Fonner featues trio of stakes Saturday

Fonner Park will try to bounce back from a rough weekend that saw the majority of last Saturday's card and all of Sunday's program canceled by wet track conditions.

An 11-race card featuring a trio of stakes is on tap for Saturday. The card will be followed by one of the biggest dance parties in the state as The Rumbles, a regional band out of Omaha, take the stage following the races. Action on the track is highlighted by the $25,000 Budweiser-Tondi Stakes. Defending champion The Nutz heads a list of 15 older horses nominated to the six-furlong race.

The Budweiser-Tondi serves as an early prep for the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes to be run April 24 at 1 1/16 miles. The Nutz was on track last year to defend his 2008 Bosselman title but a foot abscess derailed him leading up the race.

Sharing the spotlight on Saturday is the $10,000 Bachman Stakes at a half-mile for 3-year-olds and the $25,000 Orphan Kist Stakes for Nebraska-bred fillies and mares, which was rescheduled after last Saturday's cancellation.

* A bill that would open the way for electronic gaming on past races, similar to the Instant Racing machines in use at Oaklawn Park, advanced out of the judiciary committee of the Nebraska legislature on a 5-2 vote with one abstention this week. Designated by state Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh as his priority bill of the current session, the bill is expected to reach the legislature floor for full debate. The session runs through April 16.