The Best Feelin
On Saturday evening August 5th at bestbet Jacksonville the 2017 edition of the bestbet Sprint Classic took place, and if you wanted a race to watch, this was it. This final was loaded with talent, including last year’s winner, the track record holder, the best pup in the country, other stakes finalists, and some early speed stars that would make anyone work to see the front end. All ready to go in the 11th race, but how this race played out, would be something that no one saw coming.
As the lure rattled through the far turn and the started box popped open in the 11th race on the card, the most unlikely of greyhounds decided that tonight was the night to break. Sure, several were close at the start, but the track record holder, Real Good Feelin, was the one that seized the moment and took the early lead. Making up for her rough trips in her last two finals, Real Good Feelin was here to run and that is just what she did. Pushing the lead from the get go, she took the early speeders to task as they went to the turn. In tow was Gs Humongous, and Lk’s Freestar, along with the super-pup Pure Sensation. By the turn the separation had already started as Real Good Feeling opened up 3 full lengths on the rest of the field. Pure Sensation had taken over second and was setting his sights on the leader down the backside. Lk’s Freestar was also in contention at this point, but soon it would turn into a two-greyhound race. Real Good Feelin continued to press the lead on the front end and it appeared that no one was going to better her on this occasion. But the race was not over just yet. Pure Sensation continued to give his all, and by the far turn he had chipped away at the lead just a bit. Other greyhounds made moves in the backstretch as well and it was going to be a jumbled mess for the third best behind the dynamic duo up front. Turning for home, Real Good Feeling was in complete control as she breezed for the finish line. Pure Sensation was not done just yet though. He dug in deep and gave everything he had for one last run at the leader before the wire. Gaining with every stride he took, that is saying something as the greyhound on the lead was the track record holder, Pure Sensation closed some of the gap before they hit the wire. Real Good Feeling clung to her easy lead as she bested the field at the finish line by a length and a half. Pure Sensation was second, as he cut her lead in half over the second part of this race. Any other greyhound in the lead, he would have won, but still a great showing from a greyhound that has only 9 official starts. The show spot was highly contested and had to be settled by a photo finish. And both competitors came from off the pace to challenge for a spot in the money at the wire. Ww Mind At rest won the photo over Mrl Bold Ego for show as early threat Lk’s Freestar had to settle for 5th at the finish line after being outrun late. Completing the field was last year’s winner Hey Hey Daddy in 6th, Gs Humongous in 7th, and Watch Me in 8th.
As the lure rattled through the far turn and the started box popped open in the 11th race on the card, the most unlikely of greyhounds decided that tonight was the night to break. Sure, several were close at the start, but the track record holder, Real Good Feelin, was the one that seized the moment and took the early lead. Making up for her rough trips in her last two finals, Real Good Feelin was here to run and that is just what she did. Pushing the lead from the get go, she took the early speeders to task as they went to the turn. In tow was Gs Humongous, and Lk’s Freestar, along with the super-pup Pure Sensation. By the turn the separation had already started as Real Good Feeling opened up 3 full lengths on the rest of the field. Pure Sensation had taken over second and was setting his sights on the leader down the backside. Lk’s Freestar was also in contention at this point, but soon it would turn into a two-greyhound race. Real Good Feelin continued to press the lead on the front end and it appeared that no one was going to better her on this occasion. But the race was not over just yet. Pure Sensation continued to give his all, and by the far turn he had chipped away at the lead just a bit. Other greyhounds made moves in the backstretch as well and it was going to be a jumbled mess for the third best behind the dynamic duo up front. Turning for home, Real Good Feeling was in complete control as she breezed for the finish line. Pure Sensation was not done just yet though. He dug in deep and gave everything he had for one last run at the leader before the wire. Gaining with every stride he took, that is saying something as the greyhound on the lead was the track record holder, Pure Sensation closed some of the gap before they hit the wire. Real Good Feeling clung to her easy lead as she bested the field at the finish line by a length and a half. Pure Sensation was second, as he cut her lead in half over the second part of this race. Any other greyhound in the lead, he would have won, but still a great showing from a greyhound that has only 9 official starts. The show spot was highly contested and had to be settled by a photo finish. And both competitors came from off the pace to challenge for a spot in the money at the wire. Ww Mind At rest won the photo over Mrl Bold Ego for show as early threat Lk’s Freestar had to settle for 5th at the finish line after being outrun late. Completing the field was last year’s winner Hey Hey Daddy in 6th, Gs Humongous in 7th, and Watch Me in 8th.
Congratulation head out to the DQ Williams Kennel, Owner Tina Williams, Kennel Owner Sharon Williams, trainer Craig Edwards, and everyone else connected with this fantastic greyhound. This win was her 60th at bestbet and her 85th overall. She won 25 races at Gulf Greyhound Park and is yet another stakes winner out of the stellar brood Need A Date. Hey Hey Daddy, her sister won this race last year. Seldom Told won the 2016 Orange Park Derby and the Holiday Extravaganza Sprint, and Need My Moneynow won the Daytona 550 race, and the March Mayhem in 2016. Turning four this month, she might be getting a little long in the tooth, but if she keeps running like she did in this final, there could be more races to win at bestbet. If not, I think she might just have a future as a brood matron too. Good luck to her in whatever comes her way in the future.
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