50th Anniversary: Sour Cream, Myth stage epic duel

50th Anniversary: Sour Cream, Myth stage epic duel

(NOTE: The 2009 Wheeling Invitational was one of the greatest stakes championships in the last 25 years at Wheeling Downs/Island. Following is the actual account reported after the historic finale).

                As good as advertised.

                No, better. Much, much better. It was one for the ages.

                In one of the most dramatic stake finishes in Wheeling Island history, Gable Sour Cream surged by Kiowa Myth just yards before the finish line to capture the $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational on Nov. 14, 2009. Only a half-length separated the two warriors at the wire.

                Not only did the two overwhelming favorites put on an electrifying performance in the much-hyped showdown, but Sour Cream shattered Hi Noon Hero's Wheeling Island track record of 29.31 by smoking a sizzling 29.22. Myth also eclipsed the old mark as he stopped the clock in 29.27.

                The two sprint stars broke clean from the box and matched strides only a length apart until Sour Cream was able to overtake Myth in the homestretch. Rounding out the trifecta ticket was San Tan Diego, 5 lengths behind the frontrunners.

                Gable Kennel operator and Sour Cream's owner Harlyn Goebel, who flew in from Texas for the final, was ecstatic following his young gun's first stake victory.

                "This one is very special. It's the most prestigious stake race I have ever won because of the quality of dogs racing at Wheeling. To set a track record in the process is amazing," Goebel said. "Sour Cream is easily the best dog I have ever owned and ones like him don't come along very often. He's more balanced than any of the other nice ones I've had. Cream can outbreak you or he can come and get you."

                Goebel also had high praise for Kiowa Myth. The Steubenville Kennel sprinter turned in a spectacular stake effort after racing in Ireland just two weeks before the first qualifying round of the Wheeling Island Invitational.

                "Myth is an outstanding dog and he ran a monster race. Both Sour Cream and Myth ran the best races of their lives," Goebel noted. "It was exciting the whole way around and you didn't know who was going to win when they headed home."

                The complete order of finish as well as earnings for the finalists follow: Gable Sour Cream (Gable Kennel), first, $42,000; Kiowa Myth (Steubenville Kennel), second, $18,000; San Tan Diego (Douglas Kennel), third, $13,000; Craigie Dallas (Lester Raines Kennel), fourth, $10,000; Ballys Davis (Douglas Kennel), fifth, $5,500; Bella Leonidas (Wayne Strong Kennel), sixth, $5,500; Topaz Alyann (Thorne-Abrahamson Kennel), seventh, $3,000; and CJC's Fire (Steve Sarras Kennel), eighth, $3,000.

                While several of the big names -- Hi Noon Hero, Flying Mancini, Yahoo Omar and Kiowa Magnate -- failed to make the final, the championship featured some of the best young dogs racing at Wheeling. That alone is testament to the track's level of competition.

                Gable Kennel trainer Wayne Piquette said it was a thrill when Gable Vermilion won the 2002 Great Race at Seabrook, but this one he'll hold dear to his heart.

                "It's definitely special. At the Great Race, I just helped Kim (Hawkins), but this time I was in charge of the kennel," Piquette related. "When Sour Cream came up from the Gulf in late May, the $100,000 stake was one thing we had our eyes on and it's something we worked hard to accomplish."

                The track was abuzz on race day. It was easy to feel the tension and excitement as the finalists were paraded to the starting box on the bright, sunny mid-November afternoon.

                The post positions for the championship final were: 1--Kiowa Myth, 2--San Tan Diego, 3--Gable Sour Cream, 4--Topaz Alyann, 5--Bella Leonidas, 6--Craigie Dallas, 7--CJC's Fire, 8--Ballys Davis.

                While Steubenville Kennel trainer Debbie Schweizer loved Myth's post position (five wins out of six career starts from the one box at Wheeling), Piquette would have preferred an outside post for Sour Cream.

                "The one thing that scared me the most was not getting a clean run to the turn," Piquette said. "I was afraid Topaz Alyann and CJC's Fire would come down on Cream and he'd have to jump around them."

                At the break, Myth popped out first, San Tan Diego second and Sour Cream third. Halfway to the first turn, Sour Cream had rushed up into second only a length or so behind Myth as they rounded the first turn.

                "I was very happy with Cream's break, but didn't expect Myth to come out as sharp as he did," Piquette said. "Sour Cream had a nice drive to the turn, and once he hit the backstretch close, it was up to him." 

                Heading down the backside, the race was on. The two favorites, locked only a length apart, and both with closing power.

                Myth maintained his length lead over Sour Cream down the backstretch, and only when they reached the far turn did the latter appear to be closing the gap. 

                "Cream didn't look like he was making up any ground until they hit the far turn, but there was no doubt in my mind he could catch Myth," Piquette said. "I knew Myth would drift out a little in the stretch, so I kept saying stay down Cream, stay down Cream, stay down."

                Apparently, Sour Cream heard his trainer but more likely he applied his track smarts he inherited from his father Gable Oscar. Once Myth moved off the rail, Cream ducked inside but there was still more work to be done.

                "Cream showed a lot of patience, waiting for Myth to go off the rail," Piquette said. "If Cream would have tried to go out around Myth, I'm not sure if he wins the race. Maybe, maybe not."

                Goebel said Oscar would "wait and wait until he saw an opening. Cream has developed a lot of racing sense" as he's matured.

                Coming up the rail with a full head of steam, Sour Cream caught and passed Myth just a few strides before the wire. Myth put up a valiant effort only to fall a half length short.

                "During the race, I was thinking Myth couldn't match Cream's speed," Piquette said. "I was wrong, Myth can go that fast."

                Piquette said Cream, a July 2007 greyhound out of Gable Oscar-RJ's Tater Chip, is "the total package." He's a rare combination of speed, power, intelligence, drive and heart.

                “That was all heart in the homestretch,” Piquette added.