SHAKOPEE, MN – The Canterbury Park Quarter Horse meet wraps up this afternoon with three stakes races. Another race being closely watched is for top quarter horses jockey of the meet. Heading into the final three races of the season – not counting the races on Minnesota Festival Day – Jorge Torres leads all time leading Canterbury quarter horse jockey Nik Goodwin by 1, 15-14. Torres has a pair of mounts in the stakes while Goodwin has three.
Jason Olmstead has wrapped up another training title while Brenda Reiswig claimed the leading owner title.
The 1889 Futurity, run for Dakota breds, is being hosted by Canterbury with the cancellation of racing in South Dakota this year. The race drew six entries and carries a purse of $15,000.
The favorite in the 350 yard race looks to be Divas First Moon. Owned and bred by David Wisdom, the First Moonflash filly is trained by Bob Johnson. The horse has not missed the board in four career starts and was second in the North Dakota Futurity last out. Johnson has three additional entries in the race while trainer Randy Weidner has a pair.
The $25,000 350 yard Skip Zimmerman Memorial looks to be a closely matched affair. The 3-1 morning line favorite is Quick Dashin Perry, second to Pyc Jess Bite Mydust, in the Bank of America Canterbury PArk Challenge last out. Pyc Jess Bite Mydust came back to win the Cash Caravan stakes yesterday, flattering Perry’s chances.
First of 15, last year’s Gopher State Derby champ will break from the rail. Second in Grade 3 Decketta Stakes at Remington Park earlier in the year, First of 15 has a win and a place at Canterbury in her pair of starts and carries the highest recent speed index in the field with a 95.
California Blossom is only a neck from being two for two at Canterbury this season but will be stepping back into stakes company for the first time in nearly a year.
The $72,300 Gopher State Futurity is the feature race of the three and drew a field of ten for the 350 yards contest.
Torres is aboard morning line favorite Royal Cash Flash on the rail. Royal Cash Flash was co-fastest qualifier and has the highest last race speed index of 87. Left Town, the other fastest qualifier (17.74), will break right outside of Royal Cash Flash. Both are trained by Clinton Crawford.
A Valiant Diamond comes on a two race winning streak, capturing her trial as well as the Mystic Lake Northlands Juvenile earlier in the meet.
Goodwin, regular rider of A Valiant Diamond as well as Nanyehi on the outside, will be aboard Nanyehi for the Futurity.
Post time is 12:45 for the eleven race card.
