Fonner Park: All 10 have shot in Pepsi

Nikki Nine, recent winner of the Bachman Stakes against the boys, and Kelly Carson, a stakes winner at Columbus last summer, headline a wide-open field of 10 3-year-old fillies set to face off in the $15,000-added Pepsi Stakes.

Any of the 10 fillies appear capable of pulling off the win in this first stakes offering of the Fonner season for 3-year-old females, and the winner will establish herself as the one to beat throughout the year.

Nikki Nine, trained by Kim Veerhusen, contested the lead in the half-mile Bachman, then edged away for a two-length win. She will have to carry her speed for three-quarters of a mile at Fonner but may have the early gas to make an uncontested lead. Larren Delorme will ride from post 3.

Kelly Carson was part of the early speed in her win going a half-mile against nonwinners-of-three allowance company here Feb. 25. She captured the Club House Special at Columbus last year by rating just off the pace and closing to score by a head. Armando Martinez will again ride, from post 10, for trainer Joe Thomas.

Jone Loyd will send out Any Dream Will Do, a nonwinners-of-two allowance winner from off the pace at six furlongs on Feb. 25. She won the Columbus Debutante last year by attending the pace and has the versatility to be dangerous in the spot. Mike Luark will ride from post 9. Any Dream Will Do was named Nebraska's top 2-year-old filly last year, and she appears to have developed nicely over the winter.