Fonner Park, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — There is no doubt in trainer Temple Rushton’s mind that Subsidize can go a mile.
That’s because he’s done it. Again and again.
The 7-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding has 11 races going a mile, and he’s won four of them. He also won at 1 1-8th miles at Arapahoe in November.
“He’s a nice horse,” Rushton said. “I’ve run him six furlongs here twice, but he needs a little longer, although he’s won some going six.”
Now Subsidize, 10-1 on the morning line with jockey Jayden Ironeyes on board, will have a try at the mile distance again Saturday in the 63rd running of the Dowd Mile Stakes at Fonner Park.
He’ll break out of the one hole with speedster Just Plain Ornery (12-1) right next to him.
“I don’t like the one hole very well,” Rushton said. “The horses on his outside are going to break hard and run fast.”
Rushton claimed Subsidize Oct. 4 at Arapahoe for $5,000. He finished second the next week and then five weeks later ran away with the Butch Gleason Classic Stakes by over six lengths.
“I ran him seven days after we claimed him and he got beat by three quarters (of a length),” Rushton said. “And then he came back the next week in the Butch Gleason Classic and got that.”
Subsidize finished third in the six-furlong Tondi Stakes March 22 at Fonner Park behind Drivehappy and Athurian. Both those horses are entered in the Dowd Mile as well.
Drivehappy, trained by Mark Hibdon, won the Tondi by a nose over Athurian, ridden by Jose Medina and trained by David Anderson.
“He’s not really a six-furlong horse,” Rushton said of Subsidize. “I think we have a better shot tomorrow. He’ll lay close and we’ll see what happens.”
Drivehappy is experienced at the distance. He’s gone a mile 20 times and has won three of them.
The two are virtually even on the morning line with Arthurian at 5-2 and Drivehappy at 3-1.
Time Muse, also trained by Anderson and ridden by Kevin Roman, is also one of the favorites at 4-1.
Fayette Warrior, ridden by Scott Bethke and trained by Troy Bethke, has won his last two starts at Fonner, both at six furlongs. Fayette
Warrior, who tied for the most wins in the nation in 2023 with 10, has won two of his eight career starts at a mile and is 6-1 on the morning line.
Falsely Accused (10-1), Forced Ranking (12-1), Medicine Tail (12-1) and Toomanynames (15-1) round out the 10-horse field.
Oregon County wins fourth straight
Oregon County, ridden by Kevin Roman and trained by Isai Gonzalez, was going for his fourth straight win Friday.
Rushton had two horses in the race, including Creative Miracle who hadn’t been out since Feb. 22 because Rushton couldn’t find a race that would go to get him an out.
“Izzy has a tough horse in there and I’m glad he put him in, otherwise my horse would be standing in the barn again,” Rushton said before the race. “Now we have to outrun him but we probably can’t do it. He’s got a nice horse.”
Rushton was right. Oregon County pulled away to win his fourth straight race by 1 1-4 lengths. At this point, no other horse on the grounds has more than two wins.
Creative Miracle finished fifth in the six-horse field
.
Hoofprints
— The $75,000 Bosselman Pump and Pantry/Gus Fonner Stakes is just three weeks away and Wednesday is the deadline for nominations. Assistant racing secretary Wayne Anderson said so far there have been nine outside horses nominated. Anderson said trainer Gary Scherer nominated two horses, but didn’t nominate last year’s winner Velocitor.
— Jockey David Cardoso was suspended for seven days by the stewards after an incident Sunday when fellow jockey Adrian Ramos fell and suffered a broken wrist.
— Jockey Jose Medina won the fifth race on Miss Josie for trainer Dalton Dieter and the sixth on Game’s Kartel for trainer Marvin Johnson.
— Jockey Kevin Roman won twice. Besides the win on Oregon County, he also won the seventh race on Willet Kinda Night for trainer Jesse Compton.
— Five of five in the Dinsdale Automotive Pick Five Jackpot paid $256.60. The carryover to Saturday is $5,043.09.
