Lincoln: Honkytonk Stomp may be one to catch in Speed

Honkytonk Stomp heads a field of 10 set to contest the $15,000 Speed Stakes at Lincoln Race Course on Saturday afternoon.

Honkytonk Stomp, trained by Dudley Graham, should be the speed of the speed in this 4 1/2-furlong dash. After winning an open allowance at Beulah Park in January, Honkytonk Stomp returned to Nebraska with a powerful 4 1/2-length win in the half-mile Grasmick Stakes, where he equaled Leaping Plum’s track record of 44.20 seconds.

Honkytonk Stomp then set the pace in the Budweiser-Tondi Stakes at six furlongs before he was overtaken late to finish third. Honkytonk Stomp has been off since his tiring ninth-place finish in the Dowd Mile and now returns to what is a very comfortable distance. Jake Olesiak, the leading rider at Fonner Park this spring, has the mount.

Like the race name implies, this field is full of early speed with all 10 runners appearing to want the lead. While Honkytonk Stomp may be able to top this field in the opening quarter-mile, he will have plenty of company just off his flank.

Little Stogie could be a prime candidate to spring an upset. The 5-year-old Little Stogie won both his starts over this track last year against conditioned claiming company. He has a trio of thirds from his three starts this year and could be the danger turning back off his six-furlong outings against some of the better lower-level claimers at Fonner Park this spring.