Sep 9, 2021
Competing against a balanced field in Iowa Greyhound Park’s Dubuque Classic final, the winner would need to have to work hard and have things fall the right way.
Superior Tuvia was up for the task, as she claimed the title during the afternoon card on Sunday, Sept. 5.
“She needed a little luck,” said trainer Jerry Cole. “I knew she had to be close. She doesn’t run turns all that great but once she hit the front stretch on two’s (Cheer For Me) tail I knew she had a chance.”
Cheer For Me grabbed an early lead and Tuvia, of Superior Kennel, broke fourth. Tuvia got to her preferred part of the track with Cheer For Me about 3 lengths ahead.
“There wasn’t a whole lot of early speed,” Cole said.
As she moved up and gained the lead, Cole had another thought.
“When she got clear, I asked ‘where’s Rasta?’” Cole said.“That lead gave her enough to win. Rasta and Cheer For Me can be lights out.”
Rasta, the defending champion from Copper Kettle Kennel, had some problems during the race which prevented him from hitting the board. He finished fifth.
Tuvia earned her seventh win of the season. She also won the Au Revoir last year.
“She doesn’t give up,” Cole said. “She’s pretty tough. I had a feeling she could do it.”
Cole said Tuvia, from Kiowa Sweet Trey and Superior Samba, will stay on the track for awhile.
“As long as she keeps doing what she’s doing, we’ll keep her running,” Cole said. “We’ll keep letting her do it.”
Tuvia paid $14.60, $3.60 and $3. She posted a 40.20 to win by nearly 4 lengths.
Cheer For Me, of Plum Creek Kennel-Oxbow Trow, placed. Kennel mate Cuspof Greatness showed.Dutch McGruff, of Copper Kennel, was fourth.
Other finalists were O Ya Jewel (Superior Kennel) in sixth, XT’s Wild Turkey (Xtrem Hess Racing) in seventh and Eager Erlene (Copper Kettle), eighth.
The purse is $30,000, with a breakdown of $12,000, $6,000, $3,000, $2,400, $2,100, $1,800, $1,500 and $1,200.
Rasta was the top qualifier, Cheer For Me second, Cuspof Greatness third and Superior Tuviav fourth.
Fathree, Copper Kettle, won in 2018, and Superior Tora, Superior Kennel, won in 2019.