Field Of Nine to Challenge Cornhusker

A field of nine, led by Cryptograph, is set to challenge Saturday's $300,000 Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II), going 1 1/8 miles.

Cryptograph, trained by Donnie Von Hemel for Pin Oak Stable, enters the Cornhusker off a second-place effort in the Lone Star Park Handicap in his lone start of the year.

The son of Cryptoclearance ended last season with four wins from 10 starts, including stakes wins in the Grand Prairie Turf Challenge and the Round Table Stakes.

Challenging Cryptograph will be California-invader Musique Toujours. Trained by John Sadler for Richard Glassman and Lloyd DeBruycker, the 5-year-old gelding enters the race after a disappointing unplaced effort in the New Orleans Handicap (gr. II). He began the year with an upset win in the Ocala Breeders' Sales Classic on the Sunshine Millions card. However, Sadler may opt to withdraw from the Cornhusker in favor of the Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. ) July 9.

Another horse to watch is the Doug O'Neill-trained Skipaslew. The 4-year-old son of Skip Away has posted solid numbers in five starts on the year, winning the Santana Mile Handicap and finishing second in the Alysheba Stakes. He began the year with a third-place effort in the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II).

The field for Satuday's $300,000 Cornhusker Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) includes:
1-- Lord of the Game (Eusebio Razo, Jr., 3-1)
2-- Habanerous (Danny Sorenson, 6-1)
3-- Cryptograph (Don Pettinger, 5-2)
4-- Scooter Rains (Perry Compton, 20-1)
5-- Musique Toujours (Julio Garcia, 7-2)
6-- Skipaslew (Martin Pedroza, 4-1)
7-- Ticky Mocha (Glenn Corbett, 15-1)
8-- Mambo Train (Alex Birzer, 15-1)
9-- Silver Axe (Tim Doocey, 15-1)