Heso ships in for Breeders' Special

COLUMBUS, Neb. - Heso and Plaer's Trump top their respective divisions of the Columbus Breeders' Special Stakes for Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds here on Sunday.

Heso, a gelding, will invade from his Iowa base. He is a dual stakes winner this year but is coming off a well-beaten second as the 4-5 favorite in the Skunktail Stakes at Horsemen's Park in Omaha July 22. He won the State Fair Breeders' Special and the Fonner Park Special earlier this year. Trainer Kelly Von Hemel has had Heso stabled at Prairie Meadows since taking over from trainer Larry Donlin during the spring at Fonner Park.

Heso is the likely favorite in the 6o1/2-furlong race but will have to contend with Bevys Best, who led all the way to take the Hall of Fame Stakes here Aug. 4 by 5 1/2 lengths. Bevys Best, trained by Larry Staroscik, has shown speed while winning three races this year and will be again be a threat to steal this one on the lead.

In the fillies division, Plaer's Trump comes off a strong 3 3/4-length win in the one-mile Fantango Lady Stakes at Horsemen's Park on July 19 and should be a strong favorite. Trained by Herb Riecken, she is a three-time stakes winner this year, with her only loss coming against older females in the Matchmaker at Lincoln on June 16.

Plaer's Trump will again meet Phyllee Rae and Yolly's Charm, second and third behind her in the Fantango Lady.

Phyllee Rae, trained by Jason Wise, forced the pace of the Fantango Lady Stakes but could find herself setting the pace on a clear lead this time around.

The fillies division has been carded as the sixth race, while the colts and geldings division will be the seventh on Sunday's eight-race card.