Lk's Mc Clintock aims to shine in Holiday Distance Classic at Derby Lane

ST. PETERSBURG — Kennel owner John Lashmet watches most Derby Lane races from his 20-acre farm in Colorado.

He will change that routine if Lk's Mc Clintock shines in the upcoming $75,000 Holiday Distance Challenge, the final stakes race of 2015 at the St. Petersburg greyhound track. The 660-yard event is scheduled for Nov. 28-Dec. 12 and carries Derby Lane's richest first-place prize of $33,500.

"I will come down to Derby Lane for that stakes if we get in" the final, Lashmet said. "When (Lk's Mc Clintock) is right, he's the fastest three-eighths dog (at Derby Lane) — hands down."

Lashmet, 61, and his wife, Jill, bred and raised Lk's Mc Clintock at their farm in Fort Lupton, located 30 miles northeast of Denver. The greyhound became an instant hit and is expected to start in the Challenge for the second straight year.

"We knew he was special from Day 1," Lashmet said. "I can pick (good dogs) out pretty easy. You can just tell on the training track how they hit the dummy lure, and how fast they run. The question is whether he goes onto the track and runs an eight-dog race the same way he does on the schooling track, because four dogs are the most we ever run at our schooling track (on Lashmet's farm)."

The 35-month-old male out of a litter by Jack's Big Lad and Lk's Cherokee didn't disappoint with wins in his first two starts at Derby Lane in May 2014. He ran his first 25 races at 550 yards before switching to 660. Twenty-three of his 27 victories have been from off the pace. He has started 78 times.

Lk's Mc Clintock has been in fine form after returning from a five-month layoff because of stressed tendons to the hock of his right rear leg. In 25 starts since July 15, the 77-pound greyhound has cashed in the money 22 times with top-four finishes, including 10 victories. His fastest 660 clocking is 37.14 seconds on Sept. 23.

Lashmet said Lk's Mc Clintock is a different dog than the one that finished seventh in the 2014 Challenge.

"Laredo (Lk's Mc Clintock's kennel name) was young a year ago, and he did not want to run out of the outside post positions," Lashmet said. "When he drew the 6 (last year), I knew we were in trouble. But now he breaks out of the outside posts. … He's matured."

Lashmet has two stakes wins since joining the Derby Lane roster in 2013: Jacks Lil Bigman in the St. Petersburg Derby (2014) and Lk's Instigator in the St. Petersburg Consolation Derby (2013).

Lk's Mc Clintock is trained by Anthony Coello.

"Anthony really cares about my dogs," Lashmet said. "He loves breaking in puppies, and listens to me as well as I listen to him. I think we've got a real long working relationship."

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Derby Lane will not have live racing on Thanksgiving but will be open for poker and simulcast wagering. A doubleheader is set for Friday.