GLS Hi Dolly captures WVGOBA Juvenile in photo finish

 It’s a Juvenile sweep.

            Earlier this year, GLS Maybanks won the $35,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Spring Juvenile at Tri-State Greyhound Park.

            In late September, another Greg and Louise Strong-raised and owned sprinter, GLS Hi Dolly, captured the $35,000 WVGOBA Fall Juvenile at Wheeling Island.

            While GLS Maybanks romped to a box-to-wire 4-length victory, GLS Hi Dolly (Jacobs Racing Kennel) held off a late-charging Arroyo Outlaw (Code Red Kennel) at the wire – winning by a nose in a photo finish. Mystic Samisue got up for third in the stretch.

            Louise Strong of Wheeling was thrilled with GLS Hi Dolly’s performance.

            “Stakes races are always exciting and it’s thrilling when one of your own greyhounds wins the final. I’m so happy and proud of Dolly,” Louise Strong said. “Greg (Strong) liked Dolly’s chances going into the Juvenile. I am so thankful for so many people – it was a team effort.”

            Completing the final order of finish were GLS Marlyn (Jacobs Racing Kennel), fourth; RS’sToomuchjuice (Lester Raines Kennel), fifth; TS Presley (Steve Sarras Kennel), sixth; Cooper N Kings (Steve Sarras Kennel), seventh; and Cannon Fire (Steve Sarras Kennel), eighth.

            GLS Hi Dolly went to post as the second favorite, right behind GLS Marlyn. The latter won all three of her qualifying round races.

            Post positions for the championship, from the rail out, follow: 1—Arroyo Outlaw, 2—GLS Hi Dolly, 3—Cooper N Kings, 4—Cannon Fire, 5—TS Presley, 6—Mystic Samisue, 7—RS’sToomuchjuice, 8—GLS Marlyn.

            “Both of our greyhounds had to get out of the box fast,” Louise Strong noted. “They’re early speed and try to go to the front.”

            At the break, GLS Hi Dolly popped out of the box and drove to an early lead followed closely by Mystic Samisue and GLS Marlyn. Around the first turn and heading down the backside, GLS Hi Dolly opened up a 2-length lead as GLS Marlyn moved up into second and Arroyo Outlaw took the third spot on the rail.

            “If there was a greyhound in the race I was afraid of, it was the one (Arroyo Outlaw). He scared me,” Louise Strong said. “I was hoping he didn’t get loose early.”

            Around the far turn and heading home, GLS Hi Dolly maintained her 2-length cushion, but Arroyo Outlaw was loose and picking up ground with each stride. GLS Hi Dolly was able to hold off Arroyo Outlaw’s late challenge by just a nose at the wire in 30.44.

            “At first I thought Dolly held him off at the wire, but then I wasn’t so sure,” Louise Strong said.

            An October 2024 greyhound out of Shima Shine-GLS Mustard, GLS Hi Dolly returned $7 on a $2 win wager. The 1-2 quiniela paid $22, the 2-1 perfecta returned $38.80, the 2-1-6 trifecta paid $416.80 and the 2-1-6-8 superfecta returned $1,577.

            GLS Hi Dolly broke in at Tri-State Greyhound Park in June 2026, winning four out of her first six races – Maiden by 5 ½ lengths, Grade D by 4 ½ lengths, Grade C by 3 lengths and Grade B by half a length. She had a pair of seconds and a fourth in a trio of Grade A starts before traveling up to Wheeling for the Juvenile.

            After the championship final, Louise Strong was quick to credit the team for their time and efforts in securing the stakes victory.

            “Congratulations to trainer Natalie Looper and the entire Monte Jacobs Racing Kennel staff for their hard work. I want to thank my farm guy, Jason Bowers, who’s here seven days a week, and his right-hand man, Nathan Kloss,” Louise Strong said. “I also want to acknowledge my Tri-State kennel trainer Garret Gruden and his assistants Sydney Vaughn and Emily Neely as well as Greg (Strong), who schools greyhounds and lends a hand with whatever else needs done at Tri-State. It takes a whole team, and this win belongs to all of you.”

            In the first round of the stakes event, GLS Hi Dolly missed her break and finished seventh. She rebounded with a win and a second in the next two rounds to earn a spot in the final.

            In May 2026 at Tri-State Greyhound Park, the Strong’s-owned GLS Yes I Did rolled to an 8-length victory in the final of the $65,000 WVGOBA Sprint Stakes. He has 17 wins, 7 seconds, 5 thirds and 2 fourths in 36 races this year at Tri-State.

            The $65,000 WVGOBA Panhandle Sprint Stakes at Wheeling begins Friday afternoon, Nov. 6. The second round is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 11 and the semifinals on Sunday, Nov. 15.

            The championship final is set for Saturday afternoon, Nov. 21.