We return to the `youth movement` for the Greyhound of the Week spotlight as trainer Cindy Unrein and owner Charter Kennel, Inc. have a young superstar in the making that has taken the Texas Gulf Coast by storm. Spry Cairo, a 73-pound black son of Lonesome Cry – Odd Extreme possesses the winning formula for success with loads of early box speed running away with win after win over the 550-yard course at Gulf Greyhound Park.
The journey began in October of 2012 with immediate gratification winning both official schooling attempts in preparation for Spry Cairo’s debut on October 24. Drawing the yellow colors of the #6 post position, Spry Cairo graduated from the maiden class with ease winning by 2½ lengths as the 4/5 race favorite. Another official schooling race was in order three weeks later on November 15 in winning fashion racing away by six lengths but then there a major scare in his grade J outing on November 21. Starting from post position #3, Spry Cairo broke quickly from the starting box but backed up unexpectedly finishing in last place suffering a minor injury that some thought could possibly put an end to Spry Cairo’s career after it had just begun.
Three months passed and Spry Cairo proved the critics wrong returning to the racing scene with two more winning official schooling efforts in late February and then an impressive 8½ stomping of grade J competition in a time of 29.99 seconds on March 7. The climb up the grade ladder was quick with three wins, one second and one third place finish in the next five starts through grades C to A. On April 7, Spry Cairo made an instant splash against the Gulf’s elite competition of grade AA winning his top grade debut in eye opening fashion going box to wire finishing 6½ lengths in front stopping the timer at 29.81 seconds, just .01 off his career best time of 29.80 on March 23.
The latest two race win string to earn the weekly honors began in front of over 1,300 fans on Saturday afternoon May 4 in anticipation of the Kentucky Derby. Standing in Spry Cairo’s way was the blazing early speedster and budding superstar SOS Awesome from Currid Racing. As expected, SOS Awesome sprung out to his usual early lead with Spry Cairo in close pursuit just three lengths behind around the first turn. Spry Cairo narrowed the gap down the backstretch and finally with a determined stretch drive, drove past SOS Awesome to reach finish line one length in front stopping the timer in the fastest time of the day at 29.82 seconds as the slight 2 to 1 post time favorite.
On Thursday evening May 9, there would be a re-match as Spry Cairo faced SOS Awesome once again. Sporting the blue colors of the #2 post position, Spry Cairo beat his rival to the punch rushing to the lead around the first turn ahead of kennelmate Blackjack Katon as SOS Awesome rushed up quickly in pursuit after breaking a step slow. With a narrow one length advantage, Spry Cairo slowly increased his lead to two lengths around the far turn and then shifted gears to race off alone down the stretch winning by 6½ lengths scoring consecutive victories and improving his impressive young record to 15/9-3-1-0 heading into Sunday afternoon’s action.
The journey began in October of 2012 with immediate gratification winning both official schooling attempts in preparation for Spry Cairo’s debut on October 24. Drawing the yellow colors of the #6 post position, Spry Cairo graduated from the maiden class with ease winning by 2½ lengths as the 4/5 race favorite. Another official schooling race was in order three weeks later on November 15 in winning fashion racing away by six lengths but then there a major scare in his grade J outing on November 21. Starting from post position #3, Spry Cairo broke quickly from the starting box but backed up unexpectedly finishing in last place suffering a minor injury that some thought could possibly put an end to Spry Cairo’s career after it had just begun.
Three months passed and Spry Cairo proved the critics wrong returning to the racing scene with two more winning official schooling efforts in late February and then an impressive 8½ stomping of grade J competition in a time of 29.99 seconds on March 7. The climb up the grade ladder was quick with three wins, one second and one third place finish in the next five starts through grades C to A. On April 7, Spry Cairo made an instant splash against the Gulf’s elite competition of grade AA winning his top grade debut in eye opening fashion going box to wire finishing 6½ lengths in front stopping the timer at 29.81 seconds, just .01 off his career best time of 29.80 on March 23.
The latest two race win string to earn the weekly honors began in front of over 1,300 fans on Saturday afternoon May 4 in anticipation of the Kentucky Derby. Standing in Spry Cairo’s way was the blazing early speedster and budding superstar SOS Awesome from Currid Racing. As expected, SOS Awesome sprung out to his usual early lead with Spry Cairo in close pursuit just three lengths behind around the first turn. Spry Cairo narrowed the gap down the backstretch and finally with a determined stretch drive, drove past SOS Awesome to reach finish line one length in front stopping the timer in the fastest time of the day at 29.82 seconds as the slight 2 to 1 post time favorite.
On Thursday evening May 9, there would be a re-match as Spry Cairo faced SOS Awesome once again. Sporting the blue colors of the #2 post position, Spry Cairo beat his rival to the punch rushing to the lead around the first turn ahead of kennelmate Blackjack Katon as SOS Awesome rushed up quickly in pursuit after breaking a step slow. With a narrow one length advantage, Spry Cairo slowly increased his lead to two lengths around the far turn and then shifted gears to race off alone down the stretch winning by 6½ lengths scoring consecutive victories and improving his impressive young record to 15/9-3-1-0 heading into Sunday afternoon’s action.
