Terice seeks repeat in Runza Stakes

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – Terice returns to defend her title and will be making her first start of the year when she heads a field of 10 older fillies and mares going six furlongs in the $15,000 Runza Stakes on Saturday at Fonner Park.

Trainer Mike Kirby has had the 6-year-old Terice in training locally, and she made her final preparations April 11, when she worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.40. Following last year’s Fonner meet, Terice campaigned at Canterbury Park and then moved down to Remington Park in the fall to run on turf. She posted a 2-3-2 mark from 13 starts for the year and earned more than $32,000. A solid series of works may have her ready to fire fresh in a competitive field.

Temple Rushton sends out a couple entry of Lady Contender and Slamitagain, both of whom will be making their seasonal bows. Lady Contender is the more accomplished of the pair with earnings of $98,720 from a mark of 5-6-3 from 15 career starts. Her last start came Nov. 27, when she was third in the Zia Park Distaff. She was also stakes-placed at both Arapahoe Park and at Albuquerque last summer and represents a strong threat to the top choice.

Habitually Golden, trained by Nancy Sheehan, takes another step up off her Pepsi Stakes win locally on March 29. The 3-year-old Habitually Golden won her maiden March 9 and was able to earn her initial stakes victory in her next start. She is likely to be overlooked in this spot but has the speed to be dangerous.