For Immediate Release
April 8, 2018
ROUND ONE QUALIFYING FOR PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB $20,000 BOB BALFE PUPPY STAKES WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 11!
64 YOUNGSTERS GO TO POST IN EIGHT QUALIFYING RACES!
West Palm Beach, Fl. – Round one qualifying action for Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $20,000 Bob Balfe Puppy Stakes gets underway Wednesday afternoon, April 11.
A tremendous field of 64 of the track’s most promising young up-and-coming racing stars will take to the oval in eight sensational qualifying events. The entire field will return for round two Saturday afternoon, April 14.
The entries will be halved to 32 for round three Wednesday afternoon, April 18. The field will then be cut to sixteen for the semifinals on Sunday afternoon, April 22.
The final eight will comprise the $20,000 Bob Balfe Puppy Stakes field and will take to the track in the championship finale, Saturday afternoon, April 28.
This year’s field is one of the most talented and star-studded groups of youngsters to compete in recent memory.
Some noticeable standouts Wednesday afternoon include: Race 4 will be a battle to the first turn between #3 Cobi’s Dakota (Lonesome Cry – Brighter, Rader Racing) and 13-season race winner, #5 Amazing Chick (KC And All – Amazing Chesney, James Douglas Kennel). Whoever leads entering the backstretch should win this qualifier.
Race 6 looks to be a battle of the early-speedster #4 Flat Chat Cuppa (KC And All – Jill Vik, Janie Carroll Kennel) and the strong-closing #5 Barts Fort Brag (Trent Lee – Barts Accountant, James Douglas). This should be an exciting qualifier to witness!
In Race 8, fans will be crawling over each other at the mutual windows to wager on #1 JS Mane Event (KC And All – TY Kay Event, Rader Racing). This beautiful little girl is by far the class of the field, having already competed in the finals of February’s $50,000 James W. Paul 3/8ths Mile Derby.
Again, in Race 12, class should win out as nine-race season winner #3 Racing Wishes (Kiowa Mon Manny – Racing Angel, Lester Raines Kennel) should be able to snag the early lead and never look back.
Wow! is all I can say for qualifying Race 14. Sitting pretty in the one box is the fourth-place finisher in last January’s $50,000 He’s My Man Classic, JT’s In The Bank (Pat C Sabbath – Julianne Hough, Koppe, Staats & Collins Kennel). If you looked in the dictionary for the words “Best Bet”, Mr. Banks picture would be beside it!
In the final qualifier of the afternoon in Race 15, all eyes will be on the up-and-coming youngster, #6 BY’s Wonka (Trent Lee – Skatter McBones, Rader Racing). Wonka flew in under the radar as a young pup, earning 13 out of 18 Quiniela finishes. He is known for his outstanding late speed and may be a little closer to the first turn than usual considering the competition. This handsome guy is one of the early favorites to earn a golden ticket to the puppy stakes championship final.
Qualifying events will also be held in races 2 and 10.
The Puppy Stakes is named in honor of former Palm Beach Post Time sports columnist and great friend to Greyhound racing Bob Balfe.
Contact: Jeff Prince (561) 683-2222, Ext. 126 / jprince@pbkennelclub.com
Join Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pbkennelclub
Join Us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pbkennelclub
