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Blackjack Challenge: Wines predicts win

Friday, August 22, 2008 12:36 PM PDT

A jockey puts a racehorse through the paces earlier this week at the Elko County Fairgrounds. Racing began this afternoon and continues Saturday and Sunday. Four days of racing are set for next weekend, with post times at 1 p.m. daily. (Ross Andr/son/Daily Free Press)

ELKO - Bill Wines of Misfits Stables has predicted his syndicate's horse, Watermelon Summer, will win the Nevada Blackjack Challenge thoroughbred race on Labor Day.

“Our horse has all the attributes needed to smoke the other eight syndicates' entries in the big race,” said Wines. “Our trainer, when he was about 25 pounds lighter, actually rode the winning horse in a previous Blackjack Challenge and knows what it takes to win.”

Misfits Stables, in its second year of competition in the Blackjack Challenge, apparently feels confident of a win.

When contacted about Wines' boast, Pat Laughlin of Unable Stables said, “Aww, that's just Bill. He doesn't know what the hey he is talking about. I have seen his horse, and he looks like he has swallowed a couple of watermelons.”

Unable Stables, along with Unstable Stables and Undecided Stables, each have won the big race twice.

There will be nine syndicates vying for a win in 2008. The syndicates are Misfits Stables, Unbroken Stables, Unwanted Stables, Unable Stables, Under the Table Stables, Unstable Stables, Undecided Stables, Let It Ride Stables and Wewannawin Stables.

The race will run Sept. 1 as the last race of the Elko County Fair and Livestock Show.

There are seven days of racing this year, ending on Labor Day.

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