SHAKOPEE, MN – Jockey Francisco Arrieta captured the spotlight on the first weekend of stakes racing at Canterbury Park. Arrieta has been the hot jock at the meet so far and, for those that haven’t noticed yet, he announced his presence with authority today.
Aboard heavily favored Hot Shot Kid in the $50,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes, Arrieta broke well and the three horses left in the race after the defections of 3/5 morning line favorite Mr. Jagermeister and A P is Loose ran as a team for the first half mile. By the time they turned for home, Hot Shot Kid was clear by two and romped home by 4 ¼ lengths, paying $2.60. Mines Made Up was second and Speeding Kid was third.
“The plan was the same [after the scratches],” said Arrieta. “Rate him, get in a good position and then let him run.”
Bred and owned by Warren Bush and trained by Mac Robertson, Hot Shot Kid covered the six furlongs over the muddy track in 1:10.08.
The script was little changed in the $50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes with the exception that Arrieta guided his mount, Ari Gia, to the win from gate to wire.
The five year old mare, bred by Rodney Zimmerman and owned and trained by Jose Silva Jr., was claimed by Silva for $6,250 on November 5 at Turf Paradise. Since the claim, Ari Gia has won four races in seven starts at three racetracks. The Lady Slipper win was her first stakes victory and her second in a row over the Canterbury Park strip.
“She such a good mare,” said Arrieta. “She always tries so hard.”
“We’ve been really lucky,” Silva added. “She’s the entire reason I’m at Canterbury this year.”
Ari Gia returned $5.60 for the win and covered the six furlongs in 1:20.29. Honey’s Sox Appeal ($3.20) was second, 3 ½ lengths back, with Double Bee Sting ($2.60) third.
With the victory, Ari Gia passed $100,000 in lifetime earnings and stamped herself as a force to be reckoned with in the distaff sprint stakes this season.
