Gulf Greyhound's Greyhound of the Week - Spry Derosa

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 Sponsored by the Texas Greyhound Association, the $20,000 Texas Round Up Sprint Championship on Saturday evening November 10 highlighted an exciting week as Gulf Greyhound Park celebrated its 20th anniversary. Leading into the finals over the La Marque, Texas racing oval, the `little darlin` of trainers Cindy Unrein and Vicky Garcia from K-Rod Kennel, Spry Derosa, had experienced a very successful stakes series with two front running victories and a third place finish placing her on top of the points list along with Atascocita Enok of Libby Racing Kennels.

In a special post position draw on Wednesday morning November 7, there were eight sealed envelopes containing the numbers one through eight as a representative for each of the finalists drew their fate for their shot at the richest purse race in the great state of Texas for 2012. Those that have followed Spry Derosa know that the running style of the 59-pound red daughter of Dodgem by Design – Dancer Drive is strictly early speed and hugging the rail. As Vicky Garcia ripped open the envelope, there were a few sighs and frowns from the camp of K-Rod Kennel as the #6 post position was revealed.
The big moment finally arrived for the championship finals as the anticipation was so thick that one could cut it with a knife and the key question to the outcome of the race arose, could Spry Derosa get to the front despite the unfavorable post draw? The fans believed so making Spry Derosa the 2/1 post time favorite ahead of her rival on top of point standings, Atascocita Enok at odds of 7/2. With the famous call of `Here’s Marquey!` from track announcer John Paul Faour, the lid of the 550-yard starting box opened and indeed the yellow blanket of the #6 post position worn by Spry Derosa seized the much needed early advantage. With the alert beginning, Spry Derosa found her way down to the rail ahead of early speedsters DLT Neverland of Lingle Kennel and JSK Shannon Lea of Sambade Racing, LLC and a two-length lead around the first turn ahead of kennelmate Beggars Tomb, who took full advantage from the outside #8 post position as Spry Derosa cleared the way.

As the two K-Rod Kennel competitors made the turn for their trip down the Gulf Greyhound Park backstretch, they left a traffic jam that eliminated the rest of the field behind them in their wake setting up the stage for a duel to the finish. The leading margin for Spry Derosa continued to be a comfortable two lengths and it appeared that she was home free but suddenly Beggars Tomb accelerated around the far turn and closed the gap to one desperate length setting up a nail-biting finish. With every stride, Spry Derosa inched closer to the finish line as the looming presence of Beggars Tomb continued to nibble away at the lead but ran out of real estate as Spry Derosa held off the gallant challenge to win by a neck and complete her journey to become the $20,000 Texas Round Up Champion.

Spry Derosa crossed the wire with a winning time of 29.75 seconds, a mere .01 shy of her career best time improving her record in 2012 to 60/25-12-6-8 and future Hall of Fame totals accumulating a record of 101/38-17-14-13. Congratulations to all of the connections from K-Rod Kennel, trainer Cindy Unrein and owner Charter Kennel, Inc.