By Randy Monk
sports.desk@theindependent.com

Although Williams was unable to find the winner's circle, the 17-year-old said he enjoyed his stop back at his old stomping grounds.

"It was fun to be back at the old track, and get on a few today," Williams said.

Williams started his riding career in February of 2007 at Fonner Park, before branching out to ride in Minnesota, Iowa, California, Kentucky and Arkansas.

Williams has enjoyed plenty of success in the last year. He recently finished sixth in the jockey standings at the tough Oaklawn Park meet in Hot Springs, Ark., with 30 trips to the winner's circle.

The young rider's mounts have accumulated $577,352 in purse money already in 2008.

"Oaklawn was great for me," Williams said. "I really owe a lot to riding for Stanley Roberts down there. If I wouldn't have had first call for his stable, I wouldn't have had nearly as good of a meet."

Riding first call for a top trainer at a prestigious racetrack is something Williams has been getting more and more experience with.

"Last fall at Turfway Park, I got to ride first call for Steve Asmussen," Williams said. " That was unbelievable for me."

Asmussen led the nation in wins last season and is the trainer of horse of the year Curlin.

"Things couldn't have gone better for me at Turfway," Williams said. "It was a great experience."

Williams comes from strong racing bloodlines as his grandfather, Larry Donlin, trains at Fonner Park and his uncle, Kelly Von Hemel, trains throughout the Midwest.

Of course, Dylan's father, Rob Williams, is a member of the Nebraska Racing Hall of Fame as a jockey with more than 4,000 wins.

Rob Williams, who is currently a steward at Fonner Park, said he's proud of his son's first year of riding.

"He's improved tremendously as a rider since he left here last year," Rob Williams said. "The nice thing is he is continuing to improve."

Asked for advice he's given Dylan, Rob stressed the same message he's always had for his son.

"Get up early, and get home early," Rob said.

Young Dylan smiled and agreed that it was sound advice.

"That's great advice, and I try to heed it," he said. "Sometimes it's tough, though."

Persepolis wins feature

Unleashing a big run from his stalking position on the far turn, Turf Paradise invader Persepolis ran past front-runner Toubeeb in the stretch to win the $9,500 feature race Sunday at Fonner Park in a very quick 1:18:60 for the six and one-half furlong distance.

Trained by Monty Luark, and ridden by son Mike Luark, the six-year-old Persepolis looked sharp in his first appearance at Fonner Park.

Luark broke Persepolis alertly from the gate and settled in behind some quick opening fractions set by Toubeeb and Nine K Enigma.

"He broke better than I thought he would," Mike Luark said. "You want to let him settle and run his own race. He's got a heckuva run in him when you ask him."

Persepolis was claimed at Turf Paradise for $6,250 in November and has now won two races and finished runner up for Monty Luark, with rider Mark Luark on his back all three times.

Overlooked by the betting public, Persepolis returned $23 to win, while the Persepolis/Toubeeb exacta paid $180.80. Post-time favorite Frogman Henry closed to run third and complete a big $2,963.40 trifecta.

Hoofprints

Centura High School senior Chris Fackler completed a big weekend with two wins on the card. Fackler scored with Katysknocking in the fourth race and Millison Lass in the sixth race.

Jesus Ponce also won two races on the day as he visited the winner's circle on Similar in the first race and Resonate in race seven.

Fackler and Ponce each rode five winners on the three-day weekend cards.

Racing resumes Friday with a 3 p.m. first post time.

Race nominations

Nominations for next weekend's $25,000-added Nebraska-bred three-year-old Fonner Park Special Stake races include:

Filly DivisionAnnadacious owned and trained by Larry Donlin; Deputy's Whirl owned and trained by Bob Rising; the Clyde Cranwell-owned, Jim Cranwell-trained Gracie Jane; O'Ethel, trained by Elisabeth Emerson; Permissgques, owned and trained by Ken Ungles; Shesa Shark, owned and trained by David Anderson; Sunday Dancer, trained by Kelli Martinez; and a four-horse entry owned and trained by Marvin Johnson that includes Box Hopper, Millie, Miss G.I. and Tammy.

Colts and Gelding DivisionBlumin Won, owned by Robert Kirby and trained by Mike Kirby; Emmett's Lighting, owned by Dennis and Shirley Hendricks and trained by Jennifer Delorme; Johnny Five, trained by Richard Esquibel; a three-horse entry trained by Marvin Johnson, including A Cee, Fortune Fighter and Heyl; a four-horse entry trained by David Anderson, including Auntiesfinalaffair, Ittakestwobaby, Mr. Evans and Paddy's Punk; a three-horse entry trained by Kelli Martinez and Jodi Lopez, including Case On Ice, Heiferloumus and Sports Maniac; and a two-horse entry trained by Larry Starosik, including Jadyns Jet and Sunny Coz I.M.