Bluffs Run kennel championship
As fate would have it, L’s Fray, the Boeckenstedt Kennel’s biggest hitter in the year-long chase for the $60,000 Kennel Championship at Bluffs Run, got to race for the clincher on Saturday, Dec. 17.
As fate would have it, L’s Fray, the Boeckenstedt Kennel’s biggest hitter in the year-long chase for the $60,000 Kennel Championship at Bluffs Run, got to race for the clincher on Saturday, Dec. 17.
Her task wasn’t easy. Two other of Bluffs Run’s top greyhounds, P’s Gibbs (Petzold) and Iowa Breeders Classic champion Angel Tree (Blake & Black) were in the race. But L’s Fray broke on top from the two box and never looked back. By the homestretch, she was expanding a lead that reached seven and a half lengths, winning in a day’s best time of 30.14 seconds for the 5/16-mile course.
“Friday was her (second) birthday,” said trainer Chuck Shelton. “I gave her a birthday cake.”
L’s Fray entry into the race followed the year-long Boeckenstedt strategy.
“We talked every month with (owner) Brad (Boeckenstedt),” said Shelton, “about the four entries we would use each month. We tried to use the best greyhounds each month. We were using different greyhounds every month, not the same lineup.”
It worked. Boeckenstedt used 26 greyhounds to fill its 48 slots over the 12 months. The kennel finished with 412 points, winning the title by 41 points.
There were anchors. L’s Fray was called upon seven times and posted three wins and three seconds, piling up 79 points. L’s Zakarack had five starts, producing three wins. Boc’s Roundem Up had four starts and got three wins.
The battle in December turned out to be for second place. Bean & Stout edged out Plum Creek for second, 371-366.
RJ’s Vera led Bean & Stout in December. She rallied from third in the homestretch to win by a head in Class D. Plum Creek got a win by Programable in Grade B, a box-to-wire effort by seven lengths.
The top eight kennels won money and that was quite a battle. The Harlan Brothers finished eighth with 309 points, just nipping Blake & Black (308) and Hardison (306). Slatex Vincent led the Harlan Brothers with a box-to-wire win in Grade A by a length.
The 2011 Kennel Championship final standings:
Boeckenstedt 412; Bean & Stout 371; Plum Creek 366; Mickim 347; Petzold 324;
Bartley Corporation 316; Wilhite 312; Harlan Brothers 309; Blake & Black 308; Hardison 306;
Seastrom & Lovely 287; Legg 280; Woodall 244; River Bluffs 239; Keeper-Red Rock 231.
I'm a native of the Washington, D.C., area and a graduate of the University of Maryland. I'm now retired after a two-decade plus stint as the sports editor of the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Daily Nonpareil. Contact me at slsig1@cox.net
RSS 2.0 Feed
