Hoosier: Nance has tough pair

The cream of the Indiana-bred crop will come together for the $40,000 Brickyard Stakes at six furlongs.

Michael Nance will send out the coupled entry of Donnies Pick and Mr. Mink as a formidable one-two punch in the 10-horse field. Donnies Pick is a stalker who has only missed the board once in his 14 starts at Hoosier Park, including last year's runner-up finish in the Brickyard behind If I Were You. Donnies Pick has yet to win this year, but should be sitting just off a hot pace that includes his stablemate, Mr. Mink.

Mr. Mink is one of three in the field that must be considered among the top statebreds in training. He has compiled a perfect 7-for-7 mark over the Hoosier surface and flashes a lifetime record of 8-3-0 from 13 starts. His two starts at Hoosier this year have been victories over allowance company in which he posted Beyer Figures of 100 and 99. Tommy Pompell has been named on both halves of the entry.

Donnies Pick will break from post 4, while Mr. Mink, who gets the nod in what should be a hotly contested race, drew outside in post 10.

Red's Honor brings a lifetime bankroll of more than $300,000 into the Brickyard for trainer Dale Romans. He has three wins this year, including the A.J. Foyt Stakes on turf at Indiana Downs this spring, from his four starts. Leading rider Ramsey Zimmerman will be aboard from post 1.

Three-year-old Edgerrin suffered one of his worst career defeats in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby here on Oct. 2, finishing eighth. Trained by Stanley Roberts, Edgerrin is at his best sprinting, and in Sunday's race he should be much improved.

Another 3-year-old who has drawn attention to himself is Call Roy, trained by Jeff Talley. A son of Seattle Sleet, Call Roy won his maiden here on Sept. 5 by more than 12 lengths. He returned on Sept. 25 to take his nonwinners-of-two allowance condition by 13 1/2 lengths at odds of 1-20. His effort was by far the most impressive of the season here, and the step up to this level of competition will be his acid test.