Friday - 12/30/2011

No better way to cap off the year and start off a new one than with some quality greyhound racing here at the Orange Park Kennel Club. Loads of excitement on tap as we gear up for the 2012 Orange Park Derby. Several 550ers going 660 to see if they can hang over the longer distance. We will also look at a marathon race, and the track win leader, and All-American hopeful, Gs Uncle Henry will start off the new year looking for his 12th win in a row.

First up will be Friday evening and the races we will look at are the 7th, 9th, 11th, and 15th on the card.

The 7th race is full of talented but sometimes a greyhound just has an edge over the competition. Mesa Full House might not be the best breaker, or best closer, in this field, but she does have her coveted one box and that is all she needs to win tonight. Moving back to 550 was the best thing that AJ Smog Runner could have done. Now with 3 straight quinielas he is red hot again. Gs Quasimoto loves it wide and will use the post, and his early speed, to contend here, and don't count out the puppy Lk's Spicy Hot. With a pair of wins, and 3 in the quiniela finishes, in her last 6 starts, this HOT and cold runner could surprise in this effort. (1-8-6-3)

In race 9 we head over to the added, added, distance course at 770 yards. Just missing last time out, Pat C Go Ahead was just a head short of perfection at the finish. Here no speed around a gain and I expect another exceptional effort. Deanos Liz has not tried to run this far, but looks like she can hang around for the duration of this race. Down a grade, she just needs to stay clear to have a shot. Gs Lulu only has a few starts, but closed well in her first couple of 660 starts. Posted well, she will contend. Never count out the Lk's greyhounds at 770 and especially anyone named FEARLESS! Down a grade, he might have what it takes to get the job done tonight. (5-8-2-1)

Race 11 will be full up on the front end, but it will be the late Hustle that will win it. Dutch Hustle is always giving his all in races and even though he might not be in the early lead tonight, he will find a way to prove best at the finish line. He will need a big trip though as several other talented greyhounds are lurking. The posted up, hot running, Kiowa Vanessa will clearly be the one to catch on the lead and if she steal enough early, she might just upset. M's Free Mason will give another fierce chase after the pace for sure and everyone better keep an eye out for the resurging Lk's Intrigue late in this effort. (4-2-6-3)

Now it's time to rev up for the Derby with the 15th race over 660 yards. Returning to action is Really Gonnarock, and on fresh legs, I think this field is going to be hard pressed to beat her. She was the best over this distance for a majority of this year and that hasn't changed. So look for her to stalk early and take down everyone late for the win. Juvenile Champ, Snj Black Porter, continues to like the distance and will be a threat throughout, as well as 660 returner LK's Gran Slam, but the wild card is DQ's Jeans Two Face. Hot off 3 big closing wins in a row, this converted sprinter could take well to the added distance. (6-3-7-5)

Saturday - 12/31/2011

The double header fun continues on to Saturday evening and the 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 15th races.

The hottest thing to come along in a lone time is showcased here in the 3rd race on the card. J's Robin has taken the racetrack by storm and has shown that she has the goods to be a monster here at the Orange Park Kennel Club. This DQ runner breezed thru schooling undefeated and won her last attempt by 19 lengths. Not slowing down at all in her first official start, she destroyed another field by almost 14 lengths and posted up a blistering 30.34 second run. Now in grade D, expect another route of the competition. (2-8-5-4)

Race 7 is all about speed and since all 8 greyhounds are running against each other again, this one should be really easy to pick. Just repeat the performance. I know it doesn't happen a lot, especially when you switch posts, but I think Bs Bentley will get it done again. Near the inside and with enough left late to take down the early speeders, he will find a way to win. Lk's Mandalay will also be charging up the stretch to challenge at the wire. Kb Home Soon is a nice looking pup that gets another 1 box in this effort. She needs to find her break this time though if she wants a chance to win, and Atascocita Zeya likes the rail and should be stalking the pace throughout again tonight. (3-7-1-2)

Now to 660 for the 11th race on the card and more warm up races before the 2012 Orange Park Derby. Back where he belongs, Pat C Manuel is riding high off a box to wire win that sent him back to grade A. He is a threat to break in every start over the distance and from another good rail post, he will be a factor again on the front end tonight. Holding on a the wire, he wins. Lk's Mystifier also just returned to 660 and is thriving again over the distance. with 2 wins and 4 money finishes, this greyhound is making the more of her chances. All from the outside, she threatens again. Closing on the big leaders late will be the solid A duo of Diamond Tears and Vanessa Rousso. (2-8-6-5)

Race 15 is also over the added distance 660 yard course and here the cream is rising to the top again. Ww's Gucci is back breaking and when she is in the lead, no one is going to get to her. She is as fast as she wants to be and that is really fast right now. Riding high on back to back wins and 6 straight quiniela finishes, she is a force to be reckoned with. Out close early, and driving home late, she does it again. Lk's Energizing was the main challenger for Gucci last time out and the last greyhound to beat her 3 starts ago. She has enough early to be around and she too it thriving over the distance. This two greyhound race should be a nail biter. Don't forget about Gs Tee Up though. He finished 2nd in the 2011 Orange Park Derby Finals, and Wannadobadthings is hot off a win and can run anyone of them down from behind if the mood suits him tonight. (8-1-4-2)

Saturday - 12/31/2011

Saturday matinee is up next and the feature races are the 2nd, 7th, 10th, and 11th.

When everything comes together for a greyhound, you just have to play them. That is exactly what has happened here in the 2nd race on the card. Talk about your spot plays, Howdoyoulikethat has everything going for him in this effort. He loves the rail, he is down 2 grades, and he has started to break again. All of these things will add to his success in this effort. Out and gone early on, he will be in instant command of this race and hold on to the finish line for the win. Pushing him will be the finding himself again award winner Kelsos Brimstone. Late threats will come from the grade dropper Atascocita Zone, and recent ship in Greg Mcelroy. (1-8-2-7)

Race 7 is anyone's race, so you have to go with someone that might have an edge. In this case it's Bh's Doitmyway. Still down a grade here in B, and in the red post, Doitmyway will have room to break and use that early speed to his advantage once again. Once in front he is pretty tough to catch and will make them all work if they way to beat him. Post also helps out the wide running Penrose Jira. This wide runner will make the most of the 8 box and close late on the leader. Ship in Raiders Savannah should break and force the pace until late, and don't forget about the solid dropper Gs Shabam. If the mood suits him, he could outrun them all in the stretch and take away the win at the wire. (1-8-7-3)

Race 10 might be a grade D affair, but it could be a good chance to take a shot at the Twin-Tri. Clearly there has 4 greyhounds that stand out above the rest in this race, and no matter how you like them, you could have a good shot at the tri or the super. Puppy Pdx Palladin might have mis-stepped in his last effort, but breaking close here, he is going to be tough to beat late. Pacesetter Pat C Spoilsport will make the most of the rail and see the lead, but will be no match for the rest at the finish line. Ww Ima's Time has not missed the money in 6 straight and has closed well in almost all of those efforts. Look for her efforts to continue, and Hs Mag has a similar run with 6 straight in the money, including four 2nd place efforts. Box them up and take a chance at the big cash today. (4-1-8-5)

Tough to ignore some last efforts in the 11th race on the card. Lk's Mandrianna smoked the field last time out by 8 lengths, and I don't care that it was in grade B. She has the tools to get it done again and gets another good inside post position to do it from. Sure she will be pressed late by posted up closer Gotyourgoodeye, and early by the on again, off again, breaker Jl's Dutchmaster. If either of this pair want to bring it, they now turn into the ones to beat in this effort. Ghost Face also gets a look as the best early speed greyhound in the race. He has won 2 of 4 starts, and even though he is up in grade, he has a shot to wire this field on the front end. (4-3-8-5)

Sunday - 1/1/2012

Closing out the weekend, we look at Sunday Matinee, the 4th 7th, 11th, and 14th races, including the best greyhound at the racetrack, GS UNCLE HENRY!

Post position plays a key role in the 4th race on the card. Maverick Vanessa, just like her littermates, is all about the rail all the time. She loves wearing red and down in grade D, after other stints in grade A, she is clearly the class choice in this race. Everything is going for her to start, she needs to step up to the plate and take home the prize today. Pushing here will be fellow dropper Smokin Scamp, talented looking youngster Pdx Pepino, and early speed veteran Kiowa Boyd Manny. (1-6-2-5)

Puppy power and a better post position will be the difference this time around for Lk's Ambitious in race 7. Loads of talent here and you know Leading Steps will be in the early lead, but Ambitious will live up to her name and show that puppies can hang at the top grade level. It will take all she had to get there, but she can get it done. Gs Maria also will like the inside post and should factor around the lead throughout. Buck Whaley is the other B winner with a chance to contend. With a good post and some hot running, 5 trifecta trips in 6 starts, he will stalk the pace to the finish line. (2-7-3-6)

Now for the best of the best, 2011 track win leader, Gs Uncle Henry! How do you describe this greyhound and what he is doing? How about, unreal! Currently he has won 11 starts in a row, and is not just winning races, he is dominating fields in the process. He has a great break, a tremendous rush to the turn, and once in the lead, forgetaboutit. What is even more impressive is his 41 wins in 2011, and he didn't start racing until March. With 15 wins, and 16 quiniela finishes in a row, he will do what needs to be done again today! Streak continues, who wants to be next best? (7-4-3-6)

Last but not least is the 14th race for Sunday matinee and the big time battle of early and late speed. No debate that Jello Shot Mike is the best early speeder in this race, and if he breaks like he can, he will clearly be in front at the turn in this effort. The bad news is that he is way short late and he has two tremendous closers chasing him. Lk's Merrell was in the puppy finals and is far better than his lines show. He will be too close too early not to get up late for the win. Jayvan is another strong closer that is hot off a breaking, winning, effort. She will need to get to the rail in order to be effective though. Let's not forget solid dropper, Roscoe So Far. Closing is his best attribute too, but it might just be too little too late in this effort. (8-4-5-7)