Sunday, September 21, 2008

Ten Years Ago This Month

I Will Make It, racing for the Rick Bartley Kennel, won the $75,000 Southland Derby and was the cover boy for the September 1998 Greyhound Review. He swept all the qualifying rounds and then went box-to-wire in the final followed by Weedeater and Seegold Big Red. The field was a deep one with San Tan Chance, San Tan Whammo, and TB Feature failing to make a run on the leaders.

Granny won the $100,000 Wonderland Derby adding yet another trophy to her impressive collection. She withstood a cyclonic finish from Greys Betsy Ross for the win. Greys Freckles ran a game third.

The $60,000 Kansas Bred Sprint at The Woodlands was won by RD's Good Time reprising his victory of a year before. He passed WW Time Warp in the backstretch and held off Dutch Hennessy to win by 3½ lengths in 30.22. WW Time Warp held for third.

The Flagler International Classic was won by Jenny Lyn Star ahead of Iruska Excalibur and Kiowa Bet Dutch who closed from last. Jenny Lyn Star was from a standout litter that included 1998 All-America Run Vickie Star.

There was also some puppy stake action. In the $10,000 Port City Puppy Classic at Mobile, Task Bold Rule came from off the pace to nip heavy favorite JJ Littlerichard in deep stretch. Vic's T Bird ran third. At Wheeling, B's Morgan Adams won the WVGOBA Juvenile over Mac Barley and My Godfather.

The inimitable Henry Maxim, Jr. penned an outstanding article on the great Velvet Sis, winner of the 1961 American Derby. It's well worth visiting Greyhound-data.com to see some of her accomplishments.

At Jacksonville, Memory Calling won the $25,000 Mayor's Cup for the Patsy Delisle Kennel over a strong field that included KC Ironore, Mega Gordy, SEK Bank Roll, and Memory Calling's brothers Sanafel Sun and Forty Daysandnites. Sanafel Sun and Mega Gordy ran second and third.

At Mile High, 13-1 longshot LR Chaka Zulu outran favorite Pat C O'Dahy and defending champ Beam's Full Moon in the $50,000 Colorado Classic. Baci won the Budweiser Feature at Palm Beach to cap a six-race win streak.

The brother team of RJ's Typhoon and RJ's Whirlwind swept the Iowa Bred Match Race Series. At Dubuque, Typhoon led Whirlwind across the line and in the return match at Bluffs Run they swapped finishing positions.

Slatex Shell won the the Pepsi Challenge Match Race at Gulf over JNJ Satin Prince who had to settle for Place after leading most of the race. Slatex Shell had already ammassed 27 wins and 37 paychecks in 40 starts at just 27 months of age by mid-1998.

Two inductees to the Hall of Fame were announced. Carroll Blair, who with his brother Clinton operated Blair Brothers Kennels for many years, handled such dogs as Flashy Sir, Jeno's Leo Go, Jimmy's Smile, Land and Iowa Park. Also inducted was the great Buzz Off whose influence on the 1990s was profound with offspring like Blendway, Bartie, Bara Buzz, and Buzz Around.