SHAKOPEE, MN – Minnesota Festival of Champions day is, behind July 3, usually the best attended day on the Minnesota racing calendar. In this pandemic year of 2020, like everything else, Festival Day was greatly affected with only a limited number of fans in attendance. That did nothing to damper the ardor of the owners, trainers and the fans that were there for Minnesota’s championship day of racing.
The first four races on the card paved the way for eight consecutive stakes – all for Minnesota bred horses. There were six thoroughbred stakes and a pair of quarter horse stakes to close out the evening. The day was wet and initially the pair of turf stakes were going to remain on the turf, but late afternoon rain put an end to that and all the races would be contested over the sloppy main track.
$100,000 Bella Notte Distaff Sprint (6 Furlongs, Dirt)
A short field lined up to challenge owner John Mentz’ superstar Ready to Runaway in the sprint. She was off as the odds-on favorite, broke well and ceded the lead to stablemate Defend the Rose. Her moment of glory was short lived, as jockey Roimes Chirinos started to move Ready to Runaway through the turn and easily drew off to a 4 ¼ length win in 1:10.12.
“I thought we were going to be on the lead,” said Mentz. “I was a little worried when she wasn’t, but when she started moving she was just terrific.”
Ready to Runaway paid $2.20 to win. Hard charging veteran Pinup Girl ($4.20), in the last race of her stellar career, finished second and Rush Hour Traffic ($2.60) was third.
Ready to Runaway will take some time off and then start preparations for her five-year-old campaign with trainer Mac Robertson.
$100,000 Blairs Cove (1 1/16, Originally scheduled for turf; Dirt)
Drop of Golden Sun, a rapidly improving 5-year old gelding, was made the 8/5 favorite in the Blairs Cove over last year’s champion Hot Shot Kid and he ran like he should have been 3/5. Francisco Arrieta had Drop of Golden Sun on the lead early and never relinquished it, going gate to wire in 1:42.57 and paying $5.20. Dame Plata ($4.60) was second and Twoko Bay ($3.80) was third.
Drop of Golden Sun is owned and trained by Tony Rengstorf.
$100,000 Princess Elaine (1 1/16, Originally scheduled for turf; Dirt)
Clickbait was the odds-on favorite for the Princess Elaine. Though she hadn’t won a stake yet, the four-year-old Lovango filly had show flashes of brilliance in her short career.
“Keeping her running has been key,” said co-owner John Mentz, “but she’s very talented.”
Early on Hotasapistol and Honey’s Sox Appeal dueled on the lead while Clickbait sat behind the leading pair. Chirinos made his move on the favorite through the turn for home and she seized the lead, entering the stretch with three lengths on the field. She sailed home in 1:43.90, winning by 7 ½ lengths and paying $3.20 for the win. Hotasapistol ($4.60) managed to hang on for second despite forcing the early pace and longshot Two Be Royal ($12.00) was third.
What’s next for the lightly raced filly is still up in the air.
“Maybe she’ll get some time off,” said co-owner Jeff Larson. “It’ll be up to Mac [Robertson, trainer] to decide what’s next.”
$100,000 Northern Lights Futurity (Six Furlongs, Dirt)
Trainer Joel Berndt had never won a Festival Day race. When Sneeky Diversion broke his maiden the week before, he knew he had a live one.
“He’s a natural athlete,” said Berndt, “and very intelligent. Chris Block got him ready down in Chicago for us and did a great job. He was ready to go when he got up here.”
Both of his career wins now have been very professional efforts from a 2-year old that seems beyond his years.
In the Futurity, he broke well under Dean Butler and battled for the lead with Well Pro. He put Well Pro away heading into the lane and was able to extend his lead over Fitzpatrick who was trying to rally late. Sneeky Diversion covered the six furlongs in a very impressive 1:09.82 and paid $9.80. Fitzpatrick ($8.60) was second and Fire Extinguisher ($3.20) was third.
Sneeky Diversion is owned by the meet’s leading owner, Lothenbach Stables.
$100,000 Northern Lights Debutante (Six Furlongs; Dirt)
In the Debutante, Star of the North broke on top and never looked back. The winner, bred by owner Michael Grossman’s Eureka Thoroughbred Farm, is trained by Francisco Bravo and was ridden to victory by Ry Eikleberry.
“From the beginning this filly has been special to me,” said Bravo. “She’s strong, smart and very athletic. I was a little nervous early because we supplemented both horses, but she really ran great.”
Star of the North ($8.00) out finished Hell of the North ($3.80) and covered the distance in 1:10.77. Owen’s Pleasure ($8.00) was third.
$100,000 Crocrock Sprint (6 Furlongs; Dirt)
On paper it looked like there was a lot of early speed in the race, save one: Fireman Oscar. The race ran to form and when the speed dueled itself tired, the Pete Mattson homebred was there to pick up the pieces for trainer David Van Winkle and rider Alonso Quinones.
“It looked like there was plenty of speed to set up for him,” said Van Winkle.
“I said to the horse down the backstretch ‘man, are you going to run at all today’,” laughed Quinones. “Then in the stretch he really took off.”
Fireman Oscar paid $12 to win and stopped the clock at 1:08.8. Cinco Star ($3.20) was second and Ray’s Angel ($3.00) was third.
$70,350 Quarter Horse Futurity (350 Yards; Dirt)
When owner/breeder Dan Kjorsvik retired thoroughbred Holy White Socks, he had a plan. She wasn’t accomplished enough to use as a thoroughbred broodmare, but always exhibited early speed when racing for trainer Clay Brinson.
“I thought she might be able to make some great outcross quarter horses,” said Kjorsvik.
Here first foal, Holy Storm, has won five races and $76,297 and now her two-year-old by Corona Caliente is a stakes winner after capturing the Futurity in :18.80.
In a very tight finish and after a bobble at the break, Corona White Socks ($9.80) prevailed by a head over favored Western Reserve ($2.40) and Change N Gears ($3.20).
“I knew we had it when PA called the race for Western Reserve,” laughed Kjorsvik.
$67,250 Quarter Horse Derby (400 yards; Dirt)
As close as the Futurity was, the Derby was even closer with three horses hitting the wire together with favored Vo Fantastic Aira ($3.40) the victor in 19.98.
“Honestly,” admitted winning owner Corey Wilmes, “I thought we got beat until I saw the slow-motion finish.”
Trainer Ed Ross Hardy captured his 10th Derby with the victory and snapped a three-race winning streak by trainer Jason Olmstead. This was Wilmes first Derby victory as an owner.
“I’ve been in this for five or six years now,” he marveled, “and this is the first Derby or Futurity or anything like that we’ve ever won. It’s so exciting. We’ll get with Ed and see what he thinks going forward this year.”
On track handle was $121,434 while total handle of $2,048,915 was a record for the event. On track wagering was limited to 750 spectators.
Racing resumes at Canterbury for the final two days of the abbreviated 2020 season on Wednesday night with a 12-race card featuring a carryover of $41,427 in the 10% take out pick five.
