Repetition key for B's Mayor Maynot

ST. PETERSBURG — The past becomes prominent for Capabal kennel owner Henry Parker when he deals with B's Mayor Maynot.

Staying busy is the only way to be.

Parker relates B's Mayor Maynot's work ethic to that of his children, Matthew and Christine Parker, former swim team members at Northeast High School in St. Petersburg.

"It's all repetition," Henry Parker said. "My kids swam every single day. They would get up early in the morning at 4:30 and be in the pool. I can relate (B's Mayor Maynot) to them.

"I've tried to baby (B's Mayor Maynot) a little bit — going two starts one week, one start the next. It hasn't really work out. … He got a little stale, because (with him) it's all repetition."

B's Mayor Maynot, who has developed into one of Derby Lane's top performers under trainer Belinda Parker, is expected to be a main challenger in the $75,000 Distance Classic from March 25 to April 8. The 660-yard event is the St. Petersburg track's richest stakes race with $30,500 going to the winner.

Henry Parker didn't know what he had when B's Mayor Maynot came to Derby Lane this November from Southland Park in West Memphis, Ark. The 27-month-old male won "too early," Parker said, by breaking his maiden in his first career race. The competition became more challenging after that for B's Mayor Maynot, who lost his next six races by a combined 83 lengths. That is when owner Tim Balakas of Chesterfield, Mo., and his daughter, Krissy Bussmann, an assistant trainer at Southland Park, asked Parker to take the son of Flying Penske and Kelsos Uptosnuff.

B's Mayor Maynot made a quick impression with Parker. In his second schooling race, he won by 12 lengths in 30.68 seconds.

"I'm like, 'Wow, this guy can run a little bit,'" Parker said.

Another move helped the 72-pound dog find his niche. After winning only one of his first six starts at Derby Lane — all at 550 yards — Parker switched B's Mayor Maynot to the 660 course. He has since won 11 of his past 22 starts, and is tied with Cal Holland kennel two-time stakes winner Kentucky Kat for the meet win lead.

"(B's Mayor Maynot) just couldn't clear in the sprints, because he didn't have enough box speed to get around," Parker said. "Anytime you try a dog in ⅜ths, you have to wonder if they can (do it). This ⅜ths (course) at Derby Lane is a tough one. … It's really difficult to come up with that kind of dog."

B's Mayor Maynot has clocked three of the meet's top nine times at 660 yards, including 37.17 seconds. His career-best clocking is a 37.01 on Dec. 24. The front-running standout has produced two wins by nine lengths, and one by seven.

"He gets out (of the starting box) quick for a big, leggy dog," Parker said. "He'll win by a bunch if he gets out. If he is on the lead, they have a hard time picking him off."