SHAKOPEE, MN – The holiday weekend in Minnesota is predicted to be warm – though not hot – dry and mostly sunny, a perfect weekend to celebrate Minnesota racing Saturday evening, Minnesota Festival of Champions Night.
Here is a brief glimpse at the eight races on the card, all state bred stakes:
Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity – $48,000 – 350 Yards
The Futurity has a field of ten with four winners, though a few of the runners are stakes placed already.
Six horses have a run a speed index of over 60: Little Sister Run (60); Jjs Sweet and Sassy (62), Da Lie Lah (63), L Conejo (63), Eos Keep Dreamin (61) and Shez Got Rhythm (63).
Ed Ross Hardy, Jason Olmstead, Tyler Stein and Haley Hobbs all train two runners.
Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby – $48,000 – 400 yards
The expected favorite in the Derby is Sugar Rushh. The colt already has a pair of stakes wins against state breds and is coming off a 3rd place finish in the open Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby.
Stablemate Relentless Minnie, finished behind his rival in the North Star Futurity last year but this year is bobble at the start from being two for two.
Olmstead trains the pair who are both owned by Summer Run Inc.
Northern Lights Futurity – $75,000 – six furlongs – dirt
Five of the eight colts and geldings in the Futurity this year are maidens.
Chipolte is the 2-1 morning line favorite on the strength of his gate to wire debut at Delaware Park, a rare starting place for Minnesota breds. While he was in a $25,000 maiden claiming race, he did notch a solid 53 Beyer Speed Figure and was ridden out like a professional.
The highest speed figure in the field belongs to Wocka Wocka. He broke his maiden last out coming from off the pace, making a nice sustained move and drew off for trainer David Van Winkle and Chad Lindsay who team up again for the Northern Lights.
Blairs Cove Minnesota Turf – $50,000 – 1 1/16 – turf
Xavey Dave will likely go postward as the favorite in this group of six. Back on the turf for his last two starts after a 4th in the 10,000 Lakes Stakes, Xavey Dave easily beat a Minnesota bred allowance field at 7.5 furlongs and was a solid second in a mile and sixteenth open optional claimer.
It’s Bob’s Business, potentially the lone speed in the race, should try and take them from gate to wire under Eduardo Gallardo.
Northern Lights Debutante – $75,000 – six furlongs – dirt
Similarly to their male counterparts, five of the eight runners in the Deb are maidens.
Of the three winners in the field, Wildcat Minny, won at five and a half furlongs when compared to Mary B’s Legacy and Competitive Nature.
Mary B’s Legacy was visually impressive in her debut, winning professionally and earning a field high Beyer Speed Figure of 54 – considerably higher than any of her rivals.
Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf – $50,000 – 1 1/16 – turf
On paper this race looks to be all about Midnight Current, running her last racwe before heading to the breeding shed. She’s a lifetime twelve for twenty-one and has been virtually unstoppable the last two years, winning five of eight and not missing the exacta. She easily put away her top rivals, Let’s Skedaddle and Gypsy Reward already this season.
If she matches her best race, Cupid’s Crush has a shot in the race as well, but this looks to be a coronation of one of the best Minnesota bred turf mares we’re ever seen at Canterbury.
Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint – $50,000 – 6 furlongs – dirt
And interesting mix of styles will compete in the Bella Notte. Of the six entrants, four will want to be on or near the lead. Favored Xtreme Diva and multiple stakes winner Thuners Rocknroll, Saint Serena and She’s My Warrior all have shown a proclivity towards speed. That leaves Birdie Be Gone and Lover Girl to try and pick up the pieces late should a four headed pace battle be joined.
Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship – $50,000 – 6 Furlongs – dirt
Another field of five sprinters (General Battle Axe is re-entered later in the weekend) including the undefeated three-year-old Street Warrior. He broke his maiden against older and then went on to dominate other three year olds in an open allowance and the Minnesota Derby.
Thealligatorhunter, with a pair of wins to his credit this year will try and take his patented early speed from gate to wire. Distorted Pro has a pair if wins and second place finishes in his four starts this year, beating state bred and open allowance foes while second to open allowance runners in his last two.
First post for Minnesota Festival of Campions Evening is 5:12 PM.
