Stormy Impact best in Bosselman

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. - Stormy Impact found a narrow opening nearing the far turn and then held off Skip and Go through the stretch to post a three-quarters of a length win in Saturday's $100,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes at Fonner Park.

Under Timothy Thornton, who was making his first riding appearance at Fonner Park, Stormy Impact settled back off a strong early pace contested by Lukfata Louis and Tonight Rainbow. Thornton moved to the rail going to the far turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, edged clear into the stretch, then held Skip and Go and jockey Ken Tohill safe, getting the distance in 1:45.60 over a fast track.

The 6-5 choice in the field of nine, Stormy Impact returned $4.40 while combining with Skip and Go for an 8-7 exacta worth $12.40. Robin Zee ran into traffic problems going into the far turn, then rallied once clear to be third, three lengths behind the top pair.

Stormy Impact was coming off a six-length win in the Sarco Stakes at Hawthorne in his last outing on April 2. The win moves his mark to 7-8-10 from 40 starts and he now has earnings of $347,955.

Trainer Frank Kirby and Stormy Impact are two for two in Nebraska. Stormy Impact shipped in to capture the $100,000 Omaha Handicap at Horsemen's Park in Omaha last July. His connections indicated that the Omaha Handicap may be in the plans again this summer. The Bosselman and the Omaha Handicap are the two richest races of the year in Nebraska.