Lincoln, Rhode Island: Twin River's Best Greyhounds Getting the Job Done

The greyhound racing action at Twin River, located in Lincoln, Rhode Island, was as good as it gets recently, with stars on display and news of a pair of lucrative stakes races on the horizon. Twin River is in the midst of a stakes event right now, that one being their puppy stakes for dogs whelped in 2005. Twin River had many of their best going to post on Monday, July 30th, as the stakes eliminations were on tap, as well as an appearance by the two best dogs on their respective courses, the dasher CTW Hard Rain and the wonderful sprinter, JNB Atomic Bomb.

First the stakes news. Twin River is in the process of putting together two events, each worth $100,000; one is the American Derby over the 3/8ths of a mile distance and the other will be a sprint stakes. Both will be open to outside invaders, meaning that the top greyhounds from around the country will be allowed to participate and attempt to grab the brass ring. Already, Derby Lane's standout router Flyin Bridgeport has reportedly committed to the American Derby, a long running stake that has seen such greats as Downing and Blazing Red come away with its title. It will indeed be an exciting time for New England greyhound racing, which needs a shot in the arm with the closing of tracks such as Plainfield and Shoreline Star in Connecticut, and places like Seabrook and Hinsdale in New Hampshire going to seasonal racing.

Whenever CTW Hard Rain runs lately, it is jus a matter of by how much and how fast. The 72 pound white and red brindle male out of Kiowa Sweet Trey had won six in a row coming into the Monday races, all 3/16ths dashes. Every one of these wins was one in which Hard Rain was never headed, and this heat would be more of the same. Hard Rain broke on top from the five hole and won going away in 16.89, eclipsing his previous best time of 17.01 seconds for the 330 yards. Hard Rain has won from the inside, outside, and middle holes during his run and is far and away Twin River's premier "short yardage man."

The best 1,650 foot course dog at the Ocean State oval is without a doubt JNB Atomic Bomb, but even he has his bad days. One of those came recently, on July 14th, when he went to the turn in a major logjam and took a tumble, requiring that he school back. In that schooling heat he won by almost six lengths, proving that his fall had not caused him any harm. On the July 30th card, Atomic Bomb drew in extremely tough, as the likes of thirteen race winners Pa's Osirus and Stanford Star were on hand to welcome him back to the wars. Megawatt Nelson, a fourteen time victor this year at Twin River, was also in the field, as was the hard trying duo of Nita's Kinsey and Driven By Jeter. Atomic Bomb was not at all phased by all the talent surrounding him, as the July 2004 son of Clappin Thunder broke second and then proceeded to blow Pa's Osirus off the track, trouncing him by five full lengths in 30.29 for his fourteenth triumph in twenty Twin River starts.

The puppy stakes qualifying saw CTW Well Defined, TK Rocket Man, and Flying Good Luck all come away with wins. The Rocket Man's was his third in the competition out of three tries, as his place in the August 4th final is guaranteed. Running out of the Tutalo-Richard outfit, a Twin River stalwart kennel for years and years, Rocket Man has made it look easy and will undoubtedly be favored in the big race. Flying Good Luck, making just his fifth career start, upset kennelmate Flying Real Loud, who was also trying to make it through eliminations undefeated. In the final qualifying tilt, CTW Well Defined nailed down a slot in the finals for trainer Graydon Robtoy when he ran down Flying Lyman in the stretch. The upset of the day occurred early, in the second race, when Humara ran the race of her young life, a one length win at 17-1 odds over Cool Nikita that came in 30.29, tied for the fastest of the day at 1,650 feet with none other than the Atomic Bomb.