Following eventful debut, the maiden Trip Code tries the Fonner Park Special

It’s a game of musical jockeys in the $30,000 Fonner Park Special, the nominal feature on Monday at Fonner Park.

The Fonner Park Special, for Nebraska-bred 2-year-old around two turns over six furlongs, easily is the richest of nine races on a Fonner program that starts at 4 p.m. Central, but these are far from the fastest horses racing Monday.

Still, $30,000 is a bounty on the Nebraska circuit and the pot of gold has produced scrambling in the riding colony: Eight are entered in the Fonner Park Special and six of them have a different rider on their back than when they last started. The only two horses ridden by the jockey they had in their most recent start are Lovesaflyin, who should show speed from the rail under Scott Bethke, and 5-2 morning-line favorite Ye Be Judged, with Jake Olesiak named. Olesiak also rode 7-2 morning-line second choice Mr. Big Shot in his most recent race, an 8 1/4-length maiden romp, but Nathan Haar ends up on this horse for trainer David Anderson, who also entered Zibby Too and Trip Code.

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Trip Code could be live at a price. Luis Rodriguez takes over riding duties from Haar, who was aboard when Trip Code totally missed the break last out in his career debut. Trip Code just stood flat footed as his stall door swung open and by the time he realized he was in an actual horse race, the leaders – including Mr. Big Shot – had nearly 20 lengths on him. Trip Code turned in a quick 12.49-second eighth-mile burst around the far turn while rallying to a third-place finish that suggested he has the talent to contend in a race like this if he can maintain contact with the leaders.

On March 6, Ye Be Judged smacked Mr. Big Shot in a maiden race over a one-turn four furlongs, and stretched out to six furlong facing older Nebraska-bred allowance horses in his most recent start, Ye Be Judged finished a solid second. Whether he prefers a shorter trip than he gets Monday is an open question, and Ye Be Judged, who starts for trainer Marissa Black, could be an overbet favorite.

Black on Wednesday sent out the top two finishers in the $15,000 Dowd Mile, Blue Harbor and Mr. Tickle.

Speaking of Mr. Tickle and Blue Harbor, a horse named American League faced them in an open allowance race April 1, contesting the pace and holding on decently to finish fifth. He takes a considerable class drop down to a $5,000 starter-allowance, race 5 on Monday, and is the best bet on the program provided his odds don’t drop much below his 3-1 morning line.