By Randy Monk
sports.desk@theindependent.com

The Whispering Pines Stables' Rio Tricky, trained by Kim Veerhusen, has been established as the morning-line favorite. Rio Tricky, an easy winner at four furlongs on Feb. 23, will be ridden by Yuri Yaranga.

"I'm happy Yuri chose us to ride back," Veerhusen said. "We think he has a good chance, but it's a good field, and with only going a half-mile it's pretty much depends on your break."

Breaking fast is something Rio Tricky does well as in four lifetime starts, Veerhusen's charge has broken on top three times.

"Our first out here in the meet, he missed the break and ran pretty green," Veerhusen said. "He ran a lot more professionally last time.

Veerhusen notes that the race has a lot of speed horses that will be tough to beat.

"I understand that Brian Roberts' horse (Run Countess Run) is very fast," Veehusen said. "I know Ittakestwobaby can run, Tammy has won a four furlong race here and Step N'Fetch is a first-time starter debuting in a stakes race. He must have a lot of talent."

Run Countess Run is the most accomplished horse in the race, having won three races in her career. The three-year-old filly broke her maiden last summer at Charles Town, running in a 4 1/2 furlong race, and later tallied another 4 1/2-furlong win at Charles Town and a five-furlong score at Delaware.

Larren Delorme picks up the mount on Run Countess Run.

The David Anderson owned and trained Ittakestwobaby is a Nebraska-bred with a lot of talent. The Anderson charge finished fifth last week in a six-furlong race. Damon Leeds rides for Anderson, last year's leading trainer at Fonner. The veteran conditioner likes his horse, but isn't thrilled about his post position or a wet track.

"I wish we weren't on the rail going four furlongs, it's been tough there so far this year," Anderson said. "He has some talent. We'd just as soon it doesn't rain though."

Tammy owned and trained by Marvin Johnson seeks her second win of the meet. Newcomer David Lopez will ride.

Cash Karr, trained by red-hot Steve Larue, has Chris Fackler in the irons. Untouchable Time, trained by Mark Lemburg and ridden by Armando Martinez, and Step N'Fetch, debuting for John Garroute and ridden by Don Herber, complete the field of seven.

Hoofprints

* Veerhusen won this race in 2006 with Nikki Nine.

* Marvin Johnson captured the Bachman three years in a row, scoring with King Of Diamonds in 1999, Thrifty Nickel in 2000, and Harvey Bengal in 2001.

* Two riders with mounts in the race have won the Bachman in the past, as Armando Martinez scored in 2005 with S C King, and Larren Delorme won aboard Nikki Nine in 2006.

* Senator Billy B. trained by Kelly Von Hemel set the stakes record of :45 in 1986.