Aerial Battle retires, Titleist carries on
Henry Parker with a playful JW Titleist.
It is always sad when kennels, owners and fans say farewell to their favorite greyhound when it retires. Much like the professional human athletes, the greyhounds acquire nationwide and sometimes global fans.
The absence of Aerial Battle at Derby Lane will be felt globally. His retirement symbolizes much more than the end of a career. Aerial Battle was one of the few greyhounds in North America that came from Lincoln. His retirement is a bittersweet reminder of grander times.
The beloved 4-year-old male has a faithful following of fans that began at the Rhode Island track when it offered live racing in 2009. Lincoln was renamed Twin River when they were awarded slots. Not only did the track lose the Lincoln name; they also lost the live racing.
Greyhounds that raced at Lincoln were considered a cut above the average greyhound, and Aerial Battle certainly was cut finer than most. The stunning male, sired by the late Derby Lane stakes winner and All-American Dodgem By Design and whelped from Abita Cruzin, has remained a top competitor for years. Aerial Battle is owned by John Bladen of Oklahoma, who placed his prized pup in the hands of the Capabal kennel at Derby Lane upon exiting Rhode Island.
Aerial Battle generated great interest when he arrived in Florida. The male outperformed many when not sitting on the sidelines from an injury. “He’s been off twice with major injuries,” said kennel manager Henry Parker. “We will miss him in the kennel, but he has to retire.” Despite injuries Aerial Battle’s stamina has been impressive. At Lincoln Aerial Battle’s 19 official starts were notable with 10 of his finishes in the quiniela. He was 13 of 19 in the money. He was also blazing trails over the sprint course. His fastest was 29.84.
It didn’t take the male long to clock the fastest times at Derby Lane, too. In 2009 just three months after arriving Aerial Battle clocked a season’s best time of 30.17 over the 550-yard course. Aerial Battle has been the betting favorite nearly every start in his entire career. Last year Aerial Battle was the Matinee Idol champion. He was the runner-up in the Inaugural and the Sprint Classic. Aerial Battle was a finalist in the T. L. Weaver and was featured in the Night of Stars. Aerial Battle was also on a winning spree and at one point he was on a course to becoming the national win leader.
Many felt the male was more deserving than a second team All- American, including Parker. One point all agree upon is that Aerial Battle is a solid competitor with all heart. “He never ceases to amaze me,” said Parker. “I can’t believe he came back from a stopper injury and made the stakes final of this year’s Fall Sprint in October.”
This year Aerial Battle defended his title in the Matinee Idol and finished a respectable second. He was also a finalist in the Sprint Classic. Aerial Battle reeled off seven straight before his streak was halted in qualifying for the T. L. Weaver. Aerial Battle was pulled due to injury in June. After a two-month rest Aerial Battle appeared just as good as ever. The male won both schoolers and his next four starts that included the first round of the Fall Sprint. Aerial Battle earned enough points from all four rounds and was the runner-up in the October 1 stakes. On October 15 Aerial Battle drifted back to last and Parker pulled the male and announced Battle’s retirement.
Aerial Battle will be missed by many, especially those who have faithfully picked the male each week in the KCImagemakers fantasy greyhound league. “Aerial Battle is definitely one of the best that has raced here in my 16 years of calling the races,” said track announcer Jim Peake. “I hope he has a great stud career.” Of Aerial Battle’s impressive Derby Lane career record is 142/70-25-15-6 boasting an 82% money record.
Although Parker will say goodbye to Aerial Battle another star in the kennel hopes to fill the void. JW Titleist who is the current win leader, is also owned by John Bladen and Walter Wasik of TX, who flew in to see his champion compete in the Fall Sprint. The beautiful white and black male is not all business like Aerial Battle when it comes to having fun in the kennel. Titleist is fun loving and enjoys toying with Parker, as in indicated in the accompanying photo. JW Titleist was a finalist in the 2010 Fall Juvenile and he finished third in this year’s Fall Sprint just behind his kennelmate Aerial Battle.
JW Titleist is a 2008 son of Dave The Dog and Abita Cruzin. He has 14 wins for the meet and his record for 2011 is 72/26-18-4-8. At the time of this writing Titleist has collected 128 career starts. JW Titleist is running well and has some “big paws” to fill in the Capabal kennel. JW Titleist also holds the second fastest time this meet of 30.29.
Best of luck to the Bladens with Aerial Battle. He will truly be missed by all that enjoy the true athletes of the sport.
Since 1978 I have been tutored by the most respected leaders in the industry at tracks in WV, WI and FL. As Media Relations Director and Company Spokeswoman I have a unique opportunity to share my passion for the sport. I have written hundreds of feature stories and taken just as many greyhound photos. My articles have been published nationally and internationally. I have been a color analyst on Sky Network at the Irish Derby multiple times and on America’s Night of Stars. I am also a former Greyhound trainer.
I am proud to call Derby Lane home, which is the most established Greyhound racetrack in the nation since 1925. I have met iconic kennel operators and watched the greatest greyhounds of the past decade including Dominator, Talentedmrripley and Flying Coal City-all historic award winners. I have written and produced videos used to honor industry people and Greyhound athletes at the Greyhound Hall of Fame and coordinated track shots for the Born to Run and Ensuring the Welfare of the Racing Greyhound videos. I have coordinated major film projects at Derby Lane including Animal Planet’s "Breed All About It", Oceans 11 and baseball’s Carl Crawford’s commercial. I coordinated all of the media for the world’s biggest Greyhound stakes in 2005-2006 when Derby Lane hosted the Million Dollar races. I am also a GPA volunteer. I have two grown daughters, a granddaughter and a racing greyhound. I am blessed with endless energy and share a home in FL with two retired Greyhounds. You can follow me as topgreyhound on twitter and read Vera’s News at www.derbylane.com.
Contact me vera@derbylane.com
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