My Secret Star stretches out

My Secret Star stretches out to the three turns of a mile and 70 yards over this five-eighth-mile oval when he heads a field of six in the $10,000-added Van Berg Derby at Columbus.

My Secret Star won a pair of stakes at Fonner Park earlier this year and returned to stakes action in the Hall of Fame Stakes here on Aug. 4 when he was second as the 6-5 favorite. He should be tighter now, but the stretch in distance will be the main question as he goes beyond six furlongs for the first time. Regular rider Beth Butler will be aboard for trainer Milton Gaede.

A trio of challengers will be trying to win their first stakes in this spot, with Ordville, The Ruzz, and Recast all appearing capable of getting the job done.

Ordville, trained by Bill Kennedy, made a bid to contention in the Skunktail Stakes at Horsemen's Park on July 22 before fading through the stretch. The Ruzz, from the barn of Steve Hall, should be part of the early pace and is also trying a route for the first time. Recast prompted the pace in his only mile attempt and finished evenly. He was third in the Hall of Fame Stakes and could also be a strong factor from near the pace for trainer Dean Hansen.

Hamtaro and Abouteightymiles round out the field. Hamtaro was an impressive winner in entry-level allowance company here Aug. 5 and finished third in the State Fair Breeders' Stakes at Lincoln this summer. Abouteightymiles is still seeking his first win and is coming off a fourth at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 3.