Diamond Joe shoots for Bosselman repeat

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – It’s back to business for Diamond Joe when he headlines the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes in the showcase event of the Fonner Park season Saturday.

Diamond Joe has repeated each step that led him to victory in last year’s Bosselman, with wins in both the Ogataul and Budweiser-Tondi stakes and a runner-up finish to Unsaddled Glory in the Dowd Mile. If the scenario plays out, the Nebraska-bred son of Dazzling Falls would become one of the few repeat winners of the 1 1/16-mile race for older horses since the Bosselman Corp. began its sponsorship 25 years ago.

A field of seven has been assembled for the race, with last year’s pacesetter, the Kellyn Gorder-trained Joy Boy, expected to draw a strong share of support. Also shipping in are Leadem In Ken for trainer Mike Maker and owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and Midnite Poppa for trainer Jim Meyaard. Diamond Joe, trained by Chuck Turco, is expected to be the favorite.

In the Dowd Mile on April 5, Diamond Joe stumbled out of the gate while breaking from post 10, recovered to gain a clear lead into the final of three turns, then was run down late to miss by a head to the Larry Donlin-trained Unsaddled Glory. Regular rider Jake Olesiak will be back aboard Diamond Joe.

Joy Boy is a strong threat to take this field all the way on the front end. He comes off a strong, front-running allowance win at Oaklawn Park on March 15 for Nebraska owners Kevin and Tammie Hulse’s TK Stables. Nebraska native Channing Hill will come in to ride. Joy Boy was third in this race last year, leading to the final turn, then holding well to be beaten just more than a length after his rider dropped his whip.

Trainer Temple Rushton sends out the most intriguing upset possibility, Ninety Schillings. The 6-year-old has been lightly raced over the past three years. He made his only start of 2013 on turf at Belmont Park last June under optional-claiming conditions and finished fourth. He was off until March 29 of this year, when he was entered under the allowance condition of an optional-claiming race, making an inside run to post a three-quarter-length win going 6 1/2 furlongs. He showed a good turn of foot that day, and the Bosselman’s distance should not pose a problem.

The field, from the rail out: Diamond Joe; Joy Boy; Midnite Poppa, Jordan Olesiak; Unsaddled Glory, Karlo Lopez; Leadem In Ken, Azael De Leon; Bach’s Homebrew, Luis Ranilla; and Ninety Schillings, Don Frazier.