Fonner: Saint Bay tops fillies division

Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds share the spotlight at Fonner Park, where the fillies division and the colts and geldings division of the $30,000 Fonner Park Special Stakes at six furlongs will be contested for the 51st time.

Marv Johnson's undefeated Saint Bay heads a field of six in the fillies division, where she will face Lovesablumin and Bumpnshoot, both impressive winners of their career debuts.

Saint Bay rallied from just off the pace to win her career debut on Feb. 24 going a half-mile. She handled the stretch out to six furlongs with ease when she took a nonwinners-of-two allowance on March 12.

Lovesablumin made her debut on March 3 and drew off to win by 9 3/4 lengths going six furlongs. She's the younger sister of consistent Nebraska-bred performer Strawberry Kid and will rate strong consideration coming from trainer Terrell Hemmer's barn.

Bumpnshoot was also a gate-to- wire winner of her debut, on March 17, winning by 4 1/2 lengths for trainer Bob Bowman.

Any Dream Will Do, last year's 2-year-old filly champion in the state trained by Jone Loyd, disappointed in her most recent, the Pepsi Stakes on March 18, but will also bear watching.

In the colts and geldings division, Johnson will also send out the likely favorite when Did makes his third start of the season. A three-time winner last year, Did was second in the Bachman Stakes on Feb. 25, then never recovered from a bad start to finish well back against nonwinners-of-four allowance company on March 18.

Ben Won't Tell, from the barn of Steve Hall, rallied from a slow start and drew off to win by 6 1/2 lengths in his career debut on March 12 and may also vie for the favorite's role.

Capehart was strong in his allowance win on March 10 and is another that merits consideration.