Columbus: Anderson fully loaded

It may look as if leading trainer David Anderson is holding all the cards for $12,500-added Hall of Fame Stakes at Columbus and, realistically, he is likely to take home a majority of the purse when he sends out four of the seven starters for the six-furlong feature. Picking the favorite is another matter.

Anderson will send out a coupled entry of Ope and Track Hero, both owned by Alice Mettler, plus a pair of uncoupled horses who both own a three-race win streak: Bevys Dazzler and Indigo Rd.

Track Hero has won four races this year but is coming off back-to-back dull efforts going a mile. On Saturday, he will turn back to a better distance for him with R.D. Williams aboard. His entrymate, Ope, finished nearly four lengths in front of him when he was third in the State Fair Derby. Ope will have Alex Granda riding.

Bevys Dazzler, to have Jerry Carkeek aboard, comes off an entry-level allowance win at Lincoln on July 15, while Indigo Rd, who won for the third straight time at Columbus just last Sunday, will be ridden by Larren Delorme.

The possible upsetter will come from outside the Anderson quartet, as Thoughtuwasatoad should attract betting. Thoughtuwasatoad, a late-running son of Favorite Trick trained by Bill Conyers, was second in the State Fair Derby and has the running style that should suit the long stretch here at Columbus. Although winless in his nine starts this year, he has finished second four times.