SHAKOPEE, MN – The afternoon rains took what looked to be some of the best Minnesota bred matchups in years off the lawn and onto the main track but that didn’t stop the night from being legendary for owner John Mentz, trainer Mac Robertson and rider Roimes Chorinos. The trio dominated both off the turf stakes, the Ralph Strangis and the Distaff, with powerful performances by Cinco Star and Ready to Runaway.
In the Strangis, Cinco Star tracked the early speed of Mr. Jagermeister and Drop of Golden Sun and, moving through the far turn in the one-mile contest, Chirinos sent Cinco Star ($4.60) between the leading duo and he never looked back.
“He could have won even easier,” Chirinos said after the 2 ¼ length victory, “but he started looking around in the stretch. Maybe it was the tractor or something, but he got it done.”
Twoko Bay ($8.40) closed hard for second and was able to cut into the winning margin (2 1/4 lengths) as Cinco Star relaxed with about fifty yards to go. Drop of Golden Sun ($3.00) was third.
“This guy just ties hard all the time,” said Mentz. “He gets to the finish line and he’s a pleasure to have.”
Mentz will let Robertson decide where to go next with the flexible gelding, having proven he can win on dirt or turf, short or long. Robertson has trained all five winners of the Ralph Strangis Stakes.
Turf or dirt, Ready to Runaway was going to be one of the favorites in the $50,000 Distaff. With the rain and her love of the wet surface (4 of 6), the odds slid further in her favor. She was, however, second in the wagering to stablemate Clickbait.
Rush Hour Traffic set the early pace and quickly opened up by 3 with Ready to Runaway just waiting in the wings through the first half mile. At that point, Chirinos had waited enough and asked Ready to Runaway to get moving.
“Once I asked her, she just responded,” smiled Chirinos, “Vamonos!”
Stablemate Clickbait, also partially owned by Mentz, started moving her way around traffic in the turn for home but never mustered a strong challenge to the winner. The winning margin was 2 1/4 lengths.
“Oaklawn may have been a little tough for her this year,” said Robertson, “but she does really well here.”
Ready to Runaway paid $5.80 for the win while Clickbait paid $2.60 for second. Pacesetter Rush Hour Traffic ($3.80) ran third.
The evening started off with the $50,000 Frances Genter Stakes for three-year-old fillies. If there was a question about Star of the North, it was how she would respond when tested. It appeared to be the case Wednesday night that Hell of the North was going administer that test, breaking sharply under Hall of Famer Dean Butler on Hall of Fame Night and put a quick length on her. Star of the North, however, having none of that, surged to lead with Ry Eikleberry and cruised to a 3 3/4 length victory.
“Right at the 3/8 pole I was looking at Ry and wondering if he was going to start riding her,” said winning trainer Francisco Bravo. “Dean was really riding, but Ry wasn’t moving.”
That was because she was doing all the work and making it look effortless.
“That was all her, said Eikleberry. “I just need to remind her in the stretch and that’s it. She does it all herself.”
Star of the North tends to get a little feisty before her races and she was once again sent out ahead of the field. So far, every time she’s headed out since the bridle path incident prior to the Lady Slipper, she seems to get more and more comfortable. After the hand-off from groom to pony, she headed to the racetrack without incident.
“I need to keep her busy,” said Bravo. “I galloped her yesterday, which is something I never do before a race, and I spent the night worrying if I messed her up.”
There was no need for worry as she stopped the clock for six furlongs over the muddy racetrack in 1:10.07 and paid $2.60.
The filly will head to the Minnesota Oaks as the prohibitive favorite. The strong, solid filly has given no indication that the added distance will be any kind of a problem for her.
“I don’t really know how good she is,” said owner and breeder Michael Grossman. “She’s been in small fields where she’s been able to have her way so I’m not really sure how good she is. She could be the best we’ve had.”
It was the three-year-old boys’ turn in the $50,000 Vic Myers and owner/breeder Pete Mattson had a couple of things going his way: he owned the favorite, Thealligatorhunter; and was having a year like he’s never had before.
Coming into the night, Mattson was tied for second in the owners’ standings and would have been leading if the horses he co-owns with trainer Tim Padilla were added.
Thealligatorhunter broke sharply and settled behind Bayou Benny early, but jockey Alonso Quinonez was not about to let Benny get loose on the lead.
“I’ve ridden both horses so I know them both so I knew I couldn’t give him an easy lead,” said Quinonez. “I thought if I could pressure him that I could go and control the race and he would run on.”
Which is exactly what happened.
Theallligatorhunter ($3.20) sent off at 3/5 and drew off to win by four in 1:10.95. Kid’s Inheritance ($6.60) closed for second, nipping Bayou Benny ($2.20) at the wire.
“This is really a team effort,” said Mattson. “Racing is a team sport. It takes time to develop a good herd and I work with very good people.”
The stakes action came to a close with the inaugural running of the 400-yard $28,000 North Star State Derby. The overwhelming favorite, Jess Rocket Man, was looking to make big brothers, multiple stakes winners Dickey Bob and Pyc Jess Bite Mydust, proud by continuing the family tradition of winning big at Canterbury Park.
Jess didn’t disappoint, he broke alertly and was never headed, winning by 2 lengths in a dominating performance.
“I hope it runs in the family,” laughed owner/breeder Bruce Lunderborg. “He won at 440 yards at Ruidoso, so I didn’t think the 400 yards was going to be a problem. He’s really coming along.”
Jess Rocket Man paid $2.80 to win, Change N Gears ($3.00) was second and Living in the Past ($6.60) was third. He was piloted by Edwin Escobedo and is trained by leading quarter horse trainer Jason Olmstead.
