Kiowa Jordan Doc chases another stakes title at Derby Lane

ST. PETERSBURG — Kiowa Jordan Doc is a chip off the old block.

As he continues his march toward matching sire Flying Penske's 14 stakes finals, the Pauline O'Donnell kennel standout goes for his fourth career stakes title Monday in the $10,000 Matinee Idol at Derby Lane.

The 66-pound greyhound surpassed Flying Penske in stakes victories with his Jan. 4 win in the $8,000 Inaugural.

"Jordan Doc has got such a sparkling personality," kennel manager-trainer John Graham said. "All the leadouts love him, everybody loves him … even his competitors."

Kiowa Jordan Doc and Gold Trophy Juvenile winner Art Vandelay are the only stakes champions in the Matinee Idol finale (Race 10, 2:47 p.m.). Other starters: Bella Mastermind, Flying Sebastian, Jack's Timeless, Jw B Ward, Kruby and Rams Contango.

Owned by Kay Smith and James O'Donnell, Kiowa Jordan Doc has followed in the footsteps of the late Flying Penske, a 2013 Greyhound Hall of Fame inductee who made 131 starts with 65 victories and two stakes crowns. He died in 2006.

Kiowa Jordan Doc, with lifetime earnings of more than $85,000, has 127 starts with 38 victories, 11 in stakes competition. This will be his ninth final from 11 stakes appearances.

The dual-distance dog has won the past three 550-yard stakes events that he has been eligible for: the $50,000 Fall Sprint, the $8,000 T.L. Weaver Memorial Challenge and the Inaugural.

His best showing in a 660-yard event has been a second to D'Arcy kennel standout Golden Squire, who had his 10-race win streak snapped Jan. 11.

In the Inaugural, Kiowa Jordan Doc set several marks. He clocked a career-best 30.30 seconds, the fastest time in the 89-year-old race, and the $21 mutuel win payout was his highest ever.

"Jordan Doc just turned 3 years old and we're feeling pretty good about his chances going forward," Graham said.

HORSES: Dinner in Odem, a 10-year-old gelding owned by Sharyn and Peter Wasiluk Jr., makes his 100th career start today in Race 8 (3:53 p.m.) at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar. … The Downs has several activities scheduled for its Festival Preview Day card on Feb. 1. Three stakes races are set, highlighted by the Grade III $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes. The owner of the 3-year-old that wins that race will be eligible for a $1 million bonus if the horse adds victories in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 8 and the Kentucky Derby on May 3. One trackside fan who selects the Sam F. Davis winner will have his/her name randomly chosen that day by the race's winning jockey and be eligible for a $100,000 prize if the horse wins the three races. The Downs also will start a daily online handicapping contest Feb. 1 (concluding April 5) with the top prize including a seat at the 2015 Daily Racing Form/National Thoroughbred National Handicapping Contest. Go to tampabaydowns.com for more information.