Fonner Park: Nebraska-bred star Diamond Joe returns in Ogataul

Diamond Joe makes his much anticipated seasonal bow as the defending champion in the $25,000 Ogataul Stakes for older Nebraska-breds as part of a stakes doubleheader Saturday at Fonner Park.

Sharing the spotlight will be the $10,000 Bold Accent Stakes for older fillies and mares going a half-mile. The race was rescheduled after last week’s cancellations due to cold weather.

Diamond Joe won 3 of 4 starts at Fonner Park last year, capped off by victory in the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes in the meet’s showcase event. Trained by Chuck Turco, Diamond Joe became the first Nebraska-bred to win meet’s top race since it gained corporate sponsorship and an increased purse 25 years ago. He followed up with a win at Horsemen’s Park in the Who Doctor Who Handicap before shipping out of state for the remainder of the year.

Also making his 2014 debut will be multiple stakes winner Bach’s Homebrew for trainer Larry Staroscik. Bach’s Homebrew was kept in the shadows of Diamond Joe all through last year. The pair met in five consecutive races, with Bach’s Homebrew’s best finish a second in the Who Doctor Who. A career earner of more than $200,000, Bach’s Homebrew gained his only victory last year in the Amadevil Stakes at Columbus, his final start of 2013.

In the Bold Accent, Kims Star and Eur O So Bad meet up for the second time this year in what should be an evenly matched field of eight fillies and mares. Kims Star and Eur O So Bad met here on opening weekend in an optional-claiming race, where they were two-three, separated by a neck going the same distance as Saturday’s race.