Highlyclassified picks up Flashy Sir honor

ST. PETERSBURG — Kennel owner John Farmer had a day to remember. It may lead to a week he'll never forget.

Tonight, his Highlyclassified is one of eight finalists in the $64,000 Sprint Classic at Derby Lane. A win in the St. Petersburg track's richest 550-yard stakes race would cap a wondrous week for the Farmer Racing kennel dog, who on Wednesday was named winner of the 2015 Flashy Sir award as the nation's top distance dog, and later qualified for the Sprint Classic by a single point.

"I was overwhelmed with joy when I heard (about the Flashy Sir award)," Farmer, 50, said. "It's been on my bucket list since I was an 11-year-old kid when I first got interested in the dogs.

"I was glad that he won it, because of all the hard work that we put in. He's a high maintenance dog that needs a lot of extra attention."

Not only did Highlyclassified, a 2015 All-America member, give Farmer and owner Monte Jacobs of Claflin, Kan., their first Flashy Sir winner, but Husker Magic completed a rare Triple Crown in 2015 with her selection of the Rural Rube award as the nation's best sprinter for kennel owners Jim and Kayruth Abernathy.

Husker Magic, who missed defending her Sprint Classic title with a sprained hock (she is expected to return within a month), also was the 2015 All-America captain — her second consecutive selection on the All-America team, and was the nation's 2015 win leader with 41. She has 98 career victories.

"She is the greatest dog I've ever had," said Jim Abernathy, 50, who earned his first Rural Rube. "There's not much else she can do. We're proud of her, we love her, and I wish I had 10 more like her."

Husker Magic is owned by Arthur Kaufman of Sarasota, Terry Haber of Grapevine, Ark., and Jim Abernathy.

The announcements were made by the National Greyhound Association, whose members vote as do subscribers of its publication, the Greyhound Review.

"Husker Magic, being the All-America captain and winning the Rural Rube, would have to be considered the premier racer of the last couple of years nationally," NGA secretary-treasurer Gary Guccione said. "Highlyclassified's times certainly look impressive (and) are among the fastest times posted (at Derby Lane) over the last few years.

"(Derby Lane) dogs have won the last four NGA awards in 2015 and 2014. It speaks highly of its stakes program, and promotion of its top greyhounds."

Derby Lane swept both awards in 2014 with Capabal kennel's Joey Ice (Rural Rube) and Abernathy kennel's Odd Grayson (Flashy Sir).

Other starters in the Sprint Classic (Race 10, 9:47 p.m.): Jack's Timeless (Lashmet kennel), leading qualifier Kentucky Kat (Cal Holland), Jmb's Turbo (Burk Greyhounds), Kiowa Pike Paul (Patriot), Lego Andrew (Floyd), Mac's Gossie (Alabama Racing) and Mac's Matchmaker (Alabama Racing). First place pays $25,000.