First Class Brass shortens up

First Class Brass turns back from 1 1/16 miles to 4 1/2 furlongs in the $15,000 Speed Stakes at Lincoln State Fair.

The race tops a card that also includes the simulcast of the Preakness Stakes and an exhibition ostrich race and a camel race. The ostriches will take to the track for their exhibition following the third race. The Preakness will be shown after the seventh race, with the Speed Stakes as race 8. The camels will go a sixteenth of a mile prior to the final race of the card.

First Class Brass finished fifth, beaten 20 3/4 lengths, in the Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park on April 25. Trained by Kelli Martinez, First Class Brass rallied from well back to be a fast-closing fourth, beaten a length, in last year's Speed Stakes. The 7-year-old has shown the ability to go short and should be rolling late under Armando Martinez.

Turkey Hunter, a 3-year-old facing elders for trainer Joe Thomas, has the speed to take this field on the lead. He has been off since his March 14 win in the Bachman Stakes at Fonner and is unbeaten in his two starts this year. He will part of a coupled entry in the race, with Thomas also sending out Twice As Bad, a winner against $10,000 claiming company in his last out at Fonner.

Seaside Links, a claim at Fair Grounds this winter, was narrowly beaten in his two starts at Fonner Park against $15,000 company and should receive a fair amount of support. Trained by Dan Coughlin, Seaside Links should be a strong factor through the closing furlong of this dash.