KING & QUEEN STAKE FINAL AT IOWA GREYHOUND PARK

Gonz Dandelion made every step count on the way to winning the $30,000 King & Queen Stake at the Iowa Greyhound Park Saturday, July 4.

“Gonz does not like the one box,” said T And T Kennel trainer Christopher Grieb. “But he ran his race. He got out of the box, broke well and made the turns well.”

The charts gave Gonz a box-to-wire performance. The 75-pounder, born Nov. 15, 2017 out of Bella Infared – Jedi Honey Rider, had firm command in the backstretch as his lead was around four lengths.

In the far turn and in the homestretch “I was proud of T’s Bree Harison,” said Grieb. “He made a move to close the gap. It was nice to get a one-two finish.”

Challenged but not contested, Gonz Dandelion finished with a two-length win in a day’s best time of 31.08 seconds for the 5-16-mile course. Gonz moves to 7-4-0-0 on the season at IGP.

T’s Bree Harison, 8-2-5-1, was a comfortable second, two lengths ahead of the rest of the field.

“When Gonz got in front,” said Grieb, “I was not bothered by who was behind, it was his race.

“We (the T And T Kennel) have a good team here,” added Grieb. “We have great help. We make it go.”

The Kings’ points leader FF Lurch (Copper Kettle), 8-2-2-2, rallied in the homestretch to take third place.

Fourth, one length back and five lengths off the pace, was JD Tonic (Stidham & Brindle), 10-4-1-0.

Disco Moves (Jackson) earned fifth, a half-length ahead of sixth. Disco Moves is 12-2-3-3.

AT’s Golden (T And T) squeezed into sixth. Golden is 8-2-2-1.

The disappointment came from Jill St. John (Stidham & Brindle), 10-6-1-1. The Queens’ point leader broke sixth and never made a move in finishing seventh.

That left Oakland Taunton (Stidham & Brindle),10-2-2-2, last.

For the patrons, Gonz Dandelion paid $8.80. $5.80 and $3.00; T’s Bree Harison paid $10.80 and $3.80; FF Lurch paid $3.20; the (1-5) Quiniela paid $43.00; the (1-5-8) Tri-Box paid $137.90; the (1-5-8-4) 10-cents Superfecta paid $126.77.