The Mighty Fall in Round 3
Well that didn’t take long! LOL! After round 3 of the 2017 $20,000 bestbet Derby no greyhound remains unscathed. The two undefeated greyhounds met their matches and now it seems to interesting at the top of the point standings. Several greyhounds made a move in round 3 and now have a legitimate shot at making the finals. Let’s look at just what happened.
The one clear shining star came in the 15th race as Lk’s Centuria put up another strong effort. Breaking quickly, she has in command from the get go and was see you bye gone from that point on. She never looked back, and even though she was pressed to the far turn, she took over in the stretch and drew away late for the easy win. This was her 2nd win in a row and she now carries the mojo headed into the semi-finals. Tempo Rock ran a strong race to the stretch as he stalked the leader and even got his head in front at one point in the far turn. Late he was no match for the big girl, but he did manage to hold on for place at the wire. Pat C Merlin made up ground throughout and just missed place at the wire. Merlin had to settle for show as Miss Margie gave in even trip around the oval to complete the superfecta.
The other easy winner was the 2016 Orange Park Derby runner-up, Barts Risingstar in the 7th race. Risingstar decided to run on this occasion and was way to close too early not to get it done. Risingstar has all the closing ability in the world and put it in full display in the second half of this race. Closing on the leaders down the backside, he took command at the far turn and hit the nitrous coming home. Crossing nearly 4 lengths better than the rest, Risingstar got his second win in the rounds. Aintgunnawastit also put up a gem in the quarter-finals. Sure, Wasteit was too far behind early to make up all the ground for the win, but this greyhound came from downtown to steal away place in the deep stretch. Mr Tito also closed in this effort to secure his spot in the trifecta, as early leader Ww’s Epic surrendered late, was outclosed in the stretch, and held on near the finish for the final spot in the superfecta.
The unbeatable Easi Ted saw his win streak stop in the 11th race on the card as he sat in the box and had too much ground to make up before the finish. Taking over early was Ww’s Associate, but Lee Trinity was right on her heels as the went down the front stretch. By the backside, it had turned into a three-greyhound race and it looked like it was going to be a barnburner coming home. By the far turn, Lee Trinity had taken over and Easi Ted was just off in 2nd. Associate was not far behind and as they turned for home it got interesting. Trinity dug in deep and even though she saw her lead dwindle, she managed to hold on late and end the win streak of Easi Ted. Ted gave his all, made up some ground on the leader, but just couldn’t get there to keep the hat-trick alive at the wire. He won the photo will Ww’s Associate for place. Completing the superfecta was the 2nd round winner, and 770 track record holder, Herstal. Breaking at the back of the pack, she weaved her way through traffic, gradually gained to the far turn, hit the jets late, and made her presence know at the wire.
Now for the bud longshot of the evening. Pat C Fracking is the name and ending streaks is his game. Firing out fast, he stole away the front end and control of this race at the start. Pushing the lure away, he padded his margin to 2 full lengths over the rest of the field and would not surrender any ground as he moved through the checkpoints. At the far turn, still 2 lengths up, and he maintained that margin, and then some, to the wire for the upset at 14-1. All undefeated runner Omega Point could do was watch the Fracking win. She was behind kennelmate Pat C Funkie early, but at the far turn she decided that she would make one last ditch effort at the leader. Driving by Funkie in the stretch, but still not able to gain on Fracking, she settled for place at the finish line. The early chaser Pat C Funkie held on for third as Fiesta Bonker came from of the tailgate to challenge late and find a spot in the money at the finish line.
The semi-finals of the 2017 bestbet Derby will run on Saturday evening January 28th. The field will be trimmed down once again and only the top 24 greyhounds will move on for a shot at a spot in the finals.
The one clear shining star came in the 15th race as Lk’s Centuria put up another strong effort. Breaking quickly, she has in command from the get go and was see you bye gone from that point on. She never looked back, and even though she was pressed to the far turn, she took over in the stretch and drew away late for the easy win. This was her 2nd win in a row and she now carries the mojo headed into the semi-finals. Tempo Rock ran a strong race to the stretch as he stalked the leader and even got his head in front at one point in the far turn. Late he was no match for the big girl, but he did manage to hold on for place at the wire. Pat C Merlin made up ground throughout and just missed place at the wire. Merlin had to settle for show as Miss Margie gave in even trip around the oval to complete the superfecta.
The other easy winner was the 2016 Orange Park Derby runner-up, Barts Risingstar in the 7th race. Risingstar decided to run on this occasion and was way to close too early not to get it done. Risingstar has all the closing ability in the world and put it in full display in the second half of this race. Closing on the leaders down the backside, he took command at the far turn and hit the nitrous coming home. Crossing nearly 4 lengths better than the rest, Risingstar got his second win in the rounds. Aintgunnawastit also put up a gem in the quarter-finals. Sure, Wasteit was too far behind early to make up all the ground for the win, but this greyhound came from downtown to steal away place in the deep stretch. Mr Tito also closed in this effort to secure his spot in the trifecta, as early leader Ww’s Epic surrendered late, was outclosed in the stretch, and held on near the finish for the final spot in the superfecta.
The unbeatable Easi Ted saw his win streak stop in the 11th race on the card as he sat in the box and had too much ground to make up before the finish. Taking over early was Ww’s Associate, but Lee Trinity was right on her heels as the went down the front stretch. By the backside, it had turned into a three-greyhound race and it looked like it was going to be a barnburner coming home. By the far turn, Lee Trinity had taken over and Easi Ted was just off in 2nd. Associate was not far behind and as they turned for home it got interesting. Trinity dug in deep and even though she saw her lead dwindle, she managed to hold on late and end the win streak of Easi Ted. Ted gave his all, made up some ground on the leader, but just couldn’t get there to keep the hat-trick alive at the wire. He won the photo will Ww’s Associate for place. Completing the superfecta was the 2nd round winner, and 770 track record holder, Herstal. Breaking at the back of the pack, she weaved her way through traffic, gradually gained to the far turn, hit the jets late, and made her presence know at the wire.
Now for the bud longshot of the evening. Pat C Fracking is the name and ending streaks is his game. Firing out fast, he stole away the front end and control of this race at the start. Pushing the lure away, he padded his margin to 2 full lengths over the rest of the field and would not surrender any ground as he moved through the checkpoints. At the far turn, still 2 lengths up, and he maintained that margin, and then some, to the wire for the upset at 14-1. All undefeated runner Omega Point could do was watch the Fracking win. She was behind kennelmate Pat C Funkie early, but at the far turn she decided that she would make one last ditch effort at the leader. Driving by Funkie in the stretch, but still not able to gain on Fracking, she settled for place at the finish line. The early chaser Pat C Funkie held on for third as Fiesta Bonker came from of the tailgate to challenge late and find a spot in the money at the finish line.
The semi-finals of the 2017 bestbet Derby will run on Saturday evening January 28th. The field will be trimmed down once again and only the top 24 greyhounds will move on for a shot at a spot in the finals.
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