Patience the key in Bosselman

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - There should be no shortage of early speed when a field of seven convenes for the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park on Saturday.

The meet's showcase event each year and the richest race run in Nebraska, the 1 1/16-mile Bosselman/Gus Fonner has attracted shippers Shadowbdancing and Calm and Collected. Both horses are confirmed front-runners and local runner Roaring Home should just add fuel to the fire on the front end.

Shadowbdancing, a 5-year-old trained by Terrel Gore, comes in following a win in the $50,000 Cryptoclearance Stakes at Hawthorne on April 3. He is the likely favorite for this race and will have Eddie Razo Jr. aboard. Shadowbdancing leads the field in career earnings with $385,495 from a mark of 8-4-3 in 21 starts.

Calm and Collected ships up from Manor Downs in Texas where he was second in the Tony Sanchez Memorial Mile last Saturday. A 7-year-old son of Concerto, Calm and Collected won 10 races last year from 15 starts and owns a bankroll of $340,287. Local leading rider Jordan Olesiak will be aboard.

With the abundance of early speed entered, patience should be the key to victory in this three-turn race over Fonner's five-eighths of a mile oval. The Nutz, the 2008 winner of this race, will be put to the test here, and rates a slight edge if he will relax just off the leaders. He used that style to win this race previously and he should be well supported Saturday.

Trained by Steve Hall, The Nutz has started twice this year. He scored an impressive victory in his seasonal bow on March 20, winning the Budweiser Tondi Stakes at six furlongs by a widening 3 1/2 lengths. The Nutz returned in the Dowd Mile and finished third after forcing the pace set by Roaring Home. Tests following the race revealed The Nutz had a throat infection, which can excuse his poor showing. Regular rider Damon Leeds will be aboard.

Reach One More is another who could prove dangerous if he will rate near the lead. Trained by Chuck Turco, Reach One More made his seasonal bow on April 2 against allowance company and drew off to win by 1 3/4 lengths going six furlongs. Reach One More won 6 of his 7 starts last year, including three wins at a mile or over. His biggest win came in the Iowa Stallion Stakes at Prairie Meadows but he was later disqualified due to a medication positive.