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Current leading rider Beth Butler captured a win on the Arthur Linsey-trained Busees in the feature race on a cold and windy Sunday to cap a three-win day at Fonner Park.
Butler engaged Fang Child, ridden by Luis Ranilla, in a spirited duel from gate to wire in the six-furlong feature. Butler was just able to get Busees in front before the wire to win by a head in 1:15:20.
"Art took the blinkers off this horse this year and she seems to run a little more relaxed," Butler said. "I didn't really want to go to the lead with her, but she drug me up there, and we were able to wear (Fang Child) down at the wire."
In winning the $8,400 allowance race for Nebraska-bred non-winners of two lifetime, Busees brought Linsey the winner share of $5,040.
Butler scored earlier on the card for Linsey with Mick's Real Thrill in the fifth race. She also won for leading trainer Milton Gaede with On Zee Rebound in the sixth.
Butler, who leads all riders in the jockey standings with 13 wins in the first three weeks of riding, shared her thoughts on riding in windy conditions like Sunday.
"We have a lot of tricks in riding on days like this," Butler said. "First of all when you're riding into a strong head wind, it's really tough. So when you head into the turn, your horse can lose his balance so you have to keep as still as possible.
"We also try and dress in layers to keep warm. I like to use cocoa butter on my face so it doesn't dry out so much in the wind."
Beth said she appreciates her supporters at the Grand Island track.
"I like riding for the owners, trainers and fans here," Butler said. "I try to ride hard for them every opportunity."
Damon Leeds joined Butler with three wins on the day as the veteran rider scored with Looney Lionel in the third race, Shakeel's Command in the fourth and Thoughts of You in the seventh. Leeds teamed up with trainer Steve Hall for his first two wins.
Leeds' day ended, however, with a banged up knee as he was thrown from his mount, Short N Sweet, after the running of the feature race.
Hoofprints
* The sixth race of the day saw the first dead heat of the season as Man From Lorado and Anejo dead-heated for first, it was the second win of the 2008 Fonner Park meet for both horses.
* Jockey Don Frazier teamed up with owner Ryan Snyder and trainer Robert Hoffman winning on Anejo and first-race winner Widor. Widor was ignored from the betting public as the highest priced winner of the day paid $46 to his backers at the window.
* Next Saturday's stakes race at Fonner is the $25,000-added Ogataul Stakes for Nebraska-breds at six furlongs. Nominees are the David Anderson-trained entry of Bevy's Dazzler and Dazzlin Lil Devil; the Herb Riecken-trained entry of Justabit Shawklit and Mortrump; the Jim Cranwell-trained Blumin Attitude; the Sean Foley-trained Coyanosa ; the Marvin Johnson-trained Did, the Larry Donlin-trained Heso; the Paula Thomsen-trained Show My Dancer; the Bob Rising-trained Skwhirl; and the Dean Bliss-trained Track Hero.
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