Lincoln: Reach One More will try to wire HBPA Stakes

LINCOLN, Neb. – Reach One More enters Wednesday’s HBPA Stakes for older horses still seeking his first win of the year, but should rule a strong favorite as he heads a compact field of five going a mile and 70 yards in the Independence Day feature at Lincoln Race Course. The track offers a rare Wednesday card leading into its closing weekend.

The track will take Thursday off, then race Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to conclude the final live meet to be held in Lincoln for the foreseeable future. Simulcasting will continue in the existing clubhouse through next summer, but the track and barn area will be razed as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln continues development of the property as an innovation and technology campus.

Reach One More just failed to carry his speed in his latest start as he was overtaken in the shadow of the wire by Bach’s Homebrew to miss by a head in the Big Red Mile Stakes on May 26. Bach’s Homebrew skipped this race and should leave Reach One More with a strong shot at taking this field gate to wire for trainer Chuck Turco. Jake Olesiak will be aboard as Reach One More tries to improve on his career mark of 11 wins from 19 starts.

The main challenge to the top selection could come from Cool Bullet, trained by Dan Coughlin. A son of Red Bullet, Cool Bullet was claimed for $40,000 out of an optional claimer at Fair Grounds on Jan. 25. He made his first start for his new connections in the six-furlong President’s Cup here June 9 when third to Song of Humor and Bach’s Homebrew. He will be stretching out in distance and may try to challenge Reach One More on the front end with Luis Ranilla aboard.

◗ The Horsemen’s Atokad Downs race day originally scheduled for Aug. 21 was canceled after a formal request by the Nebraska HBPA at Thursday’s meeting of the Nebraska State Racing Commission. The property was sold to the Winnebago tribe’s Ho-Chunk Inc. in May and is scheduled to cease simulcasting operations this summer.