AN ALL-STAR IN THE MAKING!
WW ALL STARODELL VICTORIOUS IN PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB $20,000 BOB BALFE PUPPY STAKES CHAMPIONSHIP!
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A Celebration in the Paddock on a Rainy Saturday Afternoon For the Winner of the $20,000 Bob Balfe Puppy Stakes WW All Starodell |
West Palm Beach, Fl. - He’ll turn two-years-old May 2, 2012, but already the buzz is in the air that a great one has arrived.
Saturday afternoon, April 21, the youngster known as WW All Starodell raced into the Palm Beach Kennel Club history books in winning for the Steve Gilster Kennel and owner Brad Bolton the coveted $20,000 Bob Balfe Puppy Stakes championship.
What makes Odell’s victory even more impressive, and historical, is the fact that he is the first Greyhound in Kennel Club history to win the honor of “Top Pup” while going undefeated through all four qualifying rounds.
Wearing the yellow blanket of post six, WW All Starodell rushed the first turn in true championship style entering the backstretch giving chase to Brindle Kennel’s well-positioned rail-runner Doinitforsumdoll.
As the duo approached the final turn on the 545-yard oval, one could sense what was going to happen. At track side, trainer Dee Dee Lewis along with three generations of the Bolton family watched in utter silence.
Even as WW All Starodell passed Doinitforsumdoll, racing fans knew they were going to cash in their winning tickets, but Lewis and the Bolton’s were still holding their breaths.
As the home stretch grew shorter and the finish line drew nearer, they came to the realization of what was going to happen.
And when Odell crossed the finish line, all the bottled up emotion of losing the previous month’s running of the St. Patrick’s Invitational and the pressure of having the only undefeated Greyhound in the Bob Balfe Puppy Stakes was let go.
There were shouts of joy, enough hugs for an entire season of the Oprah show and handshakes for everyone.
Even for racing fans at track side, they could sense that this was a very, very special win.
“Dee Dee Lewis and the Gilster Kennel have done a great job with this pup.”, said owner Brad Bolton. “He is still so young and I can’t wait to see what the future holds as he matures. All I can say is WOW! That was fun and exciting!”
WW All Starodell won by more than three lengths in an impressive clocking of 29.62 seconds and returned $5.00 to his very appreciative supporters.
Doinitforsumdoll, Preston and Turbo Edwin finished second, third and fourth, respectively.
The complete order of finish:
1st - 6. WW All Starodell (Iruska All Star - WW’s Oprah, Steve Gilster Kennel)
2nd - 1. Doinitforsumdoll (Grenade - Flying Exquisite, Brindle Kennel)
3rd - 2. Preston (Kiowa Pretence - Kiowa Hail Happy, Royal Racing Team)
4th - 3. Turbo Edwin (Dodgem By Design - Greys Wind Gate, Rader Racing)
5th - 8. Crapshooterdance (Grenade - Flying Exquisite, Brindle Kennel)
6th - 7. Boundfortheshore (Dodgem By Design - Outshineeveryone, Douglas)
7th - 4. Milam Pierce (Team Record* - Sheriff Morton, Steve Gilster Kennel)
8th - 5. Minor Stroke (Rhythmless - Maza Mania, Rader Racing)
The Puppy Stakes is named in honor of former Palm Beach Post Time sports columnist and great friend to Greyhound racing, Bob Balfe.
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