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SHAKOPEE, MN – The combination of a dry, warm day, six stakes and national coverage added up to a record-breaking day at Canterbury Park Wednesday night.  Total handle on the 10 race Northern Stars Turf Festival totaled $4,737,428, nearly a million dollars more than the previous record, set on Northern Stars Turf Festival night 2021.

There was no shortage of national media coverage heading into North Stars night including a pair of appearances on Steve Byk’s “At the Races” by Senior Vice President of Racing, Andrew Offerman, and Track Analyst Kevin Gorg.

A trio of bettor friendly wagers, the Post Time Pick 4, the All Turf Stakes Pick 5 and the daily Pick Five, all featured a nation low 10% takeout and were well supported.

While track officials thought a $4,000,000 was in sight, no one expected handle to approach $5,000,000.

Curtis Sampson Oaks

Schlofmitz, trained by Michael Maker and ridden by Javier Castellano, won the one mile turf race in 1:35.86 and paid $9.40.  The 3-year old filly is owned by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, LLC and Michael J. Caruso.

Dark Star Turf Sprint

Spycraft won the $100,000 Dark Star Turf Sprint under Adam Beschizza. Owned by Dugan-McNichol Racing, LLC (Brian Dugan), Spycraft is trained by Joe Sharp. He paid $10.40 to win and covered five furlongs on the turf in 55 seconds.

“He runs best front running,” said Beschizza. “but we tracked, were able to get across to the rail and finish.  He’s a very uncomplicated horse.  He knows how to win and I was just a passenger on his back.”

Lady Canterbury

She Can’t Sing won the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes with jockey Jareth Loveberry. Trained by Chris Block, the 5-year-old mare is owned by Lothenbach Stables, Inc.

She Can’t Sing tracked pace setters Medalla Match and Beach Flower “She was confident all the way around,” Loveberry said. “I was very comfortable on the backside.” She Can’t Sing took the lead at the top of the stretch and went on to win by a length in 1:33.82. She returned $5.80.

Local trainer Joel Berndt saddled She Can’t Sing for Block.  “I’m just the sub today,” Berndt smiled.  “We’re just out here having fun.”

The win was popular with the Canterbury faithful, not only because she was well backed at the windows, but fan favorite and former leading jockey here, Loveberry, was in for the win.

Mystic Lake Mile

Mr Dumas won the Mystic Lake Mile with Reylu Gutierrez. The 6-year-old horse is owned by WSS Racing, LLC (William S. Simon) & Hooties Racing, LLC (Mark Brian Moore) and is trained by John Ortiz.

In his last couple of races in Kentucky, Mr. Dumas came close but just missed in a $138,000 allowance at Keeneland and the Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill.

“The horse gave me everything he had in those races,” said winning jockey Reylu Guttierez. “I had to do better. Tonight, I gave him some time to get his feet underneath him and he really responded.  I was really just a passenger tonight.”

Mystic Lake Derby

Stitched won the $150,000 Mystic Lake Derby Wednesday night at Canterbury Park with jockey Florent Geroux aboard. The 3-year-old is trained by Gregory Foley and is owned by Nathan McCauley, Michael W. Olszewski and William J. Minton. Stitched pressed the pace throughout the one-mile turf race before taking the lead in mid-stretch. As the betting favorite, he paid $6.20. The final time was 1:34.76.

“I thought [Geroux] rode the perfect race sitting behind the pace,” Foley said. “I always thought he could rate but his previous races did not shape up that way.”

Though the locals were shut out of the major stakes, locally based and Minnesota bred Ben’s Malice was a solid second in the Derby.