Tonight Rainbow defends title in Tondi

Tonight Rainbow should rule a solid favorite in a full field of 10 in the $25,000 Tondi Stakes at Fonner Park.

Last year, Tonight Rainbow drew off in the stretch for a five-length win over muddy going in the six-furlong Tondi. He also captured the Tondi in 2003. Last year, he used the Tondi as a springboard to win the Dowd Mile, and then set the pace to the final turn of the $100,000 Bosselman-Gus Fonner Stakes at 1 1/16 miles before tiring to sixth.

Trainer Boyd Caster shipped in Tonight Rainbow on Feb. 17 to take the Grasmick Stakes at Fonner but has not said whether Tonight Rainbow will follow the same schedule as last year.

Jockey Chad Benjamin, who shipped up with Caster for the Grasmick, will again make the trip from their base at Will Rogers Downs for the Tondi. Since his last appearance at Fonner, Tonight Rainbow has faced top allowance company at Will Rogers, where he was second to Dragooner going 4 1/2 furlongs.

Stormy Business, third in both the Dowd Mile and Bosselman-Gus Fonner last year, will make his seasonal debut for trainer Larry Donlin. He closed out his 2006 campaign with a hard-charging third, beaten a length, in the Remington Park Sprint Championship in October. R.D. Williams will be aboard.

Donlin also sends out Shot of Somerset as part of an uncoupled entry.