SHAKOPEE, MN – Jockey Alonso Quinonez won three races, breeder/owner Pete Mattson won three races and recent Canterbury Hall of Fame inductees Richard Bremer and Cheryl Sprick bred a pair of juvenile winners in the 31st Minnesota Festival of Campions at Canterbury Park yesterday.
350 Yard MN Quarter Horse Futurity
Hall of Fame trainer Ed Ross Hardy took the opener on Festival night, scoring from post eight with EOS Keep Dreamin. Chaos in the middle of the track after the break took any chance of winning away from the favorite, Da Lie Lah, and EOS Keep Dreaming and Angel Ramirez took full advantage and held off the recovering favorite to pay $10.40 as the winner.
Da Lie Lah ($3.60) was second and Relentless Deal ($12.60) was third. The 350 yards were covered in 18.48 seconds.
EOS Keep Dreamin disowned and was bred by Corey Wilmes.
400 Yard MN Quarter Horse Derby
Sugar Rushh (Olmstead/Alvidrez) takes the Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby in 20.26 with ease, paying $3.80. He broke beautifully and it was all over but the payouts. Averys Treasure ($4.40) was second and Relentless Minnie ($2.60) was third.
Winning trainer, Jason Olmstead, swept the trifecta.
The thoroughbreds took over the last six races on the card.
The pair of 2-year-old races, the Northern Lights Futurity and Debutante, provided the bigger upsets of the day with 22-1 Able Seaman winning the Futurity and 17-1 Where’s Marilyn scoring in the Debutante.
Both winners were bred by recent Canterbury Park Hall of Fame inductees Rick Bremer and Cheryl Sprick (see related story).
In the Futurity, the biggest concern of the connections of Abel Seaman was would he be engaged early because his closing ability has never been in doubt.
“He still can be a silly two-year old,” said co-owner and breeder Cheryl Sprick.
Abel Seaman was at the back of the pack down the backstretch and turning for home when jockey Guillermo Rodriguez went to work and got Abel Seaman rolling until he went from eight lengths back to 1 ¾ in front under the wire, outfinishing Arjun for Karz and I’ll Make Bank in 1:13.62 and paid $47.60.
“Just like we planned it,” quipped co-owned and breeder Rick Bremer as the gelding crossed the finish line.
“My agent and I were really confident in this horse,” said winning jockey Rodriguez. “The last time here he made up a lot of ground in the stretch. We talked to Mike (trainer Biehler), we made some changes, and we got it.”
Able Seaman is owned by Bremer, Sprick and Barry and Joni Butzow.
In the Debutante, a pair of 17-1s battled through the lane. Where’s Marilyn and Flatter Me baby, trained by Canterbury stalwarts Bruce Riecken and Troy Bethke, respectively, with Where’s Marilyn prevailing by a 2 ¼ lengths in 1:13.11. Wildcat Minny was third.
“She had some issues in the last few races,” trainer Bruce Riecken. “She was eleven back turning for home but was only beat two at the wire. I was only hoping that the thirteen days back wasn’t too short a time, but she ran tough today.”
Riecken said that Where’s Marilyn ($36.00) will be heading out to the farm for some rest and relaxation until gearing up for her three-year old season.
Where’s Marilyn is owned by Anthony Didier who purchased her for $20,000 at the OBS March sale and is named for super-fan, Marilyn LaCount.
Jockey Alonso Quinonez guided Where’s Marilyn to the victory, his first of three wins on the Festival Day card, the others coming with Half Brother in the Blair’s Cove Minnesota Turf and Thealligatorhunter in the Crocrock Sprint.
The last two races on the card, a pair of Minnesota Sprint Championships were won by owner/breeder Pete Mattson and trainer Tim Padilla.
“This was the third stakes win for Thealligatorhunter this year,” said Mattson. “Come awards time at the end of the year, he should be in line.”
“She’s My Warrior is a better horse than she’s given credit for,” said Mattson. “She’s run a lot of nice races. I think the jockey deserves a lot of credit for the win. Constantino Roman knew he could get the lead, and he did.”
The Princess Elaine Turf provided a mild upset with Cupid’s Crush seizing the lead out of the gate and was never threatened by multi-stakes winner and heavy favorite, Midnight Current.
“I took the lead and after the first turn I slowed her down,” said winning jock Serafin Carmona. “I was pleased the way she was running down the backside. In the far turn I kind of heard the horse behind me but I didn’t want to wait any longer, so I let her go and she just took off.”
She cruised to a seven and quarter length win in 1:42.22 and paid $7.20.
Bred by Mary & Eric Von Seggern and Joni & Barry Butzow, the four-year-old is owned by Xtreme Racing.
The complexion of the Blair’s Cove Turf changed with the scratch of 4/5 morning line favorite Xavey Dave. The five-horse field was led by Its Bob’s Business but gave up the lead through the turn for him to Found Jordan. Half Brother loomed alongside in the lane and two battled head-to-head down the lane with Half Brother getting the head bob at the wire.
“[Trainer] Gary Scherer pretty much lets me ride the horse,” said winning jockey Alonso Quinonez. “He told me that last time he got into a little trouble and to just keep him clear and let him run his race.”
Half Brother paid $4 to win and is owned and was bred by Sugarland Thoroughbreds and trained by Gary Scherer.
Racing continues throughout the Labor Day weekend with first post on the last Sunday of racing and Labor Day at 1:10 PM.
