SHAKOPEE, MN – Mr. Jägermeister, the 2-year champion Minnesota bred colt will make his local debut Saturday in the 10,000 Lakes Stakes at Canterbury Park. The now 3-year old will take on older for the first time in the six furling dash.
“He’ll be facing some tough, tough horses to run against,” said trainer and co-owner/breeder Valorie Lund, “And he’s still a baby, but he’s a talented baby.”
It’s a difficult task asking a 3-year old to take on older horses but Mr. Jägermeister has shown a ton of ability. Last out he was clearly second best in the Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park, losing to Mitole, the 3-5 favorite for the Chick Lange Stakes at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard.
“I like my post position,” Lund said. “You just get out there and see how he does against older, seasoned racehorses. He’s run against young horses, most of them lightly raced. This is going to be a real test for him.”
Mr. Jägermeister is 2-1 in the morning line and while only five other horses will line up in the gate against him, Lund is correct – it is a tough seasoned group.
The all-time money winner at Canterbury Park and last year’s winner, Hold For More, will start on the rail coming off two races at Will Rogers Downs.
Smooth Chiraz, the 2017 Minnesota Sprint Championship winner will make his 2018 debut in the 10,000 Lakes.
Champion older horse, A P Is Loose, is one of two starters for trainer Mac Robertson. A P Is Loose tends to fire better going a bit longer over the turf course but was third in this race last year and just missed catching Hold for More in a midseason allowance sprint.
Hot Shot Kid, the other Robertson entry, reeled off five wins in a row last season including his maiden breaker in a Maiden Special Weight at Oaklawn. The Kid swept the 3-year old stakes at Canterbury last season winning the Vic Myers and the Minnesota Derby.
Rounding out the field is Fridaynitestar, the runner up in the Myers and Minnesota Sprint Championship.
There is plenty of speed in the race, as you would expect for a sprint stake. A P Is Loose is the only confirmed closer of the group and he wants to go longer. It should be a solid race even with a short field.
The Lady Slipper, the other $50,000 sprint stake this afternoon, features defending champion Honey’s Sox Appeal. In addition to the ’17 Lady Slipper, she also won the Minnesota Distaff Sprint on Festival Day before closing out the season taking a turf optional claimer.
While Honey’s Sox Appeal appears to tower over this field, on the outside Double Bee Sting took the 2017 Minnesota Oaks in a laugher and was just headed by Pinup Girl on Festival Day in the Distaff.
Pinup Girl is also in the field as is 2016 2-year old filly champion, Shipmate. Assiniboia Debutante champion Vidira comes into the race off a 2018 debut win in a Turf Paradise allowance. Ta Kela Warning, winner of three of four lifetime but taking a big class hike here, rounds out the 6 horse field.
Preakness Day post time is 12:45PM with the stakes being run as the eighth and ninth races on the card.
