Nick Missed defends Sunflower title

The last time Nick Missed raced against Kansas-breds, he won the $20,000 Sunflower Stakes at the Woodlands in September 2006. Saturday, he is back to defend his title in the race, and is in peak form. Nick Missed won an allowance at Arapahoe in July with a Beyer Figure of 78, which is the highest last-race number in the Sunflower. Ken Shino has the mount for defending Woodlands training champ Butch Gleason.

The Sunflower, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up, will go as the fifth race. It is the first Thoroughbred stakes of the meet at the Woodlands. The Sunflower shares a card with the $15,000 Jayhawk for Quarter Horses.