No rest for Cowboy Stuff

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Cowboy Stuff turns around on only five days of rest to run in Sunday's $30,000 Nebraska Derby.

Trained in Nebraska by Kelly Von Hemel, Cowboy Stuff captured a $34,790 Iowa-bred allowance race at Prairie Meadows last Monday by three lengths. A son of Evansville Slew, Cowboy Stuff will to go a mile for the first time in Sunday's derby, which has a full field of 10.

A winner of three of his five career starts, Cowboy Stuff raced twice against allowance company this year at Oaklawn. He was a troubled third in his 2002 bow and found more trouble while rallying to win against one-other-than company two starts back.

Terry Thompson rides Cowboy Stuff at 120 pounds from post 7.

Teague has also won his last two starts. He won his maiden against special weight company at Oaklawn Park in March, then scored against non-winners-of-two allowance company at Lone Star Park on April 19. A late-running son of Lite the Fuse, Teague will have the services of Luis Quinonez and breaks from post 9.

Trainer Doug Oliver will send out the uncoupled entry of Macho Bean and Montana Rush. Seth Martinez will ride Macho Bean and Dennis Collins picks up the ride on Montana Rush.

Heading the local contingent is Tonight Rainbow, a winner of three straight at the meet. Trained by Boyd Caster, Tonight Rainbow won his maiden by a widening 2 3/4 lengths Feb. 10 and returned two weeks later to capture the four-furlong Bachman Stakes by more than four lengths. On March 16 he was stretched out to 6 1/2 furlongs, and led gate to wire to score by 3 3/4 lengths in the Baxter Stakes.

Tonight Rainbow will have Luke Wethey in the irons at 122 pounds and breaks from post 3.