Post by CampWhippet on Apr 27, 2006 19:47:07 GMT -5
Powerboat finally showing his stuff
By Stan Pawloski Times Leader Wire Editor
It's been quite a journey.
A long journey.
Expectations were high when Flying Powerboat came out of the 2005 National Greyhound Association Spring Meet in Abilene, Kansas. A winner in the August/September One Final, Powerboat packed plenty of speed - a great quality for a Wheeling greyhound.
At the auction, Flying Powerboat was purchased for $19,000 by Cary Alsobrook (Charter Kennel operator) for Henry Howe who has raced a number of dogs at the Wheeling Island oval.
"Cary rated Powerboat as one of the top prospects coming out of that meet," Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley said. "He had speed and had a powerful rush to the turn."
A September 2003 greyhound out of Kiowa Sweet Trey-Prima Liberty, Flying Powerboat arrived in Wheeling in late April 2005. It would be eight months before Powerboat would run his first official schooling race.
"When Powerboat came in from the nationals he showed a little favoritism in one foot," Cooley said. "We took X-rays but we couldn't pinpoint the problem so we decided to take him off for four to six weeks."
After six weeks and countless hours of working Powerboat back, he appeared ready for schooling. Unfortunately, the pain returned and Powerboat went back on the shelf.
"We had him X-rayed again and this time it showed a problem with a sesamoid bone in one of Powerboat's toes," Cooley related. "We elected to go with surgery which sidelined him for another six to eight weeks."
More rehab followed, but the pain persisted.
"Powerboat started compensating for the toe problem and began to soar up in his shoulder," Cooley said. "It's very difficult to repair something that small. Finally we decided to have the toe removed."
Three weeks later, Powerboat was on the track pain-free.
"He looked real good in the morning," Cooley said. "He was getting close. The speed was there."
Powerboat won three out of four official schooling races in December. It was time to launch his career.
Starting in Grade D because of his age, Powerboat had a second and a pair of fourths in his first three starts. Then he posted back-to-back victories in Grades D and C.
Powerboat climbed the ladder to Grade AA in 16 starts.
"He was off for so long it took him awhile to get that edge back," Cooley said. "He needed to get back in racing shape."
Grade AA has brought out the best in Flying Powerboat.
After a second in his first three starts against the track's top sprinters, Powerboat won his next three in a row. In two of the victories, he went right to the top and never looked back in winning by 5 1/2 and 5 lengths while in the other win he closed from second in the stretch.
"He's so powerful when he gets room or a lane to run in," Cooley said. "In his first two Grade AA wins he put so much early speed on them he ran the rabbit away from the other dogs in the race."
One key to Powerboat's success in Grade AA is an improvement in his break.
"He's breaking better and getting more consistent with each start," Cooley said. "It's all about timing and stamina with a speed dog and he's getting that now."
Cooley also is pleased with the improvement in Powerboat's times. He has stopped the clock in 29.97, 30.01 and 30.18 in his three Grade AA victories.
"I'm extremely happy with the way Powerboat is running. He's meeting the expectations he had when he first came to Wheeling," Cooley said. "It's been a long process. Right now he's showing his true ability."
In 23 career starts, Powerboat has 8 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds and 3 fourths - a 68 percent mark on the pay sheet.
Cooley also had some kinds words for Howe, who remained patient throughout the long ordeal.
"He never asked me once what was going on during the eight months Powerboat was off," Cooley said. "It's nice to have owners who have faith in you."
In addition to Powerboat, the Charter Kennel has received a nice boost lately from sprinters BI's Track Boss and Char Gold Coast.
Track Boss, who caught fire in late March, has 3 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third in her last seven Grade AA starts. Highlighting her efforts were a box-to-wire victory in 29.79 as she held off sprint star Kelsos Fusileer.
"She's really taken to the track and her confidence is high," Cooley said. "I look for some good things out of her this summer."
In 23 career trips, Track Boss has 9 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third and 6 fourths - an 82 percent mark on the pay sheet.
Gold Coast has been on a roll since early April. He has won four out of his last six starts - Grades C, B, A and AA.
"All of a sudden he just woke up," Cooley said. "He always had the ability, but he didn't show it all the time."
He has 11 wins, 4 seconds, 7 thirds and 8 fourths in 45 career outings - a 68 percent mark on the pay sheet.
www.timesleaderonline.com/sports/story/0427202006_spt05_dogs.asp
By Stan Pawloski Times Leader Wire Editor
It's been quite a journey.
A long journey.
Expectations were high when Flying Powerboat came out of the 2005 National Greyhound Association Spring Meet in Abilene, Kansas. A winner in the August/September One Final, Powerboat packed plenty of speed - a great quality for a Wheeling greyhound.
At the auction, Flying Powerboat was purchased for $19,000 by Cary Alsobrook (Charter Kennel operator) for Henry Howe who has raced a number of dogs at the Wheeling Island oval.
"Cary rated Powerboat as one of the top prospects coming out of that meet," Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley said. "He had speed and had a powerful rush to the turn."
A September 2003 greyhound out of Kiowa Sweet Trey-Prima Liberty, Flying Powerboat arrived in Wheeling in late April 2005. It would be eight months before Powerboat would run his first official schooling race.
"When Powerboat came in from the nationals he showed a little favoritism in one foot," Cooley said. "We took X-rays but we couldn't pinpoint the problem so we decided to take him off for four to six weeks."
After six weeks and countless hours of working Powerboat back, he appeared ready for schooling. Unfortunately, the pain returned and Powerboat went back on the shelf.
"We had him X-rayed again and this time it showed a problem with a sesamoid bone in one of Powerboat's toes," Cooley related. "We elected to go with surgery which sidelined him for another six to eight weeks."
More rehab followed, but the pain persisted.
"Powerboat started compensating for the toe problem and began to soar up in his shoulder," Cooley said. "It's very difficult to repair something that small. Finally we decided to have the toe removed."
Three weeks later, Powerboat was on the track pain-free.
"He looked real good in the morning," Cooley said. "He was getting close. The speed was there."
Powerboat won three out of four official schooling races in December. It was time to launch his career.
Starting in Grade D because of his age, Powerboat had a second and a pair of fourths in his first three starts. Then he posted back-to-back victories in Grades D and C.
Powerboat climbed the ladder to Grade AA in 16 starts.
"He was off for so long it took him awhile to get that edge back," Cooley said. "He needed to get back in racing shape."
Grade AA has brought out the best in Flying Powerboat.
After a second in his first three starts against the track's top sprinters, Powerboat won his next three in a row. In two of the victories, he went right to the top and never looked back in winning by 5 1/2 and 5 lengths while in the other win he closed from second in the stretch.
"He's so powerful when he gets room or a lane to run in," Cooley said. "In his first two Grade AA wins he put so much early speed on them he ran the rabbit away from the other dogs in the race."
One key to Powerboat's success in Grade AA is an improvement in his break.
"He's breaking better and getting more consistent with each start," Cooley said. "It's all about timing and stamina with a speed dog and he's getting that now."
Cooley also is pleased with the improvement in Powerboat's times. He has stopped the clock in 29.97, 30.01 and 30.18 in his three Grade AA victories.
"I'm extremely happy with the way Powerboat is running. He's meeting the expectations he had when he first came to Wheeling," Cooley said. "It's been a long process. Right now he's showing his true ability."
In 23 career starts, Powerboat has 8 wins, 2 seconds, 2 thirds and 3 fourths - a 68 percent mark on the pay sheet.
Cooley also had some kinds words for Howe, who remained patient throughout the long ordeal.
"He never asked me once what was going on during the eight months Powerboat was off," Cooley said. "It's nice to have owners who have faith in you."
In addition to Powerboat, the Charter Kennel has received a nice boost lately from sprinters BI's Track Boss and Char Gold Coast.
Track Boss, who caught fire in late March, has 3 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third in her last seven Grade AA starts. Highlighting her efforts were a box-to-wire victory in 29.79 as she held off sprint star Kelsos Fusileer.
"She's really taken to the track and her confidence is high," Cooley said. "I look for some good things out of her this summer."
In 23 career trips, Track Boss has 9 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third and 6 fourths - an 82 percent mark on the pay sheet.
Gold Coast has been on a roll since early April. He has won four out of his last six starts - Grades C, B, A and AA.
"All of a sudden he just woke up," Cooley said. "He always had the ability, but he didn't show it all the time."
He has 11 wins, 4 seconds, 7 thirds and 8 fourths in 45 career outings - a 68 percent mark on the pay sheet.
www.timesleaderonline.com/sports/story/0427202006_spt05_dogs.asp
