Greyhound Racing

First round of the bestbet Sweet 16 stakes will take place on Wednesday evening in the 7th and 11th race. The top greyhounds at the racetrack were ranked by the racing department and pitted against one another in true tourney style. The top four finishers of each race will move on to the finals in the 11th race on Saturday evening March 1st at bestbet Orange Park.

A Ray Kennel’s DB’s Blast has four wins and a second in her last five Grade AA races for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mate CTW Cuba Liberty has three straight victories (C, B, A).

Bussmann Balakas Bocs Kennel’s Bob’s Cassie has three Grade AA wins in a row for trainer Chris Brill.

Lester Raines Kennel’s RC Doc’s Batt has three victories and a second in his last four TAA 3/16 starts for trainer Joel Roden. Kennel-mate CTW Limelight has captured three out of his last four outings (M, D, C).

Our greyhounds at Derby Lane are gearing up for a “SUPER” racing weekend and a few athletes gave fans a sneak peek into this weekend’s action. Tuesday night’s racing saw the top Capabal kennel’s male “ice” his rivals and score five in a row over the 550-yard course. Joey Ice (Kiowa Sweet Trey x Queen Rania) was a pup to watch when he made his maiden debut just five months ago for owner Joey Lingle. In six starts Joey was in the top grade and entered the Fall Sprint after just ten career starts. The impressive pup made it all the way to the stakes final. Joey was also a semifinalist in the Fall Juvenile. Joey has won five of his seven starts this year. He could be selected for the 10th annual Rotary Governor’s Hot Box feature that is slated for Saturday afternoon February 8.

Kiowa Jordan Doc blazed a trail over the 550-yard course in 30.35 to earn a post in the 30th annual Matinee Idol stakes featured on January 20-just two days before the multiple stakes winning male’s third birthday.

Trained by John “Jay” Graham the 66-pound dual distance son of (Flying Penske x Kiowa Tiffany) shows amazing durability. He has stayed on the active list for over 85 straight weeks and competed in 125 races boasting a 77% money record. During that time Doc collected three stakes wins along the way and other stakes monies from competition over both the 550 and 660-yard courses. Doc closed the year as runner-up in the $75,000 Holiday stakes over the 660-yard course. Three weeks later he opened Derby Lane’s 89th season with a victory in the Inaugural (550) stakes. His winning time of 30.30 set this year’s fastest 550-yard time and it was the fastest ever recorded in the 89-year history of an Inaugural. His Idol qualifying time gives him the seasons top two times in 2014.

The final eight Greyhounds have been determined for Saturday afternoon’s 34th running of Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $50,000 He’s My Man Classic.

Rader Racing Kennel’s Rob Gronkowsk iwill enter the final as the only undefeated entry in qualifying, winning all preliminary events by a total of 24 lengths.

Already this potential future All-American’s accomplishments are utterly spectacular. In his first year of racing, the “Gronk” was victorious in Southland Greyhound Park’s (West Memphis, Arkansas) $80,000 Fall Classic Sprint Championship and last September, took home the title of Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $20,000 Gallagher/Kinnaird Puppy Stakes champion.

Semifinal action for Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $50,000 He’s My Man Classic takes place Sunday afternoon, January 12.

Two semifinal races will be contested with the top eight point scorers earning their way into the championship final slated for Saturday afternoon, January 18.

After 21 qualifying races, the sweet sixteen in point earnings will go muzzle-to-muzzle to determine which eight of these superstars will be going for the 2014 championship and the $25,000 first-place prize.

Round two qualifying action for Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $50,000 He’s My Man Classic takes place Saturday afternoon, January 4.

Fifty-five Greyhounds who competed in the first round of qualifying last Wednesday afternoon will return for the second round, facing different Classic entries and all striving to be among the top 32 point earners.

Derby Lane holiday schedule features special Tuesday matinees.

The greyhounds are winding down for the final race days of 2013. Derby Lane will feature matinee racing on Christmas eve and New Year’s eve, but the entire facility will be closed Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve falls on Tuesday December 24. The track will feature matinee racing only alongside of the Poker and Simulcasts. The entire facility will close at 6:00PM Christmas Eve so families may be together. The track will remain closed on Christmas Day and will reopen Thursday December 26. Poker and simulcasts will be offered in the afternoon and first post for Greyhound racing is 7:30PM. The regular Friday schooling and evening races and the Saturday double remain the same.

Bussmann Balakas Bocs Kennel’s Bob’s Cassie has four straight Grade AA victories for trainer Chris Brill. Kennel-mates Boc’s Loose Lips (AA) and Gale Gloria (TB, TAA 3/16) have back-to-back wins.

A Ray Kennel’s SE’s High Octane has four victories and a second in his last five starts (A, AA) for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mates AMF Nicky Flash (AA) and AMF Open Space (AA 3/8) have back-to-back wins.

Second-round qualifying action for Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $50,000 James W. Paul 3/8ths Mile Derby takes place Saturday afternoon, February 8.

The same forty-eight Greyhounds from round one will compete Saturday afternoon in six qualifying events.

Saturday matinee both on and off-track fans were treated to thrilling races at Derby Lane that saw two “power pups” make news. Joey Ice and Kiowa Zabia clocked season best times over the 550-yard oval in their top grade races. After several days of rain the fans enjoyed an afternoon of competitive races that saw favorites cash in the trifecta in ten of the fifteen races. The rain is also credited for adding to the speedier surface.

The top Capabal kennel watched their star sprinter Joey Ice (Kiowa Sweet Trey x Queen Rania) give another exciting performance as the 75-pound male scored six in a row in race six. Joey broke second and rushed his way to the front and increased his win by four at the wire for the win. Joey Ice clocked a new season’s best time of 30.22, which was .08 seconds faster than the previously set time. Joey Lingle owns Joey Ice and could not be more proud of the kennel’s star.

Vince Berland Kennel’s Flyin Man Of God has five straight Grade AA wins for trainer Brent Woodcock. Kennel-mates Flying Lone Wolf has four victories and a second in his last five Grade AA races, B Da Bomb has five wins and a second in his last six trips (M, D, C, B, A, AA) and B My Erica has captured four out of her last five outings (C, B, A, AA).

A Ray Kennel’s Flying Chanel has four straight victories (M, D, C, B) for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mates DB’s Blast (AA) and AMF Open Wide (B, A 3/8) have back-to-back victories while AMF Clear Choice has two wins and a second in his last three 3/16 starts (B, TA).

D’Arcy kennel’s Holiday Distance champion Golden Squire is seeking 11 in a row Saturday night January 11. The 77-pounder whelped from Derby Lane’s 2008 St. Petersburg Derby champion Greys Touch Gold is following in mother’s footsteps at Derby Lane. Squire boasted a perfect money record during the July – December meet. Squire began his winning spree over the 660-yard course in December to close out the year with nine in a row and a first stakes win. Squire collected impressive stats from October 19 –through December 28th Golden Squire won 13 of 14 races.

Palm Beach Kennel Club will present third-round action for the $50,000 He’s My Man Classic Wednesday afternoon, January 8.

Following two rounds of point earnings, the original field of 56 hopefuls has been reduced to 32 athletes, all willing and eager to make it to the top 16.

Given a chance to make history in the championship race of the $500,000 Iowa Breeders Classic at Bluffs Run on Saturday, Nov. 2, SH Avatar proved every bit the superstar with his awesome and amazing performance.

Breaking from the two box, SH Avatar went box-towire to win by four lengths, he was never challenged. His winning time of 30.03 seconds for the 5-16 mile course was .51 seconds better than any winning time posted on the Saturday evening card. The 30.03 clocking ties Boc’s Skippy Lou’s 2009 time as the fastest IBC winning time.

Avatar became the oldest greyhound, at three years, five months, to win the IBC (AC Gallant Nathe had won the IBC in 1989 at three years, three months).