SHAKOPEE, MN – Though the rain did a number on Northern Stars Preview Night, pushing a trio of turf stakes on to the main track, there was still plenty of excitement: a winner had to survive an inquiry and objection and an odds-on favorite gave a fan favorite her first stakes victory.

In the $50,000 one-mile Brooks Fields stakes saw favored Hieronymus and Tut’s Revenge go at it side by side up front for nearly the entire mile over the sloppy racetrack.  Meanwhile, eventual winner Lord Dragon sat back in fourth, seven lengths behind the leading duo.

“I just needed to be patient and bide my time,” said jockey Ruben Fuentes.

As the field straightened for home, Lord Dragon had cut the lead in half and was closing in on the leaders when he ducked a bit under the right-handed stick.

“Chris [Richard, trainer] told me that he tends to lug out a bit,” said Fuentes, “so I expected him to drift. I tapped him right -handed and he started to lean in.  I didn’t know if I should go inside or outside but when you’re that loaded its better to go outside and blow right by them.”

Quarters got tight near the wire when eventual second place finisher Tut’s Revenge had to take up abruptly as the trio approached the finish. After a steward’s inquiry and objection by Roimes Chirinos against Lord Dragon, the final result stood.  The head on replay clearly showed that the interference was cause by Hieronymus coming out and crowding Tut’s Revenge and causing the bump with Lord Dragon.

Lord Dragon survived the bump and objection to win by 1 ¼ lengths, paying $9.60. Tut’s Revenge was second ($4.80) and Hieronymus ($3.00) was third.  The final time of the race was 1:36.27.

Jockey Kelsi Harr went into the decimated $50,000 Minnesota HBPA Distaff having never won a stake but aboard a great chance, 1/5 favorite Best Kept Secret.

Harr guided Robert Cline trained Best Kept Secret to the lead and maintained a roughly two length advantage throughout the race until Dean Butler on Beach Flower made a furious late charge.  At the wire it was Harr and Best Kept Secret ($2.60) who prevailed by a head in 1:37.87.

“I’m so proud of my filly. She did great,” said a clearly emotional Harr.  “My nerves are kind of crazy right now.  The owners came all the way up from Kentucky for the race. I could never have done this without my family who have been a wonderful support system.”

After sending her love to her young daughter at home, Harr headed back down the tunnel to jock’s room amid applause from the fans, all smiles and a stakes winning jockey.

Beach Flower paid $2.20 to place.  While Apple Dapple was third, there was no show wagering with the field whittled down to four after the transition to the main track.

The final stake on the card was the $50,000 Honor the Hero.  Robertino Diodoro trained Drena’s Star went off as the odds-on favorite under Lindey Wade and did not disappoint. Sitting just off pacesetter Jazzy Times into the turn, Drena’s Star ($3.40) seized the lead in the stretch and steadily drew away, passing under the wire in 56.78, 2 ½ lengths ahead of Jazzy Times ($5.20) who managed to hold off the late charging Bybee ($3.20) for second.

While the victory may have looked easy, the winner was inside through most of the race and was in some tight quarters turning for home.

“It got really tight midway through the turn,” said Wade. “Chad pinned me down there and he wasn’t giving me a break – and he shouldn’t have – but my horse was all heart and got me through.”

Canterbury’s first family day is this Sunday, kicking off the Memorial Day weekend.  Racing Sunday begins at 1 PM while the Memorial Day card, featuring the Bob Morehouse Stakes for quarter horses, starts at 5 PM.