Parimutuels

Bahama Mama eyes another prize

By DON JENSEN
Published May 28, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Bahama Mama Greyhounds has put on quite a display at Derby Lane.

It has set a record for most meet victories and appears to be a lock to capture a third consecutive kennel championship.

Bahama Mama can add another achievement when it enters Firework Display and Sure Do Shine in the St. Petersburg Derby. They will be two of 64 greyhounds competing tonight in eight stakes-elimination races for the 660-yard Derby and 550-yard Gold Trophy Juvenile Stakes.

Championship races for the two $40,000 stakes races are scheduled for June 4. The top four finishers in each first-round elimination event proceed to Wednesday night's semifinals, and the first four dogs in each semifinal advance to the finals. Dogs who don't qualify participate in the Consolation Derby, also June 4.

Bahama Mama led all kennels with 281 wins in 1,489 starts through Thursday. It broke Ryan Farms' record for victories in a meet Wednesday when Firework Display rallied to win for the 16th time, tying him with Sure Do Shine for third place in the individual standings. Bahama Mama led Capabal Kennel by 37 victories with eight days remaining in Derby Lane's season, and has captured three stakes this year, the only kennel with more than one.

Racing secretary William Van Hoogen has a quality field for both stakes races with six of the track's top 10 winners entered.

Pnj's Barr of Capabal Kennel seeks his second straight Derby championship after upsetting Cayman Went. The loss prevented Bahama Mama from sweeping all veteran stakes last season.

Another worthy challenger is Distance Classic runnerup Its Dust Em , winner of 12 races for Wayne Ward Kennel.

The Gold Trophy, which was postponed in April because of kennel cough, features second-leading winner Uss Raceway of Lester Raines Kennel. Uss Raceway has 21 victories in 35 starts and returned to action this week after being sidelined for a month.

C&C Kennel has two talented greyhounds in litter mates Whistler's Sea and Whistler's Miss , who have combined for 31 victories. Whistler's Sea has won five of his last six races, including Night of Stars XV.

Wc's Badger of Floyd & Porter Kennel and Sol Taylor of Wayne Ward are other worthy foes. Wc's Badger owns the longest current win streak with six among his 15 victories. Sol Taylor, the Puppy Preview winner, has won 13 times.

The Gold Trophy is for pups who won their maiden race at the current Derby Lane meet.

MORE DERBY LANE: There will be a special Monday matinee on Memorial Day with post time at 12:30. The evening performance begins at 7:30. Beginning today, there will be free admission for the remainder of the meet.

OUSTED IN IOWA: Derby Lane greyhound Flying Newport was eliminated May 21 in the semifinals of the $300,000 Bluffs Run (Iowa) Open. Flying Newport finished fifth in his final qualifying race and was eight points shy of making tonight's final.

PROMOTIONS: Tampa Bay Downs director of publicity Margo Flynn has been named vice president of marketing and publicity and track controller Greg Gelyon was named the facility's vice president of finance. Tampa Bay Downs vice president and general manager Peter Berube said, "Margo and Greg have distinguished themselves as key members of senior management and are well deserving of the promotions."

[Last modified May 28, 2005, 00:09:12]