Fonner: Miner's Prize just gets up

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Miner's Prize rallied under Gerard Melancon to capture Saturday's $100,000 Bosselman-Gus Fonner Handicap at Fonner Park.

Over a track muddied by morning rains, Melancon guided Miner's Prize through traffic on the far turn and Miner's Prize closed strongly to score by a head in 1:48.80 for the 1 1/16 miles.

Fight for Alley, under Willie Martinez, made the early running with Tate's Way, setting fractions of 25.60 seconds, 49.60, and 1:14.60. Fight for Alley kicked clear to open a three-length advantage at the top of the stretch, and just failed to hold off Miner's Prize. Rub rallied to be third, a neck off the top pair.

Trained by Forrest Kaelin, Miner's Prize returned $14.40 to win. The 3-5-2-10 superfecta returned $15,400 from a guaranteed minimum pool of $50,000.

The $60,000 winner's share boosted Miner's Prize's bankroll to $391,848 and he has a mark of 8-5-7 in 42 starts.