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Floyd & Porter kennel aims for big night at Derby Lane

 
Published Nov. 8, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG — If you need to communicate with Patty Floyd, pick up the phone and call her. The Derby Lane kennel co-owner is old school, not one to tweet.

"That's just the way I am," Floyd said. "I'm not into all that other (social media) stuff."

Floyd's phone could be busy tonight if one of her three Floyd & Porter kennel finalists — Cbj Ellen, Cj's Mack or Well Received — is able to win the $20,000 Fall Juvenile Stakes at Derby Lane. Winner of Race 8 at 9:13 p.m. earns $9,000.

Floyd says the 550-yard race appears to be a wide-open event.

"You could throw a hat over all of them," she said. "It could be any of them to win it. I haven't seen one that was a lock."

Throughout the 12 Fall Juvenile qualifying races in the past 14 days, greyhounds raced on a strip that ranged from slow to fast. A clocking under 31 seconds at 550 yards is considered good. But of the 95 times recorded during qualifying, only 10 were less than 31 seconds.

Joey Rightywhity (Capabal kennel) had the fastest time Wednesday (30.39) to gain a spot in the final. The slowest winning time (31.55 by Tnt Bones Jones in the second qualifying round on Oct. 29) helped light up the tote board with a $166.80 payout for a $2 win ticket. He failed to make the finale.

A slow track bias was prevalent the first week that Fall Sprint qualifying began. In 104 overall races from Oct. 25-31 on the 550 course, only 10 of 828 dogs (1.2 percent) recorded times under 31 seconds. From Nov. 1 through Thursday, times in 92 races improved with 85 of 730 dogs (11.6 percent) under 31 seconds.

The meet's best 550 time of 30.05 belongs to Joey Ice (Capabal), who is sidelined with an injury.

"The track has been slower, but I just want a consistent (condition)," Floyd said. "If you see a 30.80 (tonight), I would be happy. Years ago, that was a super time."

Cbj Ellen came from Southland Park in West Memphis, Ark., where she was winless in 10 starts. She has won 12 of 24 races at Derby Lane for trainer Derek Barsell.

Cj's Mack, the qualifying leader, is the least experienced finalist with 11 starts (seven wins). Floyd has a sentimental spot for the 21-month-old male, having raced his dam Gretchen Oswalt from 2008-11. His sire is 2010 Triple Crown greyhound winner Flying Coal City.

"Mack is such a happy dog," Floyd said. "If you watch him when they parade him (on track), he's always wagging his tail and wants to love everybody."

Cbj Ellen and Cj's Mack are early-speed sprinters. Well Received has won five races. D'Arcy kennel also has three finalists: Fair Thee Well, Hero Of Sixteen and Just A Dream. Penrose Lobo (Cal Holland) completes the field.

VETERANS DAY: There will be a matinee card only Tuesday and no evening performance.