2015 Spring Classic Champion & Greyhound of the Week – U Too Alexis (05/02/15)
Click to view U Too Alexis’ Win.
With all of the eyes of the civilized world drawn towards Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky for the running of the 141st Kentucky Derby, the fans in the great state of Texas were treated to stakes competition at Gulf Greyhound Park with the running of the $4,000 Spring Classic Championship sponsored by the Texas Greyhound Association.
(Left to Right)
Tommy La Rosa – Trainer, Meteorite Kennel
Sally Briggs – Gulf Greyhound Park General Manager
Paul Watt – Texas Greyhound Association
Nick James – Texas Greyhound Association; Executive Director
Joe Quinn – Gulf Greyhound Park Assistant Manager
Eight of the finest 660-yard Texas-bred athletes and their connections representing four of the kennels on the Texas Gulf Coast set their sights on the top prize Saturday afternoon May 2nd. Of course, most of the attention was turned in the direction of the triple entry from D.Q. Williams Kennel with qualifying round winners #6 Real Good Feelin and #7 Twinkle Twinkle along with second place finisher #5 Hey Hey Daddy. Lost in the shuffle was one the few closers in the field, #2 U Too Alexis from Meteorite Kennel, and boy oh boy did the 68-pound black daughter of Trent Lee – U Too Silk show off her skills with a powerful come from behind effort to claim the Spring Classic Championship.
Seven days prior to the running of the Championship finals in the qualifying round held on Saturday evening April 25, U Too Alexis began her journey around the 660-yard course in typical fashion from the back of the pack wearing the colors of the #5 blanket. As the race progressed with Real Good Feelin flying along on the lead setting a torrid pace, there were a few moments when it appeared that U Too Alexis would not even advance to the finals but those thoughts were erased quickly with a late rally down the stretch to qualify safely in third place.
Although the post-position draw usually does not play into the final outcome of the races run by U Too Alexis due to her style of almost literally walking out of the 660-yard starting box, the blue colors of the #2 blanket proved to be noteworthy and a little more prevalent for this special occasion. It was now time for the big show and U Too Alexis did not attract much attention from the fans being sent off at odds of 8 to 1, luckily the athletes can’t read the tote board. In the early portion of the race, U Too Alexis began in usual fashion with a slow start but racing luck appeared to be in her favor as wide running #1 TB’s Flo Rita from K-Rod Kennel and #3 SWG Topaz from Libby Racing Kennels became tangled up early creating some much needed room to maneuver and U Too Alexis took full advantage improving her position. The good fortune would continue as #8 Filosa from Libby Racing Kennels and #4 Colt Camacho from Meteorite Kennel took up the chase towards the outer portion of the track allowing U Too Alexis loads of running room to move up into the fourth spot around the escape turn. As the field raced down the backstretch, the blue colors of the #2 racing blanket could be seen streaking towards the front as U Too Alexis passed #7 Twinkle Twinkle and #6 Real Good Feelin leaving only the third and final D.Q. Williams Kennel obstacle, race leader #5 Hey Hey Daddy, between her and victory. At this point with her motor in high gear, there was no stopping this freight train in the form of U Too Alexis from the winner’s circle as she powered home to a convincing five length triumph in a time of 36.97 seconds for trainer Tommy LaRosa and owner Faye Shepherd.