Scooter’s Boy gets true test

Scooter’s Boy has gone 4 for 4 and established himself as one of the top horses of the Fonner Park meet. He will attempt to remain perfect over the Grand Island, Neb., oval on Tuesday in the featured seventh race, a no-conditions allowance for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs. He’s part of a strong field of seven that includes stakes winners Itsallaboutyou, Ourbestfriend D L, and Holding Fast.

“It’s a collection of some of the best sprinters at Fonner Park,” said David Anderson, who trains Scooter’s Boy. “I think you can make a case for five of seven in the field. I think that’s how competitive it truly is.”

Scooter’s Boy made his Fonner debut in March, and promptly won back-to-back conditioned allowances. Last month, he won two more allowances, closing from well off the pace in all four of his starts at Fonner.

“It’s amazing how he’s taken to that track,” Anderson said. “Especially on a bullring. You don’t usually see closers at that level do what he does. Usually speed is the commodity there, on any bullring. To have a horse do what he did against that company, I think is pretty phenomenal.”

Nathan Haar has been aboard Scooter’s Boy for all four of his Fonner starts, but Francisco Arrieta will be in the irons Tuesday. Anderson said Haar has moved his tack to Arapahoe Park, which is seeking to open June 6.

“That’s usually a big meet for him,” said Anderson, noting Haar needed to start working horses for trainers at Arapahoe.

“Francisco, he’s been riding really well. He just showed up here for the Bosselman” – Fonner’s top stakes – “and decided to stay until it was over. He’s won three races for us already.”

Scooter’s Boy, who will break from post 2, races for Rodney Paden.

Paden and Anderson also have Ourbestfriend D L in the same race Tuesday. He’s a speed horse coming off a runner-up finish to Scooter’s Boy in an allowance April 27.

“One shows speed and the other comes from off the pace,” Anderson said. “As a trainer, that’s what you like to see when you have [two] in the race.”

Ourbestfriend D L was second in the Tondi Stakes in March at Fonner before winning an allowance at six furlongs at the track April 14. Jake Olesiak has the mount from post 4.

Scooter’s Boy and Ourbestfriend D L will race as separate interests Tuesday.

Itsallaboutyou, who breaks from the rail, is a three-time stakes winner looking for career win No. 20. Freddy Manrrique has the mount for trainer Marissa Black.

◗ There is no racing Wednesday at Fonner. The meet continues through May 27.