Jacksonville Star Captains 2016 All-America Team – 3 Return From Last Year

Bestbet Jacksonville superstar Seldom Told has been named Captain of the 2016 All-America team, as announced today by the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA).

The annual naming of the All-America team, dates back to 1963. The program pays tribute to the top eight greyhounds nationally, as voted on by the member tracks of AGTOA.

Others named to this year’s squad are: Oak’s Maddy (Southland), Need My Moneynow (Jacksonville), Oshkosh Kid (Southland), Oya Stan The Man (Derby Lane), Husker Magic (Derby Lane), Kinda Cruel Red (Wheeling) and Boc’s Tony Romo (Southland).

This year’s second team is comprised of: Chasmo’s Dutch (Southland), Martha Maccullum (Naples), Mike Huckabee (Naples), Ethel Is Here (Palm Beach), Joeslittlepebble (Naples), Varoom Esme (Wheeling), Lego Andrew (Derby Lane) and Mega Revelation (Derby Lane).

Seldom Told (Trent Lee – Need A Date), is one of three repeaters on this year’s squad and is one of Jacksonville’s leading winners. He captured the $50,000 Orange Park Derby, the 550 Sprint Championship and Holiday Sprint Stakes and was a finalist in the Redemption Stakes. He put together win streaks of 8 and 7 (twice) races while compiling an impressive 43-32-4-1-3 record at the bestbet oval. Owned by Sharon Williams and racing for the D.Q. Williams kennel, the sleek black speedster flirted with track records all year long while winning an impressive 74% of his starts.

Another Jacksonville ace and also from last year’s team is Need My Moneynow (No More Loving-Need A Date). A half brother to Seldom Told also owned and raced by Sharon Williams, he won the Daytona 550 Championship last January and the March Mayhem Stakes at Jacksonville as well as being a finalist in the Patton Silver Cup. He put together one 8 race winning streak and won 22 races on his way to a 34-22-6-1-2 overall record.

Returning to her third All American team is Husker Magic (Rhythmless-Casino Zada). In an abbreviated 2016 campaign, the “Blonde Bombshell” finished 2nd in the Daytona 550 and captured the T.L. Weaver Memorial at Derby Lane. Owned by Imark Kennels and racing for the Abernathy Kennel, Magic won 10 races out of 16 starts for the year and capped off her career winning her 105th lifetime race prior to officially retiring in June.

Oaks Maddy (Pat C Clement-Oaks Gem Brandy) one of two females on this year’s team, Maddy was one of the top sprinters at Southland all year long. Owned by Mick Hymes and racing for the Dorsey Kennel, Maddy captured the King & Queens Challenge and the $100,000 Arkansas Bred Sprint Division Championship and was a finalist in the Southland Derby. She compiled a 60-22-5-7-6 record against grueling competition at the Southland meet and will definitely be in consideration for the Rural Rube award.

Oshkosh Kid (Kiowa Mon Manny-Oshkosh Vani), owned by Larry Pollard may be the best middle distance greyhound in America. His 31 wins made him the track win champ at Southland in 2016. Along the way he picked up the $100,000 Middle Distance Championship (won same race in 2015) and was a finalist in the $50,000 Razorback Classic. Racing for the Charter Kennel, he had two six race win streaks running against the best at Southland. He will no doubt be a leading candidate for the Flashy Sir award. He finished the year with a 54-31-11-6-1 record.

Another Derby Lane star, Oya Stan The Man (Defrim Bale*-O Ya Norma), joins the team for 2016. Stan took home the track win lead at St. Pete notching 33 victories for the year. Owned by Gary Reicherts and raced by the D’Arcy Kennel, he won the St. Pete Derby, finished 2nd in the Holiday Distance Challenge and was a finalist in the Distance Classic. His record was 33-10-6-3 in 63 starts, and he was the top 3/8 mile greyhound throughout the year.

Kinda Cruel Red (Bella Infrared-Cruel To Be Kind) joins the 2016 team as the only Wheeling representative. Owned by Ed Piziak, Jr. and raced by Jacobs Racing, Red managed to pick up the third most wins at Wheeling in 2016 while only racing there for about half the year. He managed a 38-20-7-4-1 record at Wheeling after starting his career at Palm Beach where he was 17-7-3-2-2 before heading north. He was also a late invite for the 2017 550 at Daytona where he finished 2nd.

Rounding out the 1st team is Boc’s Tony Romo (Flying Penske-Boc’s Slim N Fit). Unlike his Cowboy namesake, this Romo had a distinctive 2016 hitting the paysheet 26 out of 32 times at Southland. He captured the $20,000 Hound Madness Stake and was a consolation finalist in the $100,000 Marathon Division of the Festival of Stakes. This talented athlete raced AND WON over four different distances at Southland ending up with a record of 32-14-7-2-3 for the year.

These eight represent the 1st team and will be honored with All-America plaques at the Greyhound Hall Of Fame awards ceremony on Thursday night, Apr. 27, during the NGA Spring Meet in Abilene, Ks.

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Southland Derby Champ, Chasmo’s Dutch (Djays Octane-Chasmo’s Layla) leads the Second Team of All-Americans. He charted a 50-19-7-8-6 record at the track, while also finishing 3rd in the Darby Henry Sprint Championship. Dutch is owned and raced by Lester Raines.

Martha Maccullum (Flying Westover-Johara), owned by Anthony Napolitano and raced by Brindle Kennel, was win leader at Flagler with 16 wins in 24 starts and won 12 of 13 at Naples in 2016. Overall was 37-28-3-2-1 for the year. Invited to 2017 Daytona 550 Championship.

Ethel Is Here (Trent Lee-J’s Alyssa) Owned by Jerry Simons, Ethel won the $50,000 James Paul Derby racing for the Janie Carroll Kennel at Palm Beach. Was a finalist in the $50,000 Arthur Rooney Invitational. Track win leader at Palm Beach finishing on the pay sheet in 45 of her 50 starts.

Mike Huckabee (Trent Lee-Twinkies) owned and raced by Brindle Kennel won the Naples-Ft. Myers Derby and was a finalist in the Naples Sprint. Compiled a 62-26-6-10-5 over the year.

Joeslittlepebble (P’s Gibbs-Joe’s Abby) won the $30,000 Dubuque Classic and made the finals of the $145,000 Iowa Breeders Cup for owner Joe Recker and the Copper Kettle. 2016 record: 38-7-6-6-8

Lego Andrew (Kinloch Brae-Danicas Go Daddy) owned and raced by Randy Floyd, won the $64,000 Derby Lane Sprint Classic and finished 2nd in the Inaugural as well as the Matinee Idol Feature. Ran the two fastest times of the season at Derby on his way to a 63-27-11-5-7 record.

Southland standout Mega Revelation (Bella Infrared-Primed Az Mailie) was the winner of the $50,000 Razorback Classic for David and Jeff Blair. He was the hottest 3/8ths greyhound over the summer at Southland winning 8 of 9 starts. Ran the fastest time of the year over the 660 course. Ended 2016 with a 28-16-4-5-1 record.

Completing the 2nd team is Dean Miner’s Varoom Esme (Kiowa Mon Manny-Flying Bassey). Racing for the Cardinal Kennel at Wheeling, Esme was the track win champion with 23 victories and had an overall record of 48-23-11-3-3 at the West Virginia track.