Charter captures ’08 kennel crown
By STAN PAWLOSKI, Times Leader Wire Editor
The third time's the charm.
After finishing runnerup in the Wheeling Island kennel standings in both 2006 and 2007, Charter came out flying in 2008.
The Rodney Cooley-trained juggernaut never eased up as Charter nearly went box-to-wire in winning its first kennel championship since coming to Wheeling in late 2005. Charter captured 575 races while Wayne Ward was second with 531 wins.
"We came out swinging and didn't let up. Winning the kennel championship was a goal we set when we came to Wheeling and it's a great feeling to win it," Cooley said. "We had a nice combination of our own dogs, national dogs, leased dogs, veterans and pups. Just finishing in the top five at Wheeling is an accomplishment with the competition."
Photo: T-L Photo/STAN PAWLOSKI
LEADING
THE Charter Kennel to the 2008 win championship at Wheeling Island
were, from left, Makin Bakin and TNJ Bonita, held by trainer Rodney
Cooley; Ugo Lonesome Boy, with Donnie Finsley; and Silver Jones and
TK?Quick Strike, held by Robert Cooley. The five combined for nearly
100 victories.
Next in line behind Charter (575) and Wayne Ward (531) were Darren Henry, 486; Steubenville, 477; Flying Eagles-Miner, 413; Gable, 410; C And C, 404; Arivada-Plum Creek, 389; Lester Raines, 368; A Ray, 353; Douglas, 343; Ryan Farms, 340; Thorne-Abrahamson, 335; Michael Fynmore, 330; Steve Sarras, 300; Wayne Strong, 284 (partial year); Green-Maupin, 232; Cardinal, 228; Majestic, 37 (partial year); and Keota, 30 (partial year).
Charter Kennel's Cary Alsobrook said it's an honor to take top kennel honors at the Wheeling racetrack.
"Winning a kennel championship means we took care of details throughout the entire organization. To win at Wheeling means much more as we are accomplishing some of the highest and most demanding goals in this industry," Alsobrook said. "It has been our purpose to run at the top tracks with the best competition in the nation. The challenge is not work when we are all sharing the fun that comes with success."
Leading the way for the Charter Kennel was TK Quick Strike, the All-American hopeful, with 31 victories. Also in double digit wins were Makin Bakin (19), Silver Jones (18), Ugo Lonesome Boy (16) and TNJ Bonita (13).
"I couldn't ask for a better year out of Quick Strike. He had a monster season," Cooley said. "Makin Bakin may have lost a step, but she still competed at a high level. Jones was a greyhound you could count on all year long."
In addition to capturing the kennel win championship, Charter Kennel was tops in win percentage with 17 percent. Wayne Ward was second with 16 percent followed by Darren Henry with 15 percent; Steubenville and Flying Eagles-Miner, 14 percent each; and Lester Raines, 13 percent.
Charter also led all kennels in trifecta percentage with 44 percent. Next in line were Wayne Ward, 43 percent; Darren Henry and Steubenville, 42 percent each; Flying Eagles-Miner, 41 percent; and Lester Raines, 40 percent.
The Gable Kennel topped the chart with 3,381 starts followed by Steubenville (3,313), Wayne Ward (3,264), Charter (3,222) and C And C (3,209).
Cooley was quick to credit his kennel staff which, includes Patti Cooley, Robert Cooley, Dorothy Tober and Michelle Pavelick.
"We have a great team and everyone contributed to our success," Cooley noted. "Cary (Alsobrook) has been there every step of the way."
Alsobrook said the kennel's success is a team effort.
"It's not just Rodney (Cooley) and myself. It's the farms which contribute greyhounds with the athletic quality required at Wheeling and it's the work and study each greyhound owner puts in to produce quality greyhounds," Alsobrook said. "Every member of the Charter team is a spoke which keeps the vehicle rolling and on track. We take pride in communicating with one another in a very productive manner."
Alsobrook also had high praise for Cooley.
"I can't say enough about Rodney Cooley. He is the captain of the ship," Alsobrook said. "To compete with Charter means you have to go through him. He is one of the toughest trainers to beat and manages this organization in an exceptional manner."
IN THE HOMESTRETCH:
INCHING CLOSER: Kiowa Power Pak posted his ninth straight victory Wednesday afternoon as he moved closer to Casual Casey's all-time track mark of 16 straight victories.
It was not easy as the Steubenville Kennel middle distance ace broke slow and was still racing sixth at the escape. Power Pak made a big backstretch move as he advanced to third, and then with a powerful stretch run, picked off leader AMF Nudge by a neck.
A January 2007 greyhound out of Kiowa Mon Manny-Kiowa More Mar, Power Pak has 21 wins, 7 seconds, 2 thirds and 6 fourths in 40 career starts. He is owned by James E. O'Donnell and trained by Debbie Schweizer.
At Derby Lane, Flying Mancini - a finalist in the $100,000 Wheeling Island Invitational in October - had her winning streak snapped after nine straight victories at the Florida track.
Competing in the semifinals of the Matinee Idol (5/16), Mancini broke second to Reward Trent but was unable to run down the frontrunner.
HOT DOGS: Lester Raines Kennel's USS Ricochet has three straight wins (A, AA) for trainer Joel Roden.
Steve Sarras Kennel's Dennis Eckersley has three victories in a row (C, B, A) for trainer Barbara Long.
Ryan Farms Kennel's Navan has won three out of his last four outings (D, C, B) for trainer Terry Green. Kennel-mate Garros has back-to-back victories (C, B).
Steubenville Kennel's Hallo Cruse Gold (AA) and Kiowa Magnate (A, AA) have back-to-back wins for trainer Debbie Schweizer.
Wayne Strong Kennel's Bella Alexander has two straight Grade AA victories for trainer Laura Dolin.
Arivada-Plum Creek Kennel's Going Toe To Toe has three wins and two seconds in his last five trips for trainer Joe Otto.
Flying Eagles-Miner Kennel's CTW Trail Blazer has two straight victories (A, AA) for trainer Pamela Webb.
Douglas Kennel's Julia WW Gerry has two wins and a second in his last three starts for trainer James Roche. Kennel-mate D's Frank Burns has back-to-back wins (B, A).
A Ray Kennel's Diligent has two victories and two seconds in his last four starts for trainer Joe Palmer. Kennel-mates AMF Sweet Betty has two wins and a second in her last three trips while Djays Coolenough has back-to-back wins (C, B).
Darren Henry Kennel's Braska Bambam has two straight victories (B, A) for trainer Donna Wilcox.
Cardinal Kennel's Witty Girl has two wins and a second in her last three outings for trainer Roger Salem.
Wayne Ward Kennel's WW Gale Irish has back-to-back victories (B, A) for trainer Ron Otto.
Pawloski can be reached at sjpawloski@yahoo.com
They have a great team and everyone contributed to our success!
Keith
Posted by: telescopic handlers | 03/24/2010 at 10:33 AM
Wow, It's really amazing that Charter Kennel was tops in win percentage with 17 percent.
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