Diamond Joe back to defend title in Who Doctor Who Handicap

OMAHA, Neb. – Horsemen’s Park finishes its three-day Festival of Racing on Sunday with a card of five races highlighted by Diamond Joe’s return to defend his title in the $30,000-added Who Doctor Who Handicap for Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds and up going one mile.

Live racing in the state takes a break of 11 1/2 weeks, then will return Aug. 1, when Columbus opens for a 16-day season that will run through Labor Day. Lincoln Race Course is scheduled to race one day this year, but plans for that event have not been announced.

Diamond Joe finds himself in the unusual position of having to rebound from a soundly beaten sixth in the Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park on April 26 but still will carry the top impost of 125 pounds, spotting his rivals four to 11 pounds. Diamond Joe is unbeaten in his two career starts at Horsemen’s Park and likely will be in his usual role of heavy favorite.

Trained by Chuck Turco, Diamond Joe has won two of his four starts this year at Fonner Park, with victories in the Ogataul Stakes and the Budweiser-Tondi, both at six furlongs. He fell a head short in the Dowd Mile, then hooked up in a speed duel in the Gus Fonner, where he tired through the final turn to be beaten 20 3/4 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Bach’s Homebrew and Nic a Jack pose the main threats to Diamond Joe in this spot, and both have been in the hunt in their previous meetings this year. Bach’s Homebrew, trained by Larry Staroscik, was third in both the Ogataul Stakes and the Dowd Mile, and although well beaten, was still three-quarters of a length in front of Diamond Joe in the Gus Fonner. He excels at a mile, with a career mark of 6-2-2 from 12 starts at that distance.

Nic a Jack, trained by Ron Raver, was second in the Ogataul and fourth, beaten two lengths, in the Dowd Mile. He comes into the race off a good open allowance win April 26 at Fonner going six furlongs and should be ready for a top effort.