[Editor’s Note: The following is a Canterbury Park press release with official photographs from Coady Photography. Not how we prefer to recap stakes but our entire staff was attending Hugh Jackman Saturday night in St. Paul.]
Shakopee, Minn. — Faraway Kitten, owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, won Canterbury Park’s richest race of the season, the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby, on Saturday night at Canterbury Park. The 3-year-old colt rallied from off the pace under jockey Orlando Mojica to win the one mile turf race as the betting favorite. Faraway Kitten, who is trained by Mike Maker, earned the first stakes win of his eight-race career. This is the second year in a row that the Ramseys and Maker have won the Mystic Lake Derby. The winner paid $4.40.
“I wanted to get them back to back wins so I was under a lot of pressure,” Mojica said. “I stayed behind and just let him run and it ended up working out very well for us.”
Bizzee Channel and jockey Jose Valdiva, Jr. finished second and Dunph was third with rider Santiago Gonzalez aboard.
The $50,000 Hoist Her Flag Stakes was won by filly Spring Steen, owned by Michael Grossman. Jockey Ry Eikleberry was
Spring Steen
aboard the 4-year-old who returned $14.60 to win. Trainer Francisco Bravo approved of the effort. “Everything worked perfect,” he said.
Lake Ponchatrain and Terry Thompson were second while jockey Dean Butler aboard Aiken To Be finished third.
Beach Flower, owned by Hugh Robertson, John Mentz and Jeff Larson, won the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes providing
Beach Flower
trainer Mac Robertson with his third win of the night. Jockey Dean Butler “had total confidence” in the 6-year-old mare, sitting just off the pace and pulling away late to win by 3 1/2 lengths. She paid $22.60. Second went to favorite Remember Daisy and Eddie Martin, Jr. Lovely Loyree with jockey Carlos Marquez, Jr. took third.
The $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile was won by Nobrag Justfact, owned by Super XLIV and trained by Eric Heitzmann. Jockey
Nobrag Justfact
Leandro Goncalves was aboard the 4-year-old colt who returned $15.00. Ibaka and Ry Eikleberry, who set the pace to deep stretch, held second and Carlos Marquez, Jr. on Giant Payday finished third.
“It’s been a day to remember,” said Heitzmann. “I just love Canterbury Park and I’m so happy I have friends and family that support me.”
Chief Cicatriz
The final stakes of the 11-race card, the $50,000 Dark Star Cup was won by Canterbury’s top jockey Francisco Arrieta aboard Chief Cicatriz. The 6-year-old gelding is owned by Roy Gene Evans and trained by Shawn Davis. Jockey Ry Eikleberry and colt Cowboy Creed finished second. Malibu Max and Jareth Loveberry were third.
