"Makin Bakin"
by Stan Pawloski
Not only is Makin Bakin fast, she's one smart cookie.
Smart and spoiled.
Every time Charter Kennel trainer Rodney Cooley or one of his
assistants walk past Makin Bakin in the kennel, she lets out a short,
high-pitched bark. While she'll gladly accept a stroke of her head,
Makin Bakin is looking for a treat and she usually gets one.
"She's trained us to always have one (treat) in our pocket," Cooley
said. "Just like on the track, she knows what she wants and goes after
it."
Spoiled or not, Makin Bakin deserves each treat she receives.
A February 2005 greyhound out of Lonesome Cry-Can She Cook, Makin Bakin
has had a remarkable career and doesn't appear to be slowing down a bit
despite turning 4 years old later this month. With three Grade AA wins
at Wheeling Island this year, Makin Bakin has now posted top grade
victories in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
"It takes a special dog
to compete for this long at this level. She puts it all out on the
line," Cooley said. "When Bakin first came to Wheeling, I thought she
had the potential to be a nice Grade AA dog but not what she's turned
into. She's exceeded all expectations."
Makin Bakin's career
marks, which include stops at Southland, The Woodlands, Derby Lane and
Wheeling, are staggering. In 128 career starts, she has 57 wins, 25
seconds, 14 thirds and 11 fourths.
Her track-by-track breakdown follows:
-- Southland (2-2-0-0-0);
-- The Woodlands (4-2-1-0-0)
-- Derby Lane (11-1-4-2-3)
-- Wheeling (111-52-20-12-8).
"I knew she had the speed to compete at Wheeling, but her consistency
has surprised me with all the other early speed dogs," Cooley noted.
"She's very determined, very alert. She's not going out there for a
little spin ... she's going out there to win."
Makin Bakin also has shined in stakes competition.
After winning her first two career starts (Maiden and Juvenile) at
Southland in August 2006, Makin Bakin came to Wheeling in September.
She never had an official schooling race, but worked out in preparation
for The Great American Greyhound Futurity in November 2006 at The
Woodlands.
Makin Bakin made the championship final of the
Futurity, but experienced early trouble and finished sixth. Shipped to
Florida for the Derby Lane Million, Bakin made the consolation final in
March 2007 where she finished eighth after getting bumped early.
Shortly thereafter, the speed merchant arrived at Wheeling Island which became her home track.
Despite missing the first two months of the 2007 racing season, Makin
Bakin turned in a stellar year. With a victory in the last race of the
year at Wheeling, Bakin tied Gable Pimiento for the track win
championship with 30 apiece.
"It was a thrill, a great
accomplishment for Bakin," Cooley said. "She struggled a little the
last couple months of 2007, but responded with a big effort to share
the win title."
The 2008 racing season proved another banner
year for Makin Bakin. She was fourth in the Superstar Challenge in
March, fourth in the Wheeling Island Invitational in October and third
in the Holiday Sprint in December.
"It was a special year for
Bakin considering her age," Cooley said. "While she wasn't able to win
any of the stake finals, it wasn't for a lack of effort."
Cooley isn't surprised Makin Bakin enjoyed success at each track she graced.
"Different tracks can take adjustments, but that didn't seem to affect
Bakin," Cooley said. "Fast tracks, deep tracks ... it didn't matter to
her. She's all heart and she's smart. She just gets up and goes."
Popping the box is Makin Bakin's game.
"She's a different dog on the lead," Cooley said. "The way she's been
snapping it this year looks like the Bakin of two years ago."
Makin Bakin has won three out of her last four Grade AA starts this
year -- all box-to-wire efforts from the eight hole. She also has a
second and a third in her six starts this year.
Owner Jay Woodhull of Connecticut is thrilled with Makin Bakin's accomplishments.
"To do what Bakin has done at her age is incredible. She's shined from
A to Z," Woodhull said. "Even when she traveled to different racetracks
she took it as a new adventure. She's amazing."
When Makin
Bakin's racing career comes to an end, she'll be remembered as one of
Wheeling's all-time greats. The numbers tell the story -- 83 percent
mark on the pay sheet, 75 percent on the trifecta ticket and a 44
percent winning mark.
All but a handful of her races have been against Grade AA company.
"Bakin has been a joy and a lot of fun. I'd love to have 15 more like
her," Cooley said. "She was my top dog in 2007, my top sprinter in 2008
and now she's off and rolling this year."
Charter Kennel's Cary Alsobrook, who raised Makin Bakin, said she "fulfilled every dream a person could ever expect."
Barry Baldwin, former President/General Manager of Southland Park and
now working for the parent company, Delaware North, saw Makin Bakin
first-hand when she broke in at the Arkansas track.
"Makin Bakin
is still one of my favorite greyhounds. She won her first two starts at
Southland and went right to stake competition at The Woodlands,"
Baldwin said. "At four years old, she is still holding her own with the
very best greyhounds racing at Wheeling. This is the type of greyhound
every breeder, owner and trainer hopes for. She tries hard every start
and stays healthly practically 100 percent of the time."
While Makin Bakin is all business on the racing surface, she's a doll baby off the track.
"She could be a poster child for a positive outlook," Woodhull said. "She's a sweetheart. She's all love."
