Greyhound Preview: Southland for 8/2/2014

by Moneymaker Mike

Another Saturday evening of exciting greyhound racing is on tap at Southland and the picks for this card include races in four different grades. I hope everyone got a chance to watch the 2014 TwinSpires.com / United Greyhound Racing People's Choice Challenge Championship as it was one heck of race with Flying Titanium taking the crown in a very impressive fashion. A special thanks to TwinSpires and UGR as well as the Southland track for putting on this stellar event.

Race 1 - Grade D - 660 yards - The key here is the (1) Crt Chris who likes the inside and should find running room early in which to make his move. He was running in grade B back in May and looks ready to start his move back up in class. The (3) Ishmahl Mcbones has good early speed and should be the leader right out of the box and if there happens to be trouble behind him, he may have a big enough lead to steal the win. The (5) Cyrus Beene has five straight top three finishes and has some early speed as well as some closing ability so he'll be in the chase down the stretch. Finishing the play, I'll use the (8) Fly Edelman who had much trouble in his first race over this distance but he did show potential in his recent maiden win of seven lengths.

Pick 1-3-5-8

Race 7 - Grade B - 660 yards - I'm going with the (6) A Nun With A Gun as the key as she has been running so consistently lately. In her last 12 races, she has accumulated two wins, nine seconds and one third place finish. She has early speed and should be the frontrunner out of the box. Also capable of a big run is the (7) Budweiser who is going for three straight wins and may find running room early if he follows the six dog out. Not to be overlooked is the (2) WWW Delta Force who won last time out. He likes the inside and is working his way back up in class after running in A grade just a few weeks ago. I'll use the wide running (8) Easi Shot to complete the play.

Pick 6-7-2-8

Race  8 - Grade C - 583 yards - A tough choice here between the (1) Come Back Wilson, a nice up and coming pup who already has two wins and the (2) Quirky Hershel who has nine top four finishes in eleven races including four straight top three's. The edge goes to the Come Back Wilson as I believe the one box makes the difference here. As for a potential big upset goes, if these two were to have any trouble, I will use the (9) Lil Buddy Rocky in case he hits the lid as he came here from Palm Beach running A grade there and showing seven wins. He hasn't done much in five races at Southland but don't be surprised to see him run a big race here. Completing the play, I'll include the (7) Prairie Trail because of his good early speed.

Pick 1-2-9-7

Race 18 - Grade AA - 660 yards - Going with the (3) Smokey Joe to keep his hot streak going and get his third win in his last four races. Out fast and with the lead, he is hard to beat. The main challenge should come the hard running (7) Topline Drive who will be making a strong move late on the rail and who is coming off a nice six length win last time out. These two should battle down the stretch but if either run into trouble, the (2) WW's Spark Gap and the (1) State Of Art may be the ones who can take advantage of it. WW's Spark Gap has early speed and State Of Art loves the one box as in his last six races from there has four wins and two seconds.

Pick 3-7-2-1

The Moneymaker play of the evening is in the 3rd race, a grade D contest over the 660 yard course and the pick is the (1) Klutch. Some of you will remember that I've had him as the key in past races and he does like the rail so I'll stick with him again in this one. It's his sixth race over the distance course but the first time in which he's drawn the inside post in a long race. Of his three wins in his young career, two of them have come from the one box. Let's give him a shot here to make us some money.