Round one of the 2019 bestbet Sprint Classic was ruled by Lashmet Kennel. Winning three of the 8 races on the card, they were not only the only kennel to win more than one race, they posted up the best time too. That came in race number 9 as Lk’s Countess left nothing to chance. Ruling from the get-go, she exploded out of the starting box and took instant command of the race. Drawing away with every step that she took, she was never threatened and stopped the clock in a blistering time of 30.45 seconds as she beat the rest of the field by 4 lengths. Jack’s Atwitzend ran a carbon copy race in the 2nd on the card. Breaking on top, she took a slim lead at the first turn, increased it down the backside, and held strong in the stretch to score a 2.5 length box to wire win in 30.75 seconds. The third winner for the Lashmet kennel came in the 11th race as Lk’s Good Golly showed up. Breaking in the middle of the pack, Golly outrushed everyone to the early lead and took a comfortable margin down the backside. By the far turn the lead had dwindled away and, in the stretch, it got a bit dicey, but in the end, she held tough on top and survived the closes to win by a half a length in 30.80 seconds.
The other five races were taken by a single kennel. The most impressive of those had to be from the prerace favorite Pat C News, from the Pat Collins Kennel. When you already win a sprint stakes title and has 9 wins in 10 starts, everyone expects you to win, and that is just what he did. Breaking close, he fired up the front stretch and took command of the race heading to the turn. Once in front, well like they say, race 7 on the card was OVER! He breezed up front, 5 lengths clear of the rest to the far turn and extended away in the deep stretch to stop the clock at 30.82 while he put 6.5 lengths between him and his nearest competitor.
If you want to talk speed, the second fastest win on the night came in the 4th race at the paws of Braska Hazel. Closing is how she makes a living and that is just what she did in this effort. She didn’t break on top, but she was close early, found room going to the turn, and was only off a length at the first turn. Down the backside she made the run and came out 2 lengths ahead of the rest at the far turn. Down the stretch she just poured it on and left the field by three more lengths at the finish line as this Blanchard runner stopped the clock at a speedy 30.49 seconds.
The other winners included Mac’s Blake from the Falcon Kennel, Mo’s Tweety from the Crowe Kennel, and Itsarasseldassel from the Win City Kennel. Blake took home a near box to wire win in the 10th race on the card as he stole away 4 lengths early and coasted all the way to the wire for the easy win in 30.60 seconds. Mo’s Tweety gave a similar effort in race number 12. Breaking fast, she took a couple of lengths lead over the rest at the turn, and would not surrender the top spot, even though she was pressed hard, before she got to the wire. Winning by 1.5 lengths, her time was 30.79 seconds. Last but not least was Itsarasseldassel. Dassel broke even, but rushed hard to the lead, got some held behind at the turn and stole 4 lengths on the field heading down the backside. At the far turn she was still in control in race number 5, but late she was giving up the ghost. She dug in deep though and lasted late to win by a length in 31.04 seconds.
Round 2 runs this Friday evening July 19th at bestbet Jacksonville. All eight races will return as each greyhound will have another shot to score some points and have a chance to move on to the quarterfinals. Don’t miss out! Grab your friends, make some plans, and enjoy a great night of live racing action here at bestbet Jacksonville.