While handling the Wayne Strong Kennel at Southland Greyhound Park last year, Jerome Maynard was convinced Slatex Coco Puff had the makeup to race at Wheeling Island.

Coco Puff had a ton of speed. In fact she was “the fastest dog in the kennel at Southland,” Maynard said, but the “big and deep surface” was not to her liking. The youthful trainer was confident Coco Puff would thrive on Wheeling’s faster track.

In October 2009, Strong made the decision to move Coco Puff to Wheeling. As fate would have it, Maynard followed suit shortly thereafter when he was named trainer of the Wheeling operation.

A Grade B racer at Southland, Coco Puff – a September 2007 greyhound out of WW Apple Jax-Slatex Gorgeous – had a second, a third and a fourth in her first six races at Wheeling in the same class. Then, the young sprinter caught fire.

In her next 15 races, Coco Puff had 7 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third. Five of her victories were against Grade AA company.

“I told Wayne (Strong) Coco Puff would be unbelievable at Wheeling, but I didn’t expect her to be one of the best dogs in the kennel two months into the 2010 season,” Maynard said. “We are all excited for her.”

G. Kirk Harlan of Texas, who owns Coco Puff, is pleased with her Wheeling performance.

“I am thrilled with the way she’s taken to the Wheeling track,” Harlan said. “Coco Puff’s daddy is Apple Jax and her mom, Slatex Gorgeous, was out of Sweet Trey so she was bred to run Wheeling.”

While Coco Puff isn’t lightning fast out of the box, her break has improved from her days at Southland. She does possess a strong rush to the turn.

“Coco Puff doesn’t pop out like (Slatex) Striker did when he raced at Wheeling, but she has a nice run to the corner,” Harlan said.

Maynard said Coco Puff’s quickness to the turn has been a key factor in her recent success.

“Once she realized what she was doing up here, she took off,” Maynard said. “On the faster Wheeling track, she’s a lot faster to the turn.”

Coco Puff posted back-to-back victories in late December – winning Grade B by 2 lengths and Grade A by 5 lengths – and she was on her way.

In her first nine Grade AA efforts, Coco Puff had 5 wins, including four in a row, and 3 seconds. In each race, she was either first and second heading down the backstretch.

Maynard prefers Coco Puff in an outside post position, but her Wheeling wins have come from five different holes – one, two (twice), five, seven and eight.

“If I could pick the box, I’d go with the eight hole,” Maynard related. “If she breaks, she’ll run from anywhere.”

Coco Puff also has displayed some finish in her top grade races. In her Grade B victory, she closed from third in the stretch while in the races she popped out on top she extended the margin coming home.

“She’s a strong dog,” Maynard said. “She’s powerful when she gets on the lead.”

Strong feels Coco Puff will get even better.

“She looks like she can stay with the program,” Strong said. “She developed late and now she’s hitting her stride. I expect her to continue to improve.”

Coco Puff has played a major role in the kennel’s success this year. Through Wednesday’s races, Wayne Strong was second in the standings behind defending champion Charter.

“She’s been a big part of our success,” Maynard said. “She’s really stepped up with two of our top dogs (Hi Noon Hero and Mulberry Lazer) out. I can’t wait until we get them all back.”

IN THE HOMESTRETCH:

POWER PAK: Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Power Pak is coming home.

Word out of Florida Thursday night indicated the distance ace will be leaving Derby Lane after two official 5/16 schooling races and two official 3/8 starts. Power Pak arrived in Florida with much fanfare earlier this month and was expected to be one of the favorites in the track’s $100,000 Distance Classic.

Wheeling’s 2009 win champion, Power Pak experienced traffic in both of his 3/8 races at Derby Lane, finishing second and fourth.

Efforts to contact Power Pak’s owners, Barney and Pauline O’Donnell of Florida, were unsuccessful.

It is uncertain when Power Pak – an All-America hopeful and Flashy Sir Award candidate – will arrive back in Wheeling.

A January 2007 greyhound out of Kiowa Mon Manny-Kiowa More Mar, Power Pak had 31 wins, 8 seconds, 6 thirds and 2 fourths in 49 races at Wheeling in 2009.

HERO & CREAM: Wayne Strong Kennel’s Hi Noon Hero posted his second straight schooling victory Wednesday. Look for the standout sprinter to return soon.

Gable Kennel’s Gable Sour Cream remains on the farm in Texas. His return date is uncertain, but it looks like it may be several more weeks.

STAKES SCHEDULE: Wheeling Island has submitted a proposal for its 2010 stake schedule to the West Virginia Racing Commission.

The board did not take any action on the proposal during its February meeting, tabling it until the March session.

WORLD CLASSIC: It appears Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Myth, second in last year’s $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational, won’t be competing in the $75,000 Hollywood World Classic.

Earlier this week, Wheeling racers Kelsos Lorenzo and Tam Hootie Eye schooled in at Mardi Gras for the event.

The stake schedule follows: First round: Wednesday, March 10; second round: Saturday, March 13; first semifinal found: Wednesday, March 17; second semifinal round: Saturday, March 20; and final: Friday, March 26.

HOT DOGS: Steubenville Kennel’s Kiowa Lee Philli has raced to five straight Grade AA victories for trainer Debbie Schweizer. Kennel-mate Kiowa Lenia has back-to-back 3/8 wins (B, A).

Vince Berland Kennel’s Flying Westover has three Grade AA victories in a row for trainer Pamela Webb. Kennel-mates Go Bon Dishlady has won three out of her last four races (A, AA) while Flying Maroon has back-to-back Grade AA wins.

Charter Kennel’s WP’s Cameo has three straight 3/8 victories (A, AA) for trainer Rodney Cooley.

Gable Kennel’s Gable Iroquois has won four out of his last five starts (B, A, AA) for trainer Wayne Piquette. Kennel-mate Tipp Mai Tai has two wins and a second in his last three trips.

Wayne Strong Kennel’s Bella Leonidas has three wins and two seconds in his last five Grade AA 3/8 outings for trainer Jerome Maynard. Kennel-mate Bella Cartier has won three out of his last four races (C, B, A).

Douglas Kennel’s San Tan Diego has back-to-back Grade AA wins for trainer James Roche.

Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW’s Power Press (B, A, AA 3/8) and Starz Rising Sun (C, B, A) have won three out of his last four races for trainer Ron Otto.

Lester Raines Kennel’s Spillway has back-to-back wins (A, AA) for trainer Joel Roden.

Plum Creek Kennel’s Grateful Dead has two straight victories (A, AA) for trainer Joe Otto.

Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com