Greyhound Handicapping - Weekend Wrapup and Monday Stakes Preview
Emeraldcityflyer Wins the United Greyhound Futurity Final at Mardis Gras
Congratulations go out to Joe Trudden Kennel, and to Leslie Csokasy, owner of Emeraldcityflyer, who won the United Greyhound Futurity Finals at Mardis Gras Park on Saturday. The brindle daughter of Flying Westover and Rooftop Ashlee ran a perfect trip from the 8 box to win by 6 lengths. Go On Merlin and Kells Bolt completed the trifecta.
I've had my eye on this 60 pound pup ever since her third schooling race where it looked like she figured out what racing was all about and closed with a determined stretch run. Obviously, she had "gotten it", because she won her next schooling race by 11 lengths.
She went on to win her first Maiden race and it only took her two races to win in D. C was even easier for her. She aced it, first time. After two races in B, she was entered into the Futurity and won, looking like a champion. After the race, Leslie says that she pranced back to the kennel in her blanket, like she knew she had won and was proud of it. She got a beautiful trophy, a big dinner, a massage and a big cookie.
O Ya Purecountry Wins the PBKC "He's My Man Classic"
If O Ya Purecountry had been a tenth of a second faster when he won the He's My Man Classic last Saturday at PBKC, he would have broken Ozzie The Man's record of 29.34. But 29.35 was fast enough to put the Rader Racing Kennels's speedball ahead of kennel mates CT Heartbreaker and O Ya Chance.
The dark brindle bomber burst out of the starting box and never looked back, to cross the finish line 3 lengths ahead of the competition. And he made it look easy, like many of the Deerfield Site progeny do. Congratulations to Rader Racing for the $25,000 win, their sixth win in this series, and for the 2nd and 3rd places.
Unfortunately, as it often is, victory was marred by sadness at Rader Racing as they mourned the passing of Randy Tomrell, longtime kennel assistant. Norm Rader remarked on the 14 year friendship he shared with Randy and said that "he should have been in the winner's circle." Randy was known for his loyalty and dedication to his friends and co-workers and will be missed by many.
For Monday, January 21st, don't miss the second round of the Orange Park Kennel Club Derby. Races 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 will feature some of the best 660 yd distance dogs at the track. If you like route races, where the dogs have a chance to maneuver for position, don't miss this series.
In the 5th race, #2 Pat C Abileena V, who finally got an inside post in her last race and finished 2nd, looks like she could improve to win this race.
And for a longshot in the 9th race, #5 GS Jocelyn, always a contender, might like this position better than her last six.
In the 10th, if #5 GS Cosmo gets the rail, he could have the win.
In the 11th, I'm wondering if #6 SNJ Black Porter is back to his winning form, after a layoff, two schooling races and some not so impressive races in B. I'm not counting him out though and doubt that he'll go off anywhere near his morning line of 17-1. The 6 box is tough in routes at OP though.
Congratulations go out to Joe Trudden Kennel, and to Leslie Csokasy, owner of Emeraldcityflyer, who won the United Greyhound Futurity Finals at Mardis Gras Park on Saturday. The brindle daughter of Flying Westover and Rooftop Ashlee ran a perfect trip from the 8 box to win by 6 lengths. Go On Merlin and Kells Bolt completed the trifecta.
I've had my eye on this 60 pound pup ever since her third schooling race where it looked like she figured out what racing was all about and closed with a determined stretch run. Obviously, she had "gotten it", because she won her next schooling race by 11 lengths.
She went on to win her first Maiden race and it only took her two races to win in D. C was even easier for her. She aced it, first time. After two races in B, she was entered into the Futurity and won, looking like a champion. After the race, Leslie says that she pranced back to the kennel in her blanket, like she knew she had won and was proud of it. She got a beautiful trophy, a big dinner, a massage and a big cookie.
O Ya Purecountry Wins the PBKC "He's My Man Classic"
If O Ya Purecountry had been a tenth of a second faster when he won the He's My Man Classic last Saturday at PBKC, he would have broken Ozzie The Man's record of 29.34. But 29.35 was fast enough to put the Rader Racing Kennels's speedball ahead of kennel mates CT Heartbreaker and O Ya Chance.
The dark brindle bomber burst out of the starting box and never looked back, to cross the finish line 3 lengths ahead of the competition. And he made it look easy, like many of the Deerfield Site progeny do. Congratulations to Rader Racing for the $25,000 win, their sixth win in this series, and for the 2nd and 3rd places.
Unfortunately, as it often is, victory was marred by sadness at Rader Racing as they mourned the passing of Randy Tomrell, longtime kennel assistant. Norm Rader remarked on the 14 year friendship he shared with Randy and said that "he should have been in the winner's circle." Randy was known for his loyalty and dedication to his friends and co-workers and will be missed by many.
For Monday, January 21st, don't miss the second round of the Orange Park Kennel Club Derby. Races 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 will feature some of the best 660 yd distance dogs at the track. If you like route races, where the dogs have a chance to maneuver for position, don't miss this series.
In the 5th race, #2 Pat C Abileena V, who finally got an inside post in her last race and finished 2nd, looks like she could improve to win this race.
And for a longshot in the 9th race, #5 GS Jocelyn, always a contender, might like this position better than her last six.
In the 10th, if #5 GS Cosmo gets the rail, he could have the win.
In the 11th, I'm wondering if #6 SNJ Black Porter is back to his winning form, after a layoff, two schooling races and some not so impressive races in B. I'm not counting him out though and doubt that he'll go off anywhere near his morning line of 17-1. The 6 box is tough in routes at OP though.