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< Back 2019 WIN LEADERS Jan 28, 2020 Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of December 27, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Dec 21, 2021 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS Big D has won eight out of his last nine Grade TAA 3/8 races for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mates JS Keep Diggin has two wins, a second and a third in his last four Grade AA starts, JS Saltythursday has back-to-back Grade AA victories and JS Oakietwister has three wins in a row (C, B, A). Imark Kennel’s Imark Daria has five straight victories (A, AA) for trainer DiAnn Derr. Brad Boeckenstedt Kennel’s BGR Bottoms Up has three wins and two seconds in his last five outings (A, AA) for trainer Frank Pellittere. Kennel-mate BGR Ramblin Man has three straight victories (C, B, A). Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s FGF Georgejetson has two wins and six seconds in his last eight 3/8 races (TA, TAA) for trainer Joe Otto. Rangel Kennel’s VJ Sir Bark Alot has back-to-back 3/16 victories (TB, TAA) for trainer John Farmer. Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Kennedy has two wins in a row (B, A) for trainer James Campbell. Wayne Ward Kennel’s LW Derby Lane has captured three out of his last four trips (M, C, B) for trainer Ron Otto. Previous Next

< Back WVGOBA KEYSTONE CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARS WIDE OPEN None of the greyhounds with first-round victories in the $65,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Keystone (3/8th) Championship repeated their winning efforts in the second round Wednesday afternoon at Wheeling Island. Posting second-round wins were Steve Sarras Kennel’s TS Woody and TS Overbite Ovie along with Imark Kennel’s CET Marlin. First round winners were Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s Wild Blue Bee, Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s JAS Strait Aces and Steve Sarras Kennel’s CET Dirty Skinny. The semi-finals are set for Sunday, Oct. 15, and the Keystone Championship is scheduled for Saturday matinee, Oct. 21. After two rounds, CET Dirty Skinny (Steve Sarras) tops the leaderboard with 25 points followed by TS Woody (Steve Sarras) with 22 points. Three greyhounds – JAS Strait Aces (Patriot/Taplin), CET Dirty Toodls (Steve Sarras) and CET Marlin (Imark) – have 20 points each. Points after the second-round follow: CET Dirty Skinny (Steve Sarras), 25 points TS Woody (Steve Sarras), 22 points JAS Strait Aces (Patriot/Taplin), 20 points CET Dirty Toodls (Steve Sarras), 20 points CET Marlin (Imark), 20 points Wild Blue Bee (Xtrem Hess Racing), 17 points Wild Chomp Dude (Xtrem Hess Racing), 17 points CET Zinc (Imark), 17 points TS Overbite Ovie (Steve Sarras), 15 points CG’s Delete (Code Red), 13 points CET Miguel (Steve Sarras), 12 points Apollo Justice (Steve Sarras), 10 points CET Murray (Wayne Ward), 8 points TS Porky (Steve Sarras), 6 points Aaralynn Jean (Patriot/Taplin), 6 points Raise The Wind (Steve Sarras), 5 points CET Perch (Steve Sarras), 3 points Trade Up (Steve Sarras), 3 points Baccarat (Steve Sarras), 3 points Arroyo Kingston (Code Red), 3 points (CET Beta was scratched before the second round). Previous Next

< Back NGA SPRING MEET SCHOOLING RESULTS -THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 Jim Gartland May 28, 2020 50 races scheduled: Dragged after every 10, no watering Track Condition: Fast Weather: Overcast, 67 degrees (SCR = Scratched) Nominator ran every 4th race (i.e.: Races 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, etc.); Number following name indicates nominator’s first race. JAMES POTTER – (Race 1) 30.61, 30.42, 31.28, SCR MICHAEL STRICKLAND – (Race 2) 30.00, 30.44 HARLAND OLSON - (Race 3) 30.00, 30.63, 30.63 KENNETH BIEHLE – (Race 4) 30.31, 30.22, 29.79 , 30.11, 30.40, 30.40, 30.79, 30.38, 30.38, 30.54, 30.42, 31.08 MONTE JACOBS - (Race 10) 30.30, 30.67 URSULA O'DONNELL – (Race 15) 30.26, 30.87 CRAIGIE, INC . – (Race 17) 30.80, 30.39, 30.80 SEASTROM KENNELS – (Race 18) 31.03, 30.45, 30.45, 30.48 RANDY FINEGAN - (Race 23) 30.54, 30.63, 30.60, 30.60, 30.87 BRANT TAPLIN - (Race 29) 30.69, 30.78, 30.97, 31.09, 31.49, 30.96 DAVID HAYS - (Race 34) 30.48, 30.86, 30.85, 30.67, 31.08, 31.26, SCR Previous Next

< Back WHEELING TRACK ANNIVERSARY: TOP STAKES FINAL FIELDS, NO. 5 AND NO. 6 Stan Pawloski Aug 14, 2023 Down through the years, Wheeling has had a rich tradition in greyhound stakes competition. Fans have been blessed with the chance to see some of the all-time greats in some of the track’s most memorable moments. The month of August marks 47 years of Wheeling greyhound racing and with assistance from local greyhound historian Robin Reed, a list of the top eight all-time Wheeling stakes final fields has been put together. Selected as the best of the best stakes championship fields follow: No. 1 – the 1987 $60,000 Wheeling Challenge Invitational No. 2 – the 1984 $145,000 West Virginia Classic No. 3 – the 1984 $80,000 West Virginia Commissioner’s Cup No. 4 – the 1977 $11,000 Thomas F. Shehan Sprint Classic No. 5 – the 2001 $35,000 Spring Classic No. 6 – the 1982 $55,000 City of Wheeling Sprint No. 7 – the 2008 $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational No. 8 – the 2004 $50,000 Couch Potato Stakes. "Wheeling stakes racing has created some of the most indelible memories in the track's great 47-year history," Reed said. "I love having the opportunity to bring those moments to life again for both veteran fans such as myself who have shared in the experience and new fans to Wheeling racing who may not be aware of the track's remarkable past." Today’s article looks at No. 6 – the 1982 $55,000 City of Wheeling Sprint and No. 5 – the 2001 $35,000 Spring Classic. 1982 City of Wheeling Sprint (ranked No. 6) Friday evening, July 30, 1982 The championship final field featured two All-American greyhounds, My Problem and Mr. Wizard, who combined for nine stakes crowns at different tracks during their racing careers. From the rail out, the finalists and their achievements follow: 1-MY PROBLEM (Julian Dial Kennel) - 1983 All-American - Winner of the 1983 West Virginia Classic - Winner of the 1982 Orange Park Juvenile - Winner of the 1982 Orange Park Derby - Winner of the 1983 Rhode Island Derby - Second in the Florida/World Challenge - Finalist in the 1982 West Virginia Classic - Set Wheeling 5/16th track record (30.22) - 103 career wins 2-COOL CHANGE (Pecos Kennel) - Wheeling record 9-race 3/8th consecutive win streak - 1982 Wheeling record (57-18-12-4). 3-K’S MOON (E.J. Alderson Kennel) - Second in wins at Wheeling in 1982 (85-33-17-15) 4-HIGH GLASS (Steubenville Kennel) - Winner of the 1982 Orlando King & Queen Stakes - Finalist 1983 Greyhound Grand Prix - 1982 Wheeling record (36-17-6-5) 5-Mr. WIZARD (Jon Seastrom Kennel) - 1982 All-American - Winner of the 1982 West Virginia Classic - Winner of the 1981 Ebro Juvenile - Winner of the 1981 Ebro King & Queen Stakes - Winner of the 1982 Ebro Derby - Winner of the 1982 American Derby - Finalist in the 1983 Wheeling Kennel Medley (3/8th leg) - 1981 and 1982 Ebro win champ (17 and 18 victories) - Set Wheeling 3/8th track record twice (38.07 and 37.98) - Set Wheeling 5/16th track record (30.23) 6-J’S SUSIE (Steubenville Kennel) - Winner of the 1980 City of Wheeling Stakes - 1980 Wheeling win champ (33 victories) - 1980 Honorable Mention All-American - 54 career wins - 1982 Wheeling record (22-6-5-4) 7-DB’s DUDLEY - Raced at Plainfield, CT 8-LIL MISS MARKER (Kansas Kennel) - Finalist in the 1982 West Virginia Classic - Finalist in the 1982 Seabrook Great Greyhound Race - 1982 Wheeling record (41-18-7-6) In the championship final, Lil Miss Marker – a littermate to 1981 West Virginia Classic champ Tuf Threads – broke seventh from the eight-hole but rushed up into second behind DB’s Dudley heading down the backstretch. The pair battled to the stretch with Lil Miss Marker getting up by a length at the wire in 30.47. High Glass settled for third. Completing the finish were J’s Susie, fourth; My Problem, fifth; Mr. Wizard, sixth; K’s Moon, seventh; and Cool Change, eighth. Lil Miss Marker had three wins, a third and a fifth in the five preliminary rounds. 2001 Spring Classic (ranked No. 5) Saturday evening, May 26, 2001 The championship final field featured five of the best greyhounds racing at Wheeling Downs at the time – Fortified Rush, Luckydeals Honor, Iruska All Star, Soul Cipher and Cheek To Cheek. In the Greyhound Review magazine in July 2001, Pawloski called the championship field “perhaps the best field of sprinters ever to go to post in the final of a Spring Classic championship at Wheeling Downs.” From the rail out, the finalists and their accomplishments follow: 1-CEE BAR DORY (Mike Fynmore Kennel) - 14 wins at Wheeling in 2001 2-CHEEK TO CHEEK (ZEZ Kennel) - Second in the 2000 Wheeling Spring Juvenile - Third in the 2000 Wheeling Spring Classic - Finalist in the 2000 Firecracker Classic - Second in wins at Wheeling in 2000 (35 victories) - 63 career wins - 20 wins at Wheeling in 2001 3-TEMPO LIZZIE (Cardinal Kennel) - 15 wins at Wheeling in 2001 4-LUCKYDEALS HONOR (Wayne Ward Kennel) - Winner of the 2003 Wichita Holiday Sprint - Second in the 2002 Wheeling Spring Classic - Second in the 2002 Wheeling Night of Stars - 52 career wins at Wheeling - 2001 Wheeling record (44-25-4-5) 5-FORTIFIED RUSH (Lester Raines Kennel) - 2000 Wichita Invitational Race of Champions (sixth) - 11-race consecutive win streak at Wheeling - 31 wins at Wheeling in 2000 - 58 career wins - 2001 Wheeling record (41-24-6-7) 6-SOUL CIPHER (Lester Raines Kennel) - Winner of the 2002 Wheeling Night of Stars - Finalist in the 2002 Spring Classic - 12-race consecutive win streak - 2001 Wheeling record (46-23-8-4) 7-IRUSKA ALL STAR (Iruska Racing Kennel) - Third in the 2002 Commissioner’s Cup - 2001 Wheeling win champ (63-30-16-6) - 60 career wins 8-SAN TAN CYPHER (ZEZ Kennel) - 24 wins at Wheeling in 2001 In the championship final, Fortified Rush and Luckydeals Honor rocketed out of the box virtually even going to the first turn. Fortified Rush with his aggressive style kept pushing to the rail from the outside – near the first turn Luckydeals Honor hesitated and then hopped to the outside giving Fortified Rush the lead on the rail heading down the backstretch. Fortified Rush opened up a 3-length cushion before Luckydeals Honor closed in the stretch to slice the margin to 1 ½ lengths at the wire. The champion stopped the clock in 30.35. Iruska All Star was a close third followed by Cheek To Cheek, fourth; Soul Cipher, fifth; San Tan Cypher, sixth; Tempo Lizzie, seventh; and Cee Bar Dory, eighth. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of January 27, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jan 27, 2020 Jacobs Racing Kennel’s JSK Roulette has four wins and three seconds in her last seven Grade AA trips for trainer Louise Strong. Patriot/Taplin Kennel’s CTW Tira Misu has won five out of her last six outings (B, AA) for trainer Joe Otto. Kennel-mates GF La Duena has captured three out of her last four Grade TAA 3/16 races while CBJ Fly Blush has two wins and a second in her last three starts (B, A). Wayne Ward Kennel’s WW Butterworth has three straight Grade AA victories for trainer Ron Otto. Lester Raines Kennel’s JS Drinkmepretty has won three out of her last four Grade AA trips for trainer Joel Roden. Blanchard Kennel’s High Wire Willy has captured three out of his last four Grade TAA 3/16 starts for trainer Sarah Blanchard. Kennel-mate L’s Luv It has two wins and two seconds in her last four Grade AA races. Rangel Kennel’s PJ Felicia has won three out of her last four 3/8 outings (TC, B, TAA) for trainer Alex Hall. Charter Kennel’s PJ Rich The Kid has captured three out of his last four starts (C, B, A) for trainer Jay Falcone. Abrahamson Kennel’s Arkans Honshu has won three out of her last four races (C, B, A) for trainer Tom Engle. Imark Kennel’s Allday Emma has captured three out of her last four trips (C, B, A) for trainer Scott Purdy. Previous Next

< Back RS'S DARK NIGHT WINS WVGOBA JUVENILE Sep 27, 2021 Lester Raines Kennel’s RS’s Dark Night romped to victory Saturday afternoon in the final of the $35,000 West Virginia Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association Juvenile Stakes at Wheeling Island. Breaking from the eight box, RS’s Dark Night rounded the first turn second to Code Red Kennel’s JA’s Croft before taking charge on the backstretch – pulling away to a 5 ½-length victory in 29.81. JA’s Croft took runner up honors while A Ray Kennel’s Mac’s New York rounded out the trifecta ticket. Completing the Juvenile final finish were RS’s Blue Heaven (Lester Raines), fourth; Mac’s Zhivago (A Ray), fifth; RS’s Prime Time (Lester Raines), sixth; Coach Wonder (Patriot/Taplin), seventh; and Mac’s Evita (A Ray), eighth. RS’s Dark Night, sent to post as the overwhelming favorite – is owned by Kelly Jo and Roger Salem and trained by Joel Roden. Previous Next

< Back Wheeling Hot Dogs ( as of June 19, all races 5/16 unless otherwise noted ) Stan Pawloski Jun 19, 2023 Charter Kennel’s Oshkosh Nicole has captured three out of her last four starts (A, AA) for trainer James Campbell. Kennel-mates Barts Aviator (AA) and Oshkosh Ogar (B, TA 3/16) have back-to-back wins. Blanchard Kennel’s Arma Guiness has won three out of his last four Grade TAA 3/8 races for trainer Chris Maynard. Kennel-mates Artex Pumbaa has two wins and a second in his last three Grade AA trips while Easi Utley (AA) and Arkans Kanisha (B, A) have back-to-back victories. Jacobs Racing Kennel’s Crime Boss has two straight Grade AA wins for trainer Natalie Looper. Kennel-mate Worth The Wait has three straight victories (B, A, AA). Steve Sarras Kennel’s Hollywood Week has two wins and two seconds in her last four outings (A, AA) for trainer Mike Holguin. Code Red Kennel’s Arroyo Ruger has three 3/16 victories in a row (TA, TAA) for trainer Tom Engle. Lester Raines Kennel’s Boat Names has won four out of her last five starts (M, D, C, B) for trainer Joel Roden. Previous Next

< Back LK'S CRUSH N IT GETS 80TH LIFETIME WIN Jul 27, 2020 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – LK’s Crush N It of Lashmet kennel, a 2019 All-America first-team selection, collected his 80th lifetime victory Friday at Derby Lane. Starting from box 5 in Race 10, the 43-month-old son of LK’s Now R Never and LK’s All In broke sharply and led all the way – clocking the 550-yard Grade A event in 30.54 seconds. He finished 1-1/2 lengths in front of Nova kennel’s Deco Colt Gun. LK’s Crush N It paid $5 as the 3-2 wagering favorite. It was his fourth attempt at reaching the milestone. He has made 122 starts for breeders and kennel owners John and Jill Lashmet of Eaton, Colo. LK’s Crush N It is trained by Ken Deacon. Previous Next

< Back AFTER 95 YEARS, DERBY LANE'S FINAL DAY Dec 28, 2020 hey came. They saw. They wanted more. Except, there would be no more. Derby Lane, the picturesque greyhound track on Florida’s West Coast, provided many parting snapshots for its fans on Sunday – the final day of a racing era that spanned nearly a century. “It’s just really sad that this has come to an end after 95 years of racing, through thick and thin, and wars, and . . . .’’ said Louise Weaver, Derby Lane vice president whose great-grandfather, T.L. Weaver, kicked off the sport in Pinellas County on Jan. 3, 1925. “It’s tough to see the greyhound people lose their livelihoods. I see a subculture leaving.’’ Derby Lane and greyhound racing fans knew this day had been coming since 2018, when state voters approved a constitutional amendment to end the sport by 2021. Richard Winning, track president and chairman of the board, and his staff decided to turn the farewell into a memorable weekend. Two Saturday performances produced a total all-source wagering handle of $929,237 (compared to $645,186 the previous Saturday), and an overflow crowd on Sunday (attendance figures were not available) led to a handle of $685,107 for the 15-race card. The final winner at the historic facility came when LK’s Santorini of Lashmet kennel crossed the finish line at 4:59 p.m. to capture the $30,000 Grand Finale Derby. “It is something I’ll remember forever . . . ever,’’ Lashmet kennel manager and trainer Ken Deacon said. LK’s Santorini paid $5.80 as the second wagering choice. Ironically, it was the identical win price that Caymanacadillac of Tri-Star kennel paid in the final race held at Tampa Greyhound Track on Aug. 18, 2007 – ending that site’s 75-year run with live racing. No future plans have been announced for the Derby Lane property, but the track will continue to offer poker and simulcast wagering like Tampa Greyhound Track is doing. Greyhounds at Derby Lane have either been adopted out or are being transported to out-of-state tracks that continue to race. The final performance came on a pleasant and sunny afternoon. Ninety-minutes before the first race, hundreds of fans stood in line outside the track’s main entrance, each wanting to get one of the 1,000 Derby Lane 95th anniversary caps being given away, and to claim their preferred seats or places to stand. Few, if any, parking spots remained. Long lines formed at the concession stands and at the pari-mutuel windows. A band performed outside for several hours, and patrons took turns swapping their favorite racing stories while taking photographs of the track facilities from every conceivable angle. Prior to the final race, fans lined the track fence to take pictures of the greyhounds and their lead-outs – giving them a thunderous applause – before they headed to the starting box for a final time. Patrons also were treated to the trackside presence of Husker Magic, Derby Lane’s all-time win leader who closed her career with 105 victories (104 at St. Petersburg) during a 167-race career from 2013-16. Handled by Derby Lane kennel operators Jim and Kayruth Abernathy, Husker Magic was a three-time All-America first-team member (2014-16), and 2015 Rural Rube champion as the nation’s top sprinter. For 4-1/2 hours, patrons stayed and played – focused on seeing the final race at Derby Lane. John Lashmet was one who remained until the end. A Derby Lane kennel owner and greyhound breeder from Eaton, Colo., Lashmet flew to Florida with wife Jill to see the track’s farewell performance. Joining them was daughter, Deidra, who took a plane from Houston. They were rewarded with a 1-2 finish in the Grand Finale Derby with their LK’s Santorini defeating kennelmate LK’s Trubulee by three lengths in 30.48 seconds – the fastest time among 119 greyhounds that raced during the afternoon on the 550-yard track. After participating in a lengthy and packed post-race winner’s circle ceremony on the track infield, John Lashmet walked across the racing strip toward the paddock area. Overcome with emotion, Lashmet needed time to himself before speaking to anyone. “I don’t know what to say,’’ he said, finally. “There will be no more (racing).’’ The championship by LK’s Santorini, her second career stakes title, wasn’t the only memory that Lashmet and his family took home. Less than 19 hours earlier on the Saturday evening performance, their LK’s Crush N It recorded his 93rd lifetime victory in his 153rd and final start. The 2019 All-America first-team selection and five-time stakes winner was arguably Derby Lane’s top 550-yard athlete in recent years. LK’s Crush N It, a son of LK’s Now R Never and LK’s All In, was the 2019 national win leader and a two-time Derby Lane meet win champion. “Not many of them run until they’re 4 (years old, his fourth birthday was last week),’’ John Lashmet said. LK’s Santorini, who started the year by winning the $18,000 1925 Inaugural on Jan. 4, also put the finishing touch on her first meet win crown. With 21 victories from 33 starts, she wound up six wins ahead of LK’s Crush N It and Deco Colt Gun of Nova kennel. A 44-month-old female from a litter by LK’s Vespar and LK’s Chardonnay, LK’s Santorini raised her overall win total to 68 from 147 starts. “It’s just an unbelievable ending to two great dogs - between Santorini and Crush N It,’’ Deacon said. “You couldn’t ask for more than that. (LK’s Santorini) is the win champion. . . . She picked up where (LK’s Crush N It) left off. She really came into her own in this final run.’’ For Deacon and the Lashmet kennel, the Grand Finale Derby represented their third consecutive stakes title and fifth in the track’s final seven stakes since Sept. 28, 2019. Another operation that had reason to celebrate was Watson Racing kennel, which claimed its first meet win championship with 260 victories from 1,971 starts. The July-to-December campaign featured 176 performances. Watson Racing finished three wins in front of former champion Lester Raines. Three-time winner Everett Racing was third among 14 kennels at 256 victories followed by Capabal with 243 and Abernathy at 232. Deacon and others in the industry will now begin other chapters in their respective lives. Deacon plans to return to a previous career in the Tampa Bay area as a captain for charters and commercial fishing. A kennel owner said he may accept employment in a golfing pro shop in the Florida Panhandle, while one trainer said she expects to move to Iowa without any employment plans. As patrons began to depart the premises, track announcer Jim Peake, a 25-year Derby Lane employee, provided poignant words in his final time at the microphone. “Good luck, good day, and good bye from St. Petersburg.’’ Previous Next

< Back CET DIRTY DILLY CAPTAINS 2021 ALL STAR TEAM Jim Gartland Mar 1, 2022 West Virginia superstar CET Dirty Dilly has been voted Captain of the 2021 All American team. The annual naming of the All-America team, dates back to 1963. The program pays tribute to the top eight greyhounds nationally. Others named to this year’s squad are: Craigie Delegate (Southland), Arkans Copper (Southland), JS Keephopealive (Southland), WW Got Rhythm (Wheeling/Southland), Killer Tolstoy (IGP/Tri-State), FGF Standin Bear (Southland) and Arkans Mabel (Southland). This year’s second team is comprised of: Teaser's Tickle (Wheeling), Barts Spot On (Southland), Abbi's Gusta Win (Wheeling), AD Black Falcon (Wheeling), JS Slush Fund (Wheeling), Arkans RB Taz (Southland), Casino Boogie (Southland) and KL's Colter (Southland). Heading up this year's team is it's Captain, CET Dirty Dilly (SH Avatar-CET Dirty Nicki) who was the National Win Leader, won multiple stakes and set a track record. Perhaps the most steady and consistent greyhound racing in 2021, Dirty Dilly won 42 races during the year capturing the WVGOBA Sprint and the $100,000 Tri State Challenge along the way. In September, she finished off a ten race win streak by breaking the 5/16 track record. Earlier in the year she had posted a record 16 wins in a row at the Tri State oval. She would finish the year with a 55-42-9-0 record and the well earned reward as Captain of the 2021 AA team. Craigie Delegate (Superior Panama-Craigiecrushnit) Breaking in at Southland in late 2020, Delegate went right up the grade ladder and was winning AA by early February of 2021. In May, he captured the Spring Futurity and followed that up with a victory in the Southland Derby in August. He put together win streaks of 5, 5, 8 and 6 and then picked up the Darby Henry Male Sprint Championship during the Festival of Stakes in October. He was the Southland win leader with 27 wins despite missing the last month of racing. His final stats would read 45-27-6-4. Another Southland star, Arkans Copper (Flying Hydrogen-Arkans Jazzy), makes the team coming off a 14 win season and winning of two Southland stakes; The Darby Henry Female Championship and the Kind & Queen's Stake. A consistent performer, Copper hit the Trifecta in 32 of her 45 starts and was a threat each time she went to post nearly always as a pre race favorite. Her last win came on November 12 but she still managed a 45-14-8-10 record for the year. JS Keephopealive (Superior Panama-CH Keepin Faith) makes the 2021 team as another dominant sprinter from Southland. The red fawn female made the finals of the Southland Derby, Great American Futurity and the Female Sprint Championship and won the Hound Madness Stake. Won five of six rounds each in the Futurity and Hound Madness stakes. She was able to garner 21 wins in 41 starts, good for 2nd most at the West Memphis track. Keephopealive finished the year making the trifecta in 29 starts going 41-21-5-3 on the year. WW Got Rhythm (Superior Panama-WW Oh Baby) broke in at Wheeling in March of last year and quickly moved up the ladder to AA. He was then shipped to Southland and took right to the West Memphis track with two wins and two place finishes in his first four starts. The youngster would compete in Southland Derby qualifying and then go on to a dominant win in the Barry Baldwin Juvenile on Festival of Stakes day. The youngest of this year's team, he recorded 5 wins at Wheeling and 15 at Southland which are included in his overall record of 40-20-7-1. Coming off of a 2020 2nd team All American nod, Killer Tolstoy (Superior Panama-Killer Torina) makes this year's first team after a successful year in which he competed at three different tracks and collected a win in the Iowa Breeder's Cup Championship at Dubuque. His year started off a bit sluggishly at Southland where he managed only a 2nd, 3rd and 4th in seven starts there before heading back to his home turf in Dubuque. He settled right in and only missed the pay sheet in 7 of his 35 starts as well as collecting the big check for the Iowa Breeders Cup. He would move on to Tri State after the IGP season where he would go 10-3-1-2. His overall record for the year was 52-17-11-6. One of two distance stars to make this year's team, FGF Standin Bear (SH Avatar-FGF Jamboree), joins the team off of a stellar 2021. He would make the finals of the Razorback Classic and the Middle distance Consolation on Festival day as well as set a new track record for the 660 yard distance in June, winning by seven lengths in 36.11. A crowd favorite, he went off at odds of more than 3 to 1 in only two of his thirty nine starts. His 14 wins would put him in the top ten at Southland despite missing the last month of the year. His final record was 39-14-3-3. Arkans Mabel (My Bro Fabio-Arkans BD Spring) is another Southland distance star and the second of two for the Darren Henry operation making the 2021 team . Racing almost exclusively at 660 yards, Mabel captured the Middle Distance Championship on Festival day and finished 2nd in the Razorback Classic to her kennelmate Arkans RB Taz. She would reel off six wins in a row and eight of nine at one stretch on her way to a 4th place finish in the win standings at Southland. She finished the year at 44-16-5-8, a 65% in the trifecta percentage. These eight represent the 1st team and will be honored with All-America plaques at the Greyhound Hall Of Fame awards ceremony on Thursday night, Apr. 28, during the NGA Spring Meet in Abilene, KS. Mountaineer Classic Champ, Teaser's Tickle (Bella Infrared-Beautiful Tease) leads the Second Team of All-Americans. She charted a 21-9-2-1 record after breaking in at Wheeling in August including her $100,000 Mountaineer Classic win. Barts Spot O n (KC And All-Barts Imashowoff) makes this year's 2nd team after a fabulous year at Southland continuing where he left off in 2020. He won his first seven starts of the year. He made the finals of the Southland Derby and Male Sprint Championship and finished tied for third in wins at Southland with a 42-18-7-2 record despite missing an entire month of racing due to injury. Abbi's Gusta Win (Superior Panama-Abs Almighty) finished tied for 2nd in wins at Wheeling despite missing almost three months of racing due to various setbacks. He put together win streaks of 5 and 3 and was a betting favorite in nearly every race he ran, rarely going off at more than three to one. His final record was 36-19-7-2. AD Black Falcon (SH Avatar-Hey Hey Mamma) was a distance star at Wheeling in 2021 becoming the win leader at the track with 20 wins, all at 3/8ths of a mile. He started the year off going 9-2-1 in his first 12 starts. He ended the year going 12-6-2-3 prior to being injured in early December. His final tally was 51-20-8-5. Shannon Henry's JS Slush Fund (Superior Panama-JS Speedypebbles) makes the 2nd team as one of the best from Wheeling in 2021. Breaking in late in 2020, Slush Fund moved right up into AA and was consistently one of the best sprinters at the track finishing tied for 2nd in wins with 19. She finished in the trifecta 66% of the time going 50-19-8-6 on the year. Arkans RB Taz (Craigie Whistler-Arkansportabella) owned by Rachelle Henry & Rashad Boyd is the oldest member of the 2nd team and was a super distance runner at Southland winning the Razorback Championship and making the finals of the Middle Distance Championship as part of his 13 win season. He also finished second 12 times and had an overall record of 42-13-12-7. Southland standout Casino Boogie (Djays Octane-Bella Release) was one of the best distance dogs at Southland last year, winning the Ansel Styles Marathon Championship and, in December, broke the track record for 703 yards, a record which had been set by his kennelmate and fellow 2nd team member KL's Colter in August. He was equally tough at 660 yards and ended the year with a record of 42-13-5-11. Completing the 2nd team is the aforementioned KL's Colter (Pat C Clement-KL's Christy). Another star at longer distances, Colter ran mostly marathons while piling up 17 wins in 38 starts and finished 3rd in the Ansel Styles Marathon. He set the track record for the distance in August at 39.07 only to see in broken later by his kennelmate. He finished the year at 41-18-9-4. Previous Next

< Back AD BLACK FALCON CAPTURES 2021 WHEELING WIN LEADER CROWN Stan Pawloski Jan 17, 2022 In late 2020 after making the final of the $100,000 Mountaineer Classic Sprint Stakes, AD Black Falcon moved to the longer 3/8th distance at Wheeling Island. When the Xtrem Hess Racing youngster won two out of his first three 3/8th races by 12 ½ and 11 ½ lengths, it was just a prelude of what was to come in 2021. Fueled by a blazing start from January into April in 2021, AD Black Falcon went on to capture the track win championship with 20 victories. A trio of sprinters – Abbi’s Gusta Win, Oshkosh Heart and JS Slush Fund – all were just a single win behind with 19 apiece. AD Black Falcon’s accomplishments earned him top greyhound honors at Wheeling Island for 2021. Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel operator Jason Hess couldn’t be prouder of his standout. “Black Falcon exceeded all of our expectations and I am so happy and proud of him for what he achieved last year (2021). I never expected him to be among the track’s win leaders,” Hess said. “To be the win leader at Wheeling is a very nice accomplishment. Just a hard-trying greyhound and I’d love to have more like him in the kennel.” A July 2018 greyhound out of SH Avatar-Hey Hey Mamma, AD Black Falcon is the first 3/8th racer to wear the win crown at Wheeling Island since WP’s Cameo in 2010. Distance greyhounds Kiowa Power Pak (2009) and TK Quick Strike (2008) also were tops in victories. Although a sprint stakes finalist in 2020, it was getting tougher for AD Black Falcon to beat top grade sprinters to the first turn, Hess noted. “It was our hope Black Falcon would be able to go to the front in 3/8th and have enough left to hold on in the stretch,” Hess said. “After his first couple starts, he proved to us he could go the distance.” In a stretch of 12 races from mid-January to early April last year, AD Black Falcon had 9 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third. He won four in a row during the hot streak, including victories by 7 ½ and 4 lengths. “Black Falcon was popping the box, he had his timing down,” Hess said. In the summer months AD Black Falcon cooled off a bit, but in late September into October he won five out of eight starts to move into contention for the win championship. “He was a streaky greyhound,” Hess said. “Sometimes his timing was off.” AD Black Falcon’s front-running style was the key to his success in 2021. In his 20 victories, he was first at the escape turn 16 times and went on to win; three times he was second at the escape turn and closed late in the race to win; and once he was fourth at the escape turn before getting up by a length at the wire. “Black Falcon really must have been feeling good the day he closed from fourth,” Hess said. “To be successful, he needed to be near the front early in his races.” Hess credited trainer Jill Spicer and her crew for playing a huge role in AD Black Falcon’s special season. “They did a great job with Black Falcon and deserve all the credit. I know he was one of Jill’s (Spicer) favorite greyhounds in the kennel and she was really happy he was the track win champion,” Hess said. AD Black Falcon, owned by Allan Ertl and Dennis Curry, was retired in December. He has been adopted by a family in North Carolina. In 84 career Wheeling races, AD Black Falcon had 30 wins, 13 seconds, 11 thirds and 4 fourths – a 70 percent mark on the pay sheet. “What stands out is the 50 percent mark on the quiniela ticket,” Hess said. “That’s hard to beat.” While AD Black Falcon topped the leader board with 20 victories, 17 other greyhounds won at least 13 races in 2021 at Wheeling Island. The 2021 Wheeling Island win leaderboard and kennel follows: 20 – AD Black Falcon (Xtrem Hess Racing) 19 – Abbi’s Gusta Win (Jacobs Racing), Oshkosh Heart (Charter), JS Slush Fund (Lester Raines) 17 – Frappe (Blanchard) 16 – Abbi’s Frontman (Jacobs Racing) 14 – O Ya Trisha (Lester Raines), RS Big D (Lester Raines), RS’s Dark Night (Lester Raines), JS In The Money (Rangel), JS Saltythursday (Lester Raines), CTW Black Forest (Steve Sarras), KB’s Copy Kat (Charter) 13 – Kells Xterra (Steve Sarras), JS Rob Stone (Blanchard), Mega Felipe (A Ray), Bart Superbowl (Charter), Craigie Deuce (Lester Raines). Xtrem Hess Racing Kennel’s AD Black Falcon was the track win champion at Wheeling Island in 2021 with 20 victories. The middle distance racer is held by Rhea LaCuesta. (Photo by Stan Pawloski) Previous Next