$10,000 Floridian, scheduled as the eighth on a nice race evening card, will go off Friday night at Mardi Gras. Also carded are two grade A sprint races. In the fourth, Smoked Em will try and light it up from the seven hole and in the sixth race, Mo's Real McCoy goes for seven in a row from box three.
 
Floridian Preview
 
1. WTD SUGARLAND
61 lb. Female (DK's Prime Time - WTD Memphis Beat)
Kennel: Joe Trudden (Brad Holomek, trainer)
Owner: N. Rader & B. Brookman
MG Record: 23/5-3-5-4
 
This one has the pedigree as her dam is a littermate to WTD Country Gold, a 2005 All-American and dual distance stakes performer. After a brief appearance at Palm Beach, the connections sent Sugarland to Mardi Gras to break her maiden. She showed early on that she appreciated the added distance. Shortly thereafter, she made her 3/8ths debut a winning one by wiring a grade C group easily. After testing the best at that distance in the American Derby (in which she was a semi-finalist) the twenty-four month old took on another challenge going into the Floridian. Sugarland is still young with upside, so the potential to quickly improve with a career best race is possible. She faces a stiff challenge. She put together a decent qualifying record, but her lone win came in a six dog field over a group that failed to make the Final. She has more of a late kick at shorter distances, but can close some at 770. At this distance, she'd rather be on the lead or just off the pace.
 
Bottom Line: Interesting from the rail. Has speed to make the lead and from that point she could be tough. Needs to step up in a big way, she'll have long odds.
 
Longshot.
 
2. HMG SEVENTYNINE
62 lb. Female (Kiowa Sweet Trey - Bird A Flyin)
Kennel: Gulf & Bay (Joseph Rumore, trainer)
Owner: Marie Amato
MG Record: 13/3-1-0-0
 
Arguably the most interesting, perplexing and quickest runner in the field. She's the only dog who can shoot to an early lead in a sprint or marathon race and win going away. She is the ultimate combination of speed and endurance, but she's also a little quirky. In the semi-final, she was unable to secure an early advantage and promptly threw in the towel. The talent is there as she is one of a very few who dipped under the thirty second barrier at Tri State last year, but she's also known for stringing together consecutive last place finishes. Seventynine is the only hound to defeat Goodlucksterling in qualifying which she did convincingly. She may have the best shot of upsetting the probable odds on favorite.
 
Bottom Line: She'll lay it on the line Friday night with her usual “all or nothing” ways. She should pop the box and be in front by turn one. What happens after that is up to her.
 
Probable second choice at post time.
 
3. CRY EXXON
77 lb. Male (Gable Diego - Keeper Closer)
Kennel: On Line Racing (Jennifer Arno, trainer)
Owner: Terry Scott
MG Record: 13/1-3-2-5
 
He shipped in from Wheeling with high expectations, primarily with his connections' sights set on the American Derby. After failing to make the Final, somewhat surprisingly, Terry Scott and the crew from On Line Racing gave him a shot at the marathon course. Through six starts at 7/16ths, he's managed just one win. He's shown a propensity to fade a little if he doesn't get the lead and with the presence of HMG Seventynine, the early lead will be tough to get. Exxon has the class to step up as he's a former track record holder at Wheeling.
 
Bottom Line: Connections are probably looking forward to getting him back to West Virginia after the Final.
 
Will be an underlay on the tote as those who are familiar with his Wheeling form will be reaching.
 
 
4. GOODLUCKSTERLING
72 lb. Male (RA Blazer - Good Luck Leslie
Kennel: D.Q. Williams (Carlos Perez, trainer)
Owner: Sharon Williams
MG Record: 23/11-9-1-2
 
Sterling is as classy as they come. He hasn't failed to pick up a check all season at Mardi Gras, highlighted by two second place finishes in the First and Second Series Championships of the American Derby. Sterling deserves a stakes win and if they gave the Trophy away based on merit, he's your winner. He'll be heavily bet, but trying to beat him at the windows will be a difficult task. Make no mistake, this is his best distance and unlike some others in here, he's still got stamina to burn. To make matters worse for his rivals, he's extra hot coming into the Final, hitting his break, getting close early to avoid trouble and taking control late winning by a combined twelve lengths in his last two.
 
Bottom Line: Sterling has evolved into one of the best marathon dogs in the country. In order to beat him, they will have to run their best and Sterling will have to an off night.
 
We're looking at 3/5 or shorter on the tote.
 
5. SPRY ROSS
66 lb Male (Dodgem By Design - Dancer Drive)
Kennel: Gulf & Bay (Joseph Rumore, trainer)
Owner: Charter Kennel, Inc.
MG Record: 22/5-5-2-3
 
Spry Ross torpedoed his way through the first two rounds, winning by four and eight and a half lengths respectively. His 44.05 clocking in Round 2 stands as the best time through qualifying. However in Round 3 and 4, he threw in a couple of mystifying clunkers. Ross has a nice turn of foot and can accelerate on the backstretch if clear, but he's not going to come out of the clouds to do so. He'll need a clean and quick break to be in contention turning for home.
 
Bottom Line: Which Ross will we see? If he reverts to his smashing Round 2 win he's capable of an upset, but others are showing more promise going into the Final.
 
If you like him, you should be able to get a nice price on a talented pup.
 
 
6. CRUDENESS
71 lb. Male (Let's Winendine - Loveless)
Kennel: D.Q. Williams (Carlos Perez, trainer)
Owner: Sharon Williams
MG Record: 16/2-5-5-2
 
It wouldn't be a distance stake Final if D.Q. Williams didn't have more than one entry. Crudeness is another in a long line of seemingly average pups that the Williams program has turned into a stakes finalist. They may have known all along considering his family history. His dam is a littermate to both Dauntless and the Jacksonville/Wichita legend Mindless. Dauntless was one of the best 3/8ths dogs to grace Wichita. He won eleven in a row and eventually seventeen of eighteen at one point. Littermate Mindless was even more impressive, racking up an astonishing 102 wins mostly all in top grade. As far as Crudeness, he has a long way to go to reach the same status. He is the only finalist who did not win a qualifying round. He fits this distance well (which is a tough task for most greyhounds), but the talent gap between him and his Floridian rivals may be too much to overcome.
 
Bottom Line: One has to respect the kennel's knack to qualify into stake races, especially distance Finals, but I'm sure they'd be willing trade in another from their kennel if they could.
 
Backers will likely be playing the kennel connection.
 
 
7. KR CONNIE
59 lb. Female (Flying Penske - Kelsos Silky)
Kennel: Valor Racing (Leon Giguere, trainer)
Owner: Kevin Gresham & R.E. Johnson)
MG Record: 20/5-0-6-3
 
Here's a pup that's been screaming for a chance to run this distance since she began her career. Actually, if tracks offered races at an even longer distance (i.e. the old Flagler Super Marathon) she'd relish the challenge. Connie broke in at Sarasota in late 2010 and was quickly moved to the backside and excelled. At the conclusion of the meet she went north to Dubuque, but the competition was a little more than she wanted at the time. Back to Florida she came last winter and when the opportunity presented itself to try 7/16ths, the Valor Racing Kennel took advantage. Although she rarely wins coming from so far out, she consistently hits the board. She squeaked into the Final with a Round 4 win after breaking alertly and steadily advancing until grabbing the lead late. She'll do her best running when they turn for home. It's only a matter of is she close enough?
 
Bottom Line: Do not leave her off any trifecta or superfecta tickets.
Most likely a double digit overlay. She may offer the best value.
 
 

8. RTR STRIKER ACE
67 lb. Male (TK Quick Strike - Kiowa Terror Ace)
Kennel: Brindle Kennel (Jorge Esquivel, trainer)
Owner: Tommy Tice
MG Record: 14/1-1-2-3
 
Not many former Ebro runners go on to compete in stakes races at top flight tracks, but Ace is bucking that trend. Ace has competed at Melbourne, Naples, Flagler and of course Mardi Gras. He's best known for winning a rare 9/16ths race held last October on the night of Flagler's Hecht Marathon Final. Ace also placed in the Ebro Marathon, was a finalist in the Ebro Derby and a semi-finalist in the Hecht Marathon. Well traveled and with plenty experience, he gets another shot at the top prize Friday night. He'll undoubtedly settle at the back in the early stages and come with a run late. He usually doesn't make the run early enough, but his wide running style can be both a hindrance and an advantage at avoiding trouble.
 
Bottom Line: #7 Connie and #8 Ace have identical styles with Connie having a little more stretch kick. Take your pick but using both may be unnecessary.
 
If they crush Sterling at the windows, you'll like this one's price.
 
 
Good luck...
 
Picks: 4-7-5-2