With the temperature in the 70s, Bruce handled Butch to another Classic win, this one with a 28 dog entry at the famed Gladwin grounds. Butch scored a broke grouse find at 58 minutes (whew!) just as the course was running out. This is Butch's fifth first place win (including a first in an open shooting dog) and his third straight Classic derby win.
Viper, Sudsy and Kate all had very good performances, but no birds were produced. Sudsy suffered two unproductives with a good race. Viper had what Bruce thought might be the best race of the stake but had no birds. Kate's race and application improve with each outing.
Butch's win should solidify his place at the top of the Purina Foster Award as this win adds 224 points to his existing 168 for a total of 392. More importantly, Butch keeps proving he can run well, handle well and connect with wild birds. Butch's placements have come in MN, WI, MI and PA with amateur and pro handlers. His Classic wins are MN, MI and PA and all featured broke wild bird work.
