The 65th running of the $75,000 Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes drew what looks like a strong field of eight horses.
The draw left two of the expected front runners on the inside post positions with Silent Poet, trained by Tanner Tracy and ridden by local rider Kevin Roman, in the one hole and Great Escape, trained by Robertino Diodoro and ridden by Guillermo Rodriguez in the two spot.
Throw in front runner Time Machine, trained by Schuyler Condon and ridden by Freddy Manrrique, in the eight hole and there will be plenty of early speed in the race.
Silent Poet, a 9-year-old Canadian-bred gelding by Silent Name, is the big winner coming in with lifetime earnings of $1,066,684. Silent Poet won several Grade 2 stake races at Woodbine in Rexdale, Ontario, earlier in his career.
“When he was younger, he did well in a lot of sprint stakes,” Tracy said. “As he’s aged, I think he like the distance and having some speed early, he doesn’t have to (sprint) the whole time. I think just stretching him out with age has kind of helped him out.”
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Great Escape, who last ran at Oaklawn in March, is the morning-line favorite at 9-5. Slim Slow Slider, trained by David C. Anderson and ridden by Jose Medina, won the Dowd Mile his last out and is 3-1.
“Historically, the Dowd winner is usually somewhere in the hunt in the Bosselman,” Anderson said. “We were very competitive in the Dowd. He dug in and ran hard in the Dowd. He has to run another sixteenth of a mile, but it is what it is. He’ll give it a good shot.”
Velocitor, trained by Gary M. Scherer and ridden by David Cohen, has won over half a million in his career and is 9-2 on the morning line.
Silent Poet stands at 6-1. He’s just ahead of Protonic Power, trained by Jon G. Arnett and ridden by Julio Felix, at 8-1.
Prayforpeace, trained by Jerry Gourneau and ridden by Nathan Haar, is 10-1.
Trainer Schuyler Condon has a pair of horses entered. Forced Ranking, ridden by T.W. Bacon, is 12-1 and Time Machine, who was second in the Dowd Mile, will be ridden by Freddy Manrrique. He’s 15-1 on the morning line.
Silent Poet has 13 wins in 38 career starts. He won at a mile and 70 yards in his last out March 9 at the Fairgrounds.
“He’s a good old horse. He just takes things really easy,” Tracy said. “He doesn’t get wound up about much. He just goes out and does his job.”
The Bosselmans are long-time sponsors of the race. CEO Charlie Bosselman said Fonner Park is important to the community, so it’s important to his family to support Fonner.
Plus, the race is just a lot of fun.
“I think it’s an event,” Bosselman said. “Even if you’re not into horse racing, there’s lots to do, there’s lots to see. I think a lot of people who come to this event have never been to horse racing. I think it’s just kind of a fun day. It’s an introduction to the sport and I think a lot of people get turned onto it.
“I think with the casino coming, it’s going to bring a lot of new fans to the sport, to Fonner Park. I think it will only be a bonus for Fonner Park and horse racing in general.”
The new addition this year to Bosselman day is the $30,000 Elite Sprint Cup, a 6 1-2 furlong stakes race. That race drew a full field of 10, including local favorite Its a Wrap. Tracy will be bringing Swift As I Am over from Iowa for this race along with Silent Poet for the Bosselman.
“Silent Poet is the reason we’re coming,” Tracy said. “It just worked out well to have him come on the same day. Both should be pretty live in their races I hope.”
Tracy said he’s looking forward to his first trip to Fonner Park.
“I’ve never been over there,” Tracy said. “They say they have good crowds and it’s a real fun day to be over there.”
Tracy said he’s not concerned about Silent Poet running on the 5/8ths-mile track at Fonner.
“He’s compact, kind of smaller horse,” he said. “He should be able to get around it pretty easy. With Swift As I Am being kind of a closing sprinter, that could be a question mark.”
Bosselman/Gus Fonner Field
Horse;Jockey;ML
1, Silent Poet;K. Roman;6-1
2, Great Escape;G. Rodriguez;9-5
3, Slim Slow Slider;J. Medina;3-1
4, Forced Ranking;T Bacon;12-1
5,Velocitor;D. Cohen;9-2
6, Protonic Power;J. Felix;8-1
7, Prayforpeace;N. Haar;10-1
8, Time Machine;F. Manrrique;15-1