JOEY ICE again No. 1 in the UGR TOP 25 POLL
Complete poll results can be found — > HERE
Joey Ice returns to the number one ranking in the final UGR poll for 2014…he may be down, but he is certainly not out. The Iceman also is named UGR’s Greyhound of the Year, after a spectacular year in which he won 46 races including two prestigious stakes-the Derby Lane Sprint Classic in March and the Fall Sprint in October. He appeared in each of the UGR Top 25 polls this year, and was twice ranked No. 1. Joey Ice (Kiowa Sweet Trey-Queen Rania) was in the running for the nations win leader before his injury ended his 2014 campaign. For this two month period, the Derby Lane superstar, born January, 2012, won 8 of 10 races and had six consecutive wins. He lost in only one round of the Fall Sprint stakes, and won the finals by four lengths in a stakes record time of 30.19. Joey Ice followed that race with a season best clocking of 30.05 on October 8th. The news from Henry Parker of the Capabal Kennel is very promising and Joey Ice could return to racing in 2015. He has been invited to compete in the BetAmerica Daytona 550 national championship race in late January. Here is hoping that the Iceman returns to racing, and is as strong as ever. Congratulations to the Capabal Kennel and owner Joey Lingle on Joey Ice becoming United Greyhound Racing’s No. 1 greyhound for the year.
Flying Titanium (Flying Hydrogen-CTW Twang Thang)) finished No 2 in both this poll and in the final top 10 poll for 2014. Titanium competed against arguably the deepest group of top grade greyhounds in the nation, and in August won the People’s Choice Challenge. He won 6 of 11 races in this poll period and won three consecutive rounds in the Festival of Stakes. He was the favorite in the finals, but was crowded and bumped at the break and finished a disappointing sixth. The Lester Raines standout was Southland’s win leader through October. Flying Titanium also appeared in each of the UGR Top 25 polls, and has received an invitation to the Daytona 550.
TriState’s Mac’s Louisa earned the No. 3 ranking by winning 7 of 8 races, including the last two at Wheeling after shipping there for the WVGOBA Stakes. She finished no worse than third in her last twelve starts. The 70lb brindle female is quick to the turn, and should be a factor in the Breeder Stakes. She is out of Kiowa Mon Manny- Lady Antebellum and is owned by Patrick McMillon.
Pat C Sabbath (KC and All-Operation Scorch)) won the $200,000 Iowa Breeders Cup, and is ranked No. 4 in the latest poll. Sabbath won 7 of 10 races at Dubuque and posted winning streaks of five and three races. He gave a determined effort to win the Breeders Cup by two lengths. This speedy greyhound can win on or from off the lead for owners Melissa Schmidt or Patrick Collins. Pat C Sabbath races for the Pat C Greyhound Kennel.
The next two spots in the poll are occupied by a couple of Bluffs Run kennel mates- Boc’s Hank Jr (No. 5) and Boc’s John Luke (No. 6). Hank Jr was undefeated in the qualifying rounds of the $500,000 Iowa Breeders Classic, and won those convincingly by an average of six lengths. He finished third in the finals for owners Brad Boeckenstedt and Mickey Hasty. The son of Kiowa Mon Manny and Boc’s Miss Rodeo recorded 9 wins in 13 starts over a two month period, and had a five race win streak to his credit. Boc’s John Luke (Super Lee-Antsie Nancy) was coming off a couple of stakes wins in August and September, and was ranked No. 4 in our last poll. First he won the Bluffs Run Open, and then he followed that with a win in the Secretary’s Choice. He ran second in the finals of the Breeder’s Classic. John Luke had an overall record of 6 wins in 13 starts September and October. He is owned by Brad Boeckenstedt.
Orange Park’s Kiowa Mat Marty (Kay V Tatoo Tony-Kiowa Matty) makes his second straight appearance in the poll finishing at No. 7. He was No. 15 in the last poll. Mat Marty won the Jacksonville Sprint Classic going box to wire despite being pressured entering the homestretch. He won 6 of 8 starts, and had an impressive nine race winning streak that began in August. Mat Marty runs for the Connell Kennel and is owned by Smith Greyhounds.
The 2013 second team All-American Go Bon Coaltrain (Flying Coal City-Go Bon Sugarland) grabs the No. 8 ranking. The Train won 5 of 10 races with his five wins coming in consecutive fashion. One of the top greyhounds at Wheeling over the last two years, Coaltrain appears in this year’s Top 25 Poll for the first time after multiple appearances last year. He is owned by Vince Berland.
Another Bluffs Run standout-Hilco Klassy- is ranked No. 9, and she makes her second appearance in the top ten this year. The female out of KC and All and Primco Kapow won the $500,000 lowa Breeders Classic defeating a talented field of greyhounds. The 66lb female took the lead in the first turn, and was never challenged winning by an impressive six lengths. Her race record this period was 8 wins in 12 starts, and she had a four race win streak to her credit. Hilco Klassy runs for the Bean & Stout Kennel, and is owned by Jeff Cole and Alan Hill.
Rounding out the top 10, is the 3/8 specialist from Flager- Flying Brother. The son of Bd’s Grayson and Flying Snap On won 10 of 15 races and dominated the mid distance races over the last two months. He closed out the month of October with three consecutive wins, and then won his first race at Naples to extend his streak to four. He runs for the Everett Kennel, and is another talented greyhound owned by Vince Berland.
Bluffs Run placed three greyhounds in the top ten and a fourth greyhound-DS Libra- finished No. 12 in this poll. Southland led all tracks with five greyhounds ranked in this poll. Six greyhounds made back to back appearances in the last two polls. Those not mentioned previously are Kiowa Mat Marty (No. 7), Flyin Supergiant (No. 17) and Husker Magic (No.19).
This poll also includes some extremely talented younger pups. Boc’s Hank Jr (No.5) has started his career with 14 wins in 19 starts. Seldom Told, an 85lb explosive pup from Gulf Greyhound Park is No. 13. He is followed by Chasmos Diesel (No.14)-the Festival of Stakes Juvenile Champion at Southland, and Tmc’s Sweety Pie (No.16) the Orange Park 3/8 Derby winner.
