Parimutuels

Derby Lane Distance Classic is any dog's race

By DON JENSEN
Published March 19, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Throw the names into a hat and pick one. That may be one of the few ways to select a winner of the $100,000 Distance Classic at Derby Lane.

Eight greyhounds will compete tonight in the track's 46th annual event, the richest of the meet. But the $32,000 (first-place prize) question is: Which dog has the edge?

In the 12 qualifying races for the 660-yard championship race, only one favorite won. Three of the eight qualifiers are pups, and seven kennels will be represented.

Post time for the featured 10th race will be about 10:07 p.m.

The field in post position order: Descartes, Fuzzys Oklahoma, Linckia, Greys Irish Sea, Whistler's Sound, Its Dust Em, J's Habanero and Sure Do Shine.

Its Dust Em of Wayne Ward Kennel led all qualifiers with 48 points, and joined Descartes and Fuzzys Oklahoma as the only dogs to win twice in four qualifying races. Its Dust Em, one of two females in the race, is trained by John Graham.

First-year D'Arcy Kennel has two entries: Greys Irish Sea and Fuzzys Oklahoma. Both pups broke their maiden at Derby Lane this season, and Greys Irish Sea recorded the best qualifying time at 37.40 seconds.

"This is huge for me," kennel owner and trainer Mick D'Arcy said. "This is the first year on our own here, and we qualified with two of our old owners ( Jack and Mary Butler with Greys Irish Sea and Joe Frenette with Fuzzys Oklahoma). It's a big achievement."

As a trainer, D'Arcy has won three of the past 10 Distance Classics, most recently in 2000 with Greys Free Style. His kennel also won the Matinee Idol in January with Fuzzys Cannon.

The third pup is J's Habanero of Brumage/Filipelli Kennel, third in qualifying points.

Sure Do Shine, the other female entry, was the lone favorite to win a qualifying race. She competes for top kennel Bahama Mama Greyhounds, which won last year's Distance Classic with Cayman Went. Bahama Mama led all kennels this season with three stakes victories.

There will be free admission today for the matinee and night programs.

MORE DERBY LANE: Festive Event (dislocated toe) returned from a three-month layoff Wednesday and finished third in a Class A race. He was the track leader in wins with 14 at the time of his injury. Denby tied Festive Event's meet-best, 550-yard time of 30.22 seconds Wednesday. The Alderson Kennel dog won for the 10th time in 39 starts. Derby Lane dogs Bow Cominaround and Hays Apparition, fourth and fifth, respectively, in last month's Sprint Classic, advanced to tonight's final of the $75,000 Hollywood World Classic at Hollywood Greyhound Track.

TAMPA BAY DOWNS: While most of the attention will focus on Nick Zito-trainee Sun King in today's $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby, three other stakes races will be contested on Festival Day at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar.

The $150,000 Florida Oaks has attracted a field of nine 3-year-old fillies for the 1 1/16th-mile dirt race. Sis City would have been the odds-on favorite, but she wasn't entered by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. K.D.'s Shady Lane will represent Dutrow and is one of the favorites with Rudy Rodriguez in the irons.

Toll Taker and Gotta Rush are two challengers. Toll Taker won the Feb. 26 Suncoast Stakes for trainer Tim Hills, and Gotta Rush finished second in the race.

Post time for the seventh race will be about 2:45 p.m.

In the Grade III, $125,000 Hillsborough Stakes, trainer William Mott saddles 5-2 early-line favorite Delta Princess, winner of the Feb. 26 Endeavor Stakes. The 11/8-mile turf race has a field of 12 older fillies and mares. Heberto Castillo Jr. will ride the 6-year-old Kentucky-bred. A top contender is Snowdrops, winner of the Suwanee River Handicap. The Hillsborough will be the ninth race, with post time about 3:38 p.m.

The inaugural $75,000 Holiday Inn Express Turf Dash, a 5-furlong turf race, will be contested by 10 3-year-olds and up. Whenthedoveflies is the 2-1 early-line choice for Kirk Ziadie, one of Tampa Bay Downs' leading trainers. Placido is expected to challenge from the No. 1 post position. Post time for the sixth race will be about 2:20 p.m.

[Last modified March 19, 2005, 01:01:18]