SHAKOPEE, MN – The Lunderborgs have had long running success with full brothers Dickey Bob and Pyc Jess Bite Mydust in Minnesota and around the country. Usually Dickey Bob gets the best of his older brother, but Jess has had his share of wins, usually by catching his brother late in longer races, which is why both brothers went off at odds on in the four horse $30,000 Cash Caravan Stakes at Canterbury Park Tuesday night. Dickey Bob held off his brother late, given the Lunderborg LLC a 1-2 sweep in the Caravan.
“I really thought Pyc Jess would win,” said Bruce Lunderborg. “But he just didn’t fire today. Dickey Bob was great.”
Dickey Bob broke alertly under Luis Valenzuela, opened up a half length and then was able to hold off his older brother, beating him by a head in 19.965 for the 400 yards.
Dickey Bob paid $3.60 to his backers while Pyc Jess Bite Mydust paid $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering. The brothers notched identical 95 speed index numbers for the race while the third and fourth place finishers, Fire N Guns and Holy Storm, each earned an 88. The winner is trained by Jason Olmstead.
The stakes win capped off a good day – and week – for the Lunderborgs and their home breds out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Paint or More.
Earlier in the evening, Sweet Carol Line, a 2-year old filly by Moonin the Eagle, won her trial for the Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity as the evening money favorite. Not only did the half sister to Dickie Bob and Pyc Jess win her heat, she was also the fastest qualifier, running the 350 yards in 18.009.
Over the weekend, another full sibling to the boys, Jess Rocket Man, captured a trial for the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. Although Jess Rocket Man won his heat, his narrowly missed qualifying for the final and consolation.
“He ran great,” said Judy Lunderborg. “Look how many horses he beat there. He really did well.”
As the older boys, Dickey Bob is five and Jess six, start to wind down their careers, Jess Rocket Man and Sweet Carol Line look poised to take the mantle in Minnesota.
“He’s fast,” Judy said. “He was here earlier in the year but he just didn’t have his act together. He won a trial but couldn’t win the final in the Gopher State.”
“He lost by about this much in the final,” said Bruce. Holding his hands about a foot apart.
Between Prairie Meadows choosing to a run a simultaneous quarter horse meet instead of a complimentary concurrent meet and the effects of the Corona virus on the movement of jockeys, it’s been a trying year for quarter horse racing in the Upper Midwest.
“I hope that everyone gets their act together next year,” said Bruce. “We love coming and racing here and I hope we’re all able to continue.”
Trial races were run for the $67,250 Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby and the $70,350 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity. Vo Fantastic Aira was the fastest qualifier for the Minnesota Derby covering 400 yards in 20.085 seconds under jockey Ry Eikleberry for trainer Ed Ross Hardy. Kelsi Harr rode the abovementioned Sweet Carol Line, the fastest qualifier for the Minnesota Futurity. She is trained by Olmstead and owned by Lunderborg LLC. Final time for the 350 yards was 18.009 seconds. The finals will be run Sept.9 as part of the 27th Minnesota Festival of Champions Day.
The full list of qualifiers are below.
