Two greyhounds are undefeated after two rounds of the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Sprint Stakes at Wheeling Island.
Notching their second consecutive victory Wednesday afternoon were Steve Sarras Kennel’s Leo The Lover and Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s GF Street Song. Each has accumulated 30 points heading into the Sunday afternoon, Nov. 20, semifinal round.
The field will be cut to the top 24 point producers for the semifinals. The championship final will be held during the Friday matinee card on Nov. 25.
Other second round winners were GF Taras Tango (Patriot/Taplin Kennel), GF Zelda (Patriot/Taplin Kennel), Laura May Decker (Steve Sarras Kennel) and Coach Van Dyke (Jacobs Racing Kennel).
Following are capsule looks at the second round races:
Leo The Lover rushed to the early lead again, posting a box-to-wire 1-length victory over Walk Withme Stan in 29.67. Mac’s Maxwell closed late to round out the trifecta ticket.
GF Street Song, winner of the WVGOBA Juvenile earlier this fall, grabbed the lead right out of the box and never looked back in winning by 2 ½ lengths in 29.72. Mac’s Harewood and Beethoven Betsy completed the trifecta ticket.
GF Taras Tango roared home from fourth in the stretch to nip Quick Ruler by a nose at the wire in 29.83. Ken McNabb settled for third.
GF Zelda rushed to the top early before pulling away to a 4-length victory in 29.65. Both Rico’s Ed and CG’s Dyno Mite closed in the stretch to hit the trifecta play.
Laura May Decker posted a box-to-wire 2 ½-length victory in 29.79. GF Ginne Da Lute came from way back to get second while Coach Nease finished third.
Coach Van Dyke stalked pacesetter Pocono Opie around the track before taking charge in the stretch – winning by 2 lengths in 29.82. Rico’s Shameless edged Pocono Opie at the wire for second.
Point totals after the second round follow (top 24 moving on to the semifinal round):
Leo The Lover (Steve Sarras), 30 points
GF Street Song (Patriot/Taplin), 30 points
GF Zelda (Patriot/Taplin), 25 points
GF Taras Tango (Patriot/Taplin), 22 points
Ken McNabb (Rico Racing), 22 points
Laura May Decker (Steve Sarras), 20 points
Coach Van Dyke (Jacobs Racing), 20 points
Nola Nikole (Steve Sarras), 20 points
Jet Bill Clinton (Steve Sarras), 18 points
Grim Beavers (Steve Sarras), 18 points
Mac’s Maxwell (A Ray), 17 points
CG’s Dyno Mite (Abrahamson), 17 points
Coach Quizno (Jacobs Racing), 16 points
CET Dirty Nicki (Steve Sarras), 15 points
Dirty Dixie (Steve Sarras), 15 points
Beethoven Betsy (Steve Sarras), 14 points
Pocono Opie (Lester Raines), 14 points
Coach Nease (Jacobs Racing), 14 points
Quick Ruler (Steve Sarras), 13 points
Jax Yardley (Abrahamson), 13 points
GF Ginne Da Lute (Patriot/Taplin), 12 points
Mac’s Harewood (A Ray), 12 points
Rico’s Ed (Rico Racing), 12 points
Bizzy Beeker (Lester Raines), 12 points
The following greyhounds were eliminated from the stakes event after the second round:
Rico’s Shamless (Rico Racing), 11 points Walk Withme Stan (Steve Sarras), 11 points Lady Sasquatch (Patriot/Taplin), 9 points Mac’s Olympia (A Ray), 8 points Take Off Tug (Steve Sarras), 8 points RP McMurphey (Steve Sarras), 8 points Pocono Shades (Lester Raines), 8 points GLS Dare Devil (Jacobs Racing), 7 points Mac’s Somerton (A Ray), 7 points Donoma (Lester Raines), 6 points Sa La Ve (Rico Racing), 6 points RS’s Good Girl (Patriot/Taplin), 6 points Powerful Puma (Steve Sarras), 6 points Disco Donnie (Steve Sarras), 5 points Huge Hymn (Steve Sarras), 5 points Pocono Gemma (Lester Raines), 5 points GLS Mustangsally (Jacobs Racing), 4 points Lego Ryan (Steve Sarras), 4 points WJS High Lyric (Cardinal), 4 points Rico’s Gearz (Rico Racing), 2 points Mac’s Cambridge (A Ray), 1 point WJS Darkman (Cardinal), 1 point WJS Goodtiminman (Cardinal), 0 points