Anderson hopes Doctor Peter provides happy homecoming

Nebraska native Doug Anderson will return home on Saturday with a favorite’s chance to take down the biggest stakes race at Fonner Park. Doctor Peter will represent Anderson in the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes off a career effort in a highly rated overnight race at Oaklawn Park.

The Bosselman, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up, drew eight horses. Others set to start include Diamond Joe, the winner of the local prep, and Joy Boy, who invades from Keeneland. Doctor Peter was to ship Friday from his Prairie Meadows base, said Anderson. The trainer estimated that the horse will be his first Fonner starter since the mid-to-late 1980s.

“It brings back a lot of good memories,” Anderson said Thursday of returning to Fonner. “That’s home stomping grounds in a way. It’s kind of where we grew up.”

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◗ The card also includes the $25,000 Fonner Park Special Stakes for 3-year-old colts and geldings bred in Nebraska. A field of eight will go, including recent maiden special weight winner Haveonefordroad.

Bosselman/Gus Fonner, race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Doctor Peter (Last 3 Beyers: 97-95-85)

◗ He earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 97 for a sweeping, 4 3/4-length win in an optional $62,500 claimer April 4 at Oaklawn. He closed from last to win the one-mile race in 1:36.60.

“That was just a big, powerful race for him,” said Anderson, who trains Doctor Peter for Hooties Racing. “We had a lot of speed in the race, and it really set up good for him.”

◗ Anderson said Doctor Peter has done well since, with a half-mile maintenance move in 52.20 seconds in the slop April 19 at Prairie Meadows. It came under the horse’s regular rider, Terry Thompson, who has the mount in the Bosselman.

“We breezed him real easy, just stretched his legs a little bit,” Anderson said. “He was just a bear coming back. I think he’s on top of his game. Terry told me he couldn’t be doing any better.”

◗ Doctor Peter will break from post 3.

“I sure hope there’s another horse in here to go with Joy Boy,” Anderson said. “He’s awful tough when he gets loose on the lead. This horse, we can do about anything with him. We can sit off of them. We can kind of lay close if we have to. He’s very versatile, I think.”

Joy Boy (Last 3 Beyers: 83-96-85)

◗ He exits the race won by Doctor Peter, finishing fourth by 7 1/2 lengths. Earlier in the meet, Joy Boy was a front-running winner of an optional $62,500 claiming route Jan. 25 and then was second, edging third-place finisher Doctor Peter, in an optional $50,000 claiming route March 12.

◗ Joy Boy worked five-furlongs in 1:01 on April 19 at Keeneland in his final prep for Saturday.