Jimmy Rash, Central Nebraska Today
GRAND ISLAND — A field of nine was drawn Wednesday morning for the 66th running of the $75,000 Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes Saturday at Fonner Park.
That field includes eight horses that have run at Fonner this year with just one ship-in, but the ship-in is a big one.
The Japanese-bred Komorebino Omoide is trained by Roberto Diodoro and is a son of 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome. He’s also the morning-line favorite for the Bosselman at 6-5.
Komorebino Omoide, a 5-year-old horse, placed fifth in a Grade 2 stake race his last outing at Fair Grounds in New Orleans Before that, he had two straight second-place finishes in Grade 3 stake races.
Komorebino Omoide has won $382,766 in his career, including $289,203 in 2024.
He’ll be ridden by Kevin Roman, who is the leading jockey at Fonner Park heading into the final four days of racing.
And then there are the local horses, including Tennessee Moon, a 5-year-old mare trained by Mark Hibdon and ridden by David Cardoso, who will be running against the boys in this one.
Tennessee Moon won the Bold Accent Stakes and the Spring Tradition Stakes, both restricted to fillies and mares, earlier this year at Fonner Park.
Fonner CEO Chris Kotulak said he loves the field for the Bosselman.
“We couldn’t be happier,” Kotulak said. “It has something for everyone. It has an identifiable, national, very strong horse in Komorebino Omoide, the six horse. It has the angle of a female racing up against male competition with Tennessee Moon, who set the North American record for most wins in the season 2024 with her team wins. She has a local following.”
Tennessee Moon is 9-2 on the morning line, just behind Dowd Mile winner Arthurian, trained by David Anderson, at 4-1.
Just Plain Ornery (12-1) was second in the Dowd, Subsidize (8-1) third, Forced Ranking (12-1) fourth and Drivehappy (10-1) fifth.
“We have the top five finishers coming out of that race, so it couldn’t have set up better,” Kotulak said. “I’m just pleased as punch with the way things have resulted.”
Northwind (20-1) and Absolute Chaos (30-1) round out the nine-horse field.
Many times, the Bosselman has attracted several ship-ins with just a couple of local horses added into the mix. This year was different.
“Sometimes you get belly aching saying, ‘Hey, you’re offering up this big purse money, and the locals don’t get anything,’” Kotulak said. “ Well, the locals can go out and get a horse that can be competitive, and many have over the years. So that’s the way that plays out.
The Bosselman is just the headliner of a big day of racing Saturday at Fonner Park. There are also two other stake races: the second running of the $30,00 Elite Sprint Cup and the $25,000 Fonner Park Special Stakes for Nebraska-bred 3-year-old colts and geldings.
Eight were entered for the Special Stakes, which is the third race on the card. P R More Vision, trained by Jason Wise and ridden by Jose Medina, broke his maiden April 11 at Fonner. He’s been in the money in all five of his career starts and is 4-5 on the morning line.
The Elite Sprint Cup, 6 1-2 furlong race, attracted eight entrants. That includes General Shipman, winner of the Ogataul Stakes earlier this year. He’s the morning-line favorite at 2-1.
Mo Summer, who was second in the Ogataul, is 5-2.
“The winner of this race, the Elite Sprint Cup, is typically considered the best sprint horse of the season at Fonner Park,” Kotulak said. “So I’m looking forward to another big Saturday.”
Bosselman Field
1, Arthurian (Medina);4-1
2, Absolute Chaos (Haar);30-1
3, Forced Ranking (Cunningham);12-1
4, Tennessee Moon (Cardoso);9-2
5, Drivehappy (Bailon);10-1
6, Komorebino Omoide (Roman);6-5
7, Northwind (Hisby);20-1
8, Just Plain Ornery (Nunnally);12-1
9, Subsidize (Ironeyes);8-1
