SHAKOPEE, MN – “Stakes Week” at Canterbury Park wound up in spectacular fashion Saturday night with a brewing rivalry of 3-year old Minnesota bred in the Vic Myers, the emergence of a potentially spectacular filly in the Genter, an interesting full circle experience in the Strangis and a leading owner exacta in the Turf Distaff.  The cherry on the top of the cake? The fourth largest handle card in Canterbury Park history.

The stakes action kicked off with the renewal of the rivalry of Doctor Oscar and Love the Nest, two of the top 2-year olds last year in Minnesota. In the career debut for the pair of colts last year, Doctor Oscar got the best of Love the Nest, but the latter turned the tables in the $100,000 Northern Lights Futurity.

In the $60,000 Vic Myers, a prep for the Minnesota Derby, Doctor Oscar held off a late charge by favorite Love the Nest to win by a length in stakes record time of 1:08.60 for six furlongs. Chad Lindsay rode the winner for Pete Mattson of Prior Lake, Minn. who owns and bred the 3-year-old son of Shackleford. Doctor Oscar, trained by David Van Winkle, paid $5.20. Love the Nest paid $2.20 to place while pacesetter Happy Hour Bobby ($3.20) was third.

“He was just a big, healthy horse,” Mattson said. “His mother [Miss Darla] raced for me and made over $100,000 at Gulfstream Park. We knew he was well bred.”

Doctor Oscar stopped the timer in a stakes record 1:08.60.  The time shattered the old mark of 1:09.18, set in 2005 by Cam Casby’s Key Issues.

Mattson will be looking to keep the lawn jockeys in the walking ring, painted in the colors of the Minnesota Oaks and Derby winners, in his colors with Doctor Oscar and has a strong contender for the Oaks in She’s My Warrior.

The 3-year old fillies took the stage next with Brewhouse, bred by Scott Pierce, owned by Vicki McGowan and John Mentz and trained by Mac Robertson was out to prove that her stunning 5 ¾ length debut victory was no fluke.

She broke sharply under Nik Goodwin and never relinquished the lead, beating the hard charging Northern Lights Debutant winner, She’s My Warrior, by a neck in 1:10.41

“My instructions were to go,” said victorious jockey Goodwin. “So I went.  I tried to give her a bit of a breather in the middle of the race and she had enough to hang on.”

Brewhouse paid $6.00 to win.  She’s My Warrior ($3.80) was second and Gypsy Reward ($3.40) was third.

Both the Derby and Oaks, to be run on August 13, will see these contenders stretching out to a mile and 70 yards continuing their respective rivalries.

The stakes moved to the turf course for the Ralph Strangis Memorial at 7 ½ furlongs.

Coming into the race, trainer Mac Robertson had conditioned every winner in the five-year history of the race and had two time champion, Hot Shot Kid, in this year’s edition.

Pete Mattson and Tim Padilla’s Thealligatorhunter broke alertly under Alonso Quinonez and appeared to be cruising to victory in deep stretch when he regressed to his old ways and bolted to the outside. After Quinones corrected him right handed, he ducked back inside in front of Hot Shot Kid, causing the Kid to check.  After a steward’s inquiry, Thealligatorhunter was taken down.  The second place finisher, Zoe’s Delight, was placed first, with Hot Shot Kid second and Thealligatorhunter was officially third.

Zoe’s Delight, ridden by Luis Valenzuela, trained by Tony Rengstorf and owned and bred by Winchester Place Thoroughbreds paid $12,60 to win.

Interestingly, the connections were involved in a controversial non-disqualification in the 2021 Minnesota Derby.  Thealligatorhunter swerved in that race as well and after an inquiry and objection, it was determined that there was no interference to Winchester Place’s Bayou Benny leaving the results official.

“I was pretty angry after that,” said Winchester Place owner Lorie Michaels. “I felt we really did get interfered with but the result stood.”

Hot Shot Kid paid $18 to place and Thealligatorhunter paid $4.60 to show.

Leading owner Lothenbach Stables had a pair of homebred contenders in the Minnesota Turf Distaff with favored Midnight Current and second choice Let’s Skedaddle and they did not disappoint.

Midnight Current ($4.40) broke on top and cruised to a four length victory over her stablemate.

“The plan was to stay off the pace,” said jockey Harry Hernandez.  “But no one was going so I just let her go.  I did try and slow her down the best I could and, when I asked her, she really took off.”

Let’s Skedaddle paid $3.80 to place and Scent of Success ($4.20) was third. Leading trainer Joel Berndt trains the exacta.

The night was well-received by the betting public with on track handle at $269,358 with a total handle of $3,299,658. The handle total tonight is fourth largest in track history and was aided by a $58,082 10% pick 5 carryover.  The winning pick 5 combination paid $15,121.20

Racing continues at Canterbury this afternoon with Extreme Day with camels, zebras and ostriches interspersed throughout the ten race card.  First post is 1:10 PM.