SHAKOPEE, MN – Fireman Oscar, a 3-year old gelding by Law Enforcement, looked to be much the best on paper and proved to be that way once the running started in the $60,000 Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Stallion Auction Stakes on Monday at Canterbury Park.

Fireman Oscar ($3.40), bred and owned by Pete Mattson and trained by David Van Winkle, broke alertly and stalked the early pace under white hot jockey Jareth Loverberry.  Loveberry had 12 wins over the weekend and was shooting for his thirteenth on the 4/5 favorite.  Undefeated filly Takela Warning, barely headed in her three career starts, could not get a clear lead early and battled with Sooner Heat for the first quarter of the 6 1/2 furlong dirt test.

Heading into the far turn, Loveberry let Oscar start to roll on the outside and he seized command heading into the lane and drew off to win by 3 3/4 in 1:20.13. Sooner Heat ($6.60) was second and Formidable Force ($4.40) was third.

“I tried to stay on the filly’s tail and ty to measure her”, said Loveberry. “I know he loves to run in the lane. I got him out in the middle of the track and he just went.”

It was Loveberry’s 13th win on the weekend.  He won on favorites, longshots and everything in between to take an eight race lead in the race for the leading jockey title over Orlando Mojica.

“I’ve never had a weekend like this,” grinned Loveberry after his winning ride in the MTA.  “I knew coming into the weekend that everything was live, but certainly never expected this.”

Longtime track announcer and Canterbury Hall of Famer Paul Allen tweeted:

Fans were also aware of the magnitude and rarity of the accomplishment.

“I’ve been coming here for 20-years,” said one patron.  “Never seen anything like it.  The kid couldn’t lose.”

He didn’t win them all, but he came close.  His four day tally was thirteen wins on 31 rides for an astounding 42% win percentage.  His 18 non-winning mounts? Six seconds and six thirds for a total in the money rate of 80%. And this was only his weekend at Canterbury.  Loveberry warmed up for the weekend winning on one of two mounts at Remington Park on Thursday.

Fourteen total wins is a good month.  Loveberry managed to squeeze it in over a long weekend.