SUNCOAST KENNEL SCORES AGAIN AS ATASCOCITA MORSE WINS PALM BEACH KENNEL CLUB’S $20,000 GALLAGHER / KINNAIRD PUPPY STAKES!
West Palm Beach, Fl. – In a nail-biting finale, it was Suncoast Kennel’s Atascocita Morse holding off a fast-closing Open Throttle to win the twenty-first running of Palm Beach Kennel Club’s $20,000 Gallagher/Kinnaird Labor Day Puppy Stakes.
As the starting box opened for the finale, it was #7 O Ya Pawsome breaking on top, followed by a quick-rushing #4 Open Throttle, #3 Kenny Rogers and #5 O Ya By Favre.
So, where was #8 Atascocita Morse? It didn’t take long for racing fans to figure out. Breaking next to last, Morse took advantage of most of the early speed going to the inside, leaving the outside totally clear for the future champion to use his amazing rushing ability.
Entering the backstretch, it was Open Throttle holding a short lead with Atascocita Morse giving chase on the outside.
Passing the tote board and heading into the final turn, it was Atascocita Morse taking command with Open Throttle, Kenny Rogers, O Ya Pawsome and O Ya By Favre giving chase.
At the top of the stretch, it was Atascocita Morse ahead of Open Throttle by two lengths, and at this point, it was clear this was going to be a two-Greyhound sprint to the finish line.
As the finish drew closer, Atascocita Morse’s lead was slowing dwindling. Open Throttle was closing in fast.
With only a few feet of track remaining to the wire, it was Atascocita Morse holding off Open Throttle, winning by one-half length in a 545-Yard Royal Palm Course clocking of 30.11 seconds and returning a healthy $15.40 to his very happy supporters.
Open Throttle, O Ya By Favre and Kenny Rogers finished second, third and fourth, respectively.
Atascocita Morse collected a cool $10,000 for his outstanding victory.
Suncoast Kennel has won four of the last seven $20,000 Gallagher/Kinnaird Puppy Stakes, starting with Atascocita Henri (2012), Atascocita Dinah (2014) and Atascocita Lloyd in 2017.
The complete 2018 Gallagher / Kinnaird Puppy Stakes order of finish:
1st – Atascocita Morse (Atascocita Gray – Atascocita Kado, Suncoast Kennel)
2nd – Open Throttle (Need My Moneynow – MW’s Morrigan, D. Q. Williams)
3rd – O Ya By Favre (Defrim Bale* – O Ya Jennifer, Lester Raines Kennel)
4th – Kenny Rogers (Lonesome Cry – AMF Bet On Red, Ryan Racing)
5th – O Ya Pawsome (Defrim Bale* – O Ya Jennifer, Lester Raines Kennel)
6th – Gloom N Doom (Who Says I Can’t – Damesihave Loved, D. Q. Williams)
7th – Figfin Dancer (KC And All – SE’s Fig Time, Janie Carroll)
8th – Seize Tight (KC And All – Ennis Siege, Lester Raines Kennel)
Formerly known as the Labor Day Puppy Stakes, this marked the tenth year of its’ new moniker, named in memory of two Palm Beach County legendary sportscasters, and great friends of the Palm Beach Kennel Club, Jim Gallagher and Buck Kinnaird.
Contact: Jeff Prince (561) 683-2222, Ext. 126 / jprince@pbkennelclub.com
Join us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pbkennelclub
Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pbkennelclub
