Dec 14, 2020
As Derby Lane heads toward the end of its current six-month meet on Dec. 27, Watson Racing appears headed toward its first kennel championship at the 95-year-old greyhound facility.
Watson Racing, which joined the Florida West Coast roster on Oct. 7, 2019, won 12 races in seven performances in the past week to raise its front-running total to 242 victories. It leads three-time kennel champion Everett Racing by seven wins. Everett Racing lost ground in the previous week with 11 victories.
With Brittany Castle serving as the trainer, Watson Racing added to its lead on the Saturday evening performance with four wins.
Capabal kennel is third in the standings with 227 victories, followed by reigning kennel champion Lester Raines at 226 and Abernathy at 214. Abernathy tied Watson Racing with 12 wins in the previous week.
Cal Holland kennel was the only other operation to reach double digits in victories for the week with 10.
Derby Lane is working with 13 kennels after former two-time leading operation Bartley Corporation left on Nov. 30.
This past week, Derby Lane reduced its racing schedule on Monday through Thursday to 12 races per performance, down from 15. It continues to provide 15 races on the Friday matinee card, and both performances (afternoon and evening) on Saturday.
LK’s Santorini of Lashmet kennel continues to lead all greyhounds in wins at the current meet with 19 from 29 starts. Deco Colt Gun of Nova kennel is second at 15 victories out of 35 outings.
A 44-month-old female from a litter by LK’s Vespar and LK’s Chardonnay, LK’s Santorini recorded a four-length victory this past Wednesday in her first start following a four-week layoff. She clocked the 550-yard course in 30.82 seconds as the 3-5 wagering favorite.
Trained by kennel manager Ken Deacon for breeders and owners John and Jill Lashmet of Eaton, Colo, LK’s Santorini is seeking her first meet top-dog title. She has 66 lifetime victories from 144 starts with more than $50,000 in earnings.