2 percent.
Contributing to this article was Wheeling area greyhound historian Robin Reed.
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com