Blue Harbor gets jump on stablemate Mr. Tickle in Dowd Mile

Blue Harbor got the jump on his favored stablemate Mr. Tickle and won the $15,000 Dowd Mile on Wednesday at Fonner Park by 1 1/2 lengths.

Mr. Tickle had beaten Blue Harbor by one length in a recent Fonner allowance race, but on Wednesday Blue Harbor and jockey Armando Martinez took command of the Dowd Mile midway around the last of three turns as Mr. Tickle was slightly steadied and forced to the far outside to pass a wall of horses blocking his path five-sixteenths of a mile from the finish.

Mr. Tickle finished with a flourish, but the short Fonner homestretch got Blue Harbor to the wire first as Mr. Tickle quickly galloped out in front.

:: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Yo Y Me, who disputed the pace, finished a head behind Mr. Tickle and six lengths in front of Thetrashmanscoming, who also made up solid ground over the race’s final half-mile but fell much too far behind in the early stages to have a chance at the winner.

Blue Harbor was timed in 1:39.60 for one mile on a fast track and paid $12.20 to win.

Marissa Black owns and trains Blue Harbor and Mr. Tickle, both of whom figure to be candidates for the $50,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner, a stakes for which Wednesday’s race was a prep. Black acquired the two horses through the claim box, taking both from the Karl Broberg barn, Mr. Tickle for $5,000 last August and Blue Harbor for $10,000 in February.

Blue Harbor, an 8-year-old gelding, is by Rockport Harbor and out of Water Park, by Strodes Creek.