Fonner locals must fend off passel of invaders

Horses have descended on Fonner Park in Grand Island, Neb., from Prairie Meadows, Remington Park, Sam Houston, and Turf Paradise for the ninth race Monday.

But despite the influx of new faces, the top two choices could be locals Heisayankee and Warrior’s Lullaby, who finished a respective second and third in the $10,000 Grasmick on Feb. 22 at Fonner.

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The ninth race, the finale on the card, is a $5,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs.

The top invader appears to be Bandwidth, who is in from Turf Paradise in Phoenix. He was second in a $12,500 claimer on March 10, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 73 that he earned is one of the best last-race numbers in the field Monday. He covered six furlongs in 1:08.23. Bandwidth will be making his Fonner debut and is trained by Ronnie Riggs.

A second invader from Turf Paradise is Dukati, who comes off a third-place finish in a $4,000 claiming race on March 10. He, too, is making his first start at Fonner. It comes for trainer Schuyler Condon, who has given the mount to jockey Erik McNeil.

Clipboard Money, who breaks from the rail, invades from Sam Houston. He was second in a first-level allowance sprint at the Houston track on March 20. Clipboard Money is making his Fonner debut and is trained by Jerry Gourneau.

Minefield is launching his season off a fifth-place finish in a $5,000 claiming race May 17 at Prairie Meadows. He was claimed out of the Iowa race and is making his first start for trainer Dean Drake – and also his first start at Fonner.

War Eagle’s Return made his last start at Remington Park in Oklahoma City, finishing seventh in a $5,000 claiming race Sept. 26. He was claimed out of the race and is making his first start for trainer Monty Luark and first start at Fonner.

Warrior’s Lullaby enters off a nose win in a first-level allowance at Fonner, and the Beyer of 74 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field Monday. Heisayankee was fourth in a local allowance in his last start March 7.