Good Reward headlines Cornhusker

Multiple Grade 1 hero GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat) tops a competitive field of 13

runners in Saturday's $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup H. (G2),

and the five-year-old will be making a surface switch to the dirt off three

turf starts this year. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Good Reward has made a

name for himself on the green, taking last year's Manhattan H. (G1), running

third in the Maker's Mark Mile S. (G2) two back and most recently finishing just

2 3/4 lengths back in seventh in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1).

That's not to say the bay horse can't have success on the main track. He

began his 2005 campaign with a good fourth in the Strub S. (G2) on the dirt and

even broke his maiden on the same surface at Belmont Park. In addition to getting a surface

switch, Good Reward will also pick up a new jockey in Mike Smith.

William Donald Schaefer H. (G3) hero MASTER COMMAND (A.P. Indy) will share

highweight duties of 117 pounds in the Cornhusker with multiple Grade 3 victor

ALUMNI HALL (A.P. Indy). Prior to his Schaefer score, the Todd Pletcher-trained

Master Command was seen running fourth in the Oaklawn H. (G2), his

worst finish from eight career starts. His last four have come at the

Cornhusker's 1 1/8-mile distance, and the four-year-old will have Rafael Bejarano

in the saddle for the first time here.

Alumni Hall is still looking for his first win this year, but finished second in

his last two starts, the Eclipse S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine and the Ben Ali S. (G3) at Keeneland.

Third in the New Orleans H. (G2) earlier this season, the seven-year-old will keep regular rider Robby Albarado aboard for

this one.

Other contenders in the field include Memorial Day H. (G3) victor SIPHON CITY

(Siphon [Brz]), Grade 2 hero and Memorial Day runner-up CONGRATS (A.P. Indy) and

MAYAN KING (Stephen Got Even), who's captured four of his six lifetime starts.

GOULDINGS GREEN (Charismatic) will lead the post parade to the gate under a

116-pound impost that includes jockey Corey Lanerie. He'll be followed by 

REAL DANDY (Yankee Victor), Shaun Bridgmohan, 115; Siphon City, Elvis Trujillo,

115; THREE HOUR NAP (Afternoon Deelites), Francisco Torres, 116; Congrats,

Daniel Centeno, 116; WAYZATA BAY (Roar), Carlos Montalvo, 112; SUR SANDPIT

(Sandpit [Brz]), Luis Ranilla, 110; SKIPASLEW (Skip Away), David Cohen, 114;

Master Command; COURTHOUSE (Doneraile Court), John Jacinto, 112; Alumni Hall,

117; Mayan King, Mike Luzzi, 112; and Good Reward.

Two other stakes events are scheduled for the Cornhusker undercard, with the

$125,000

Iowa

Sprint H. featuring Carter H. (G1) winner BISHOP COURT HILL (Holy Bull).

Conditioned by Pletcher, the six-year-old gelding was third last out in the Bold

Ruler H. (G3) while going the same six furlongs he'll have to run on Saturday.

Also entered in the nine-horse race are stakes winners WILD TALE (Tale of the

Cat) and COACH JIMI LEE (Roar).

One race earlier, a field of six distaffers has been entered to go 1 1/16

miles in the $125,000

Iowa

Distaff Breeders' Cup S. PLATINUM BALLET (Skip Away), fourth in the Apple

Blossom H. (G1) earlier this season, will be going for a title defense in this

one after taking last year's edition by 1 1/2 lengths. Among those she'll face

are multiple Grade 2 winner CAPESIDE LADY (Cape Town) and Fort Monmouth S.

heroine NO SLEEP (Robyn Dancer).