Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds square off

Nebraska-bred 3-year-olds take the spotlight at Columbus with the fillies division and the colts and geldings division of the $12,500 Columbus Breeders' Special Stakes highlighting the card, both at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Deputy's Whirl, a three-time stakes winner this year, heads the fillies division, which drew a field of five. Deputy's Whirl won the Fonner Park Special this spring, then took the Princess and the Breeders' Special at Lincoln. Apprentice Chris Fackler will again be aboard for trainer Bob Rising.

After a slow start to her season this spring with a trio of off-the-board efforts, Deputy's Whirl rattled off the three stakes wins and seconds in the Fantango Lady Stakes at Horsemen's Park and the Inaugural Stakes here on July 25. She has a career record of 5-2-0 from 12 starts.

Jane of Arcadia, who won the Fantango Lady in an upset, returned to win a second-level allowance here on Aug. 1 for trainer Ron Westermann and should prove the main opposition to Deputy's Whirl. Both fillies run from just off the pace, and the extra half-furlong here should set up for a good stretch run.

String of Diamonds, winner of the Skunktail Stakes at Horsemen's Park, heads a field of four in the colts and geldings division, where show wagering has been canceled. String of Diamonds won his maiden by a widening eight lengths at Lincoln in July prior to winning the Skunktail. He returned here in the Hall of Fame Stakes on Aug. 2 and faded in the stretch to finish fifth for trainer David Anderson.