A P is Loose | Midwest Paddock Report

SHAKOPEE, MN – Pepsi Family Day kicked off at Canterbury Park on Sunday with six quarter horse trials to se the field for the $100, 000 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity to be run on July 5. The top 10 qualifiers based on time for the 350 yard heats advanced to the finals.

Trainer Jason Olmstead won four of the six heats and garnered five of the ten qualifiers, dominating the trials. Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Ed Ross Hardy qualified two while Stacy Charette-Hill, Vic Hanson and Bob Johnson qualified one each.

Owners Tom and Bill Maher and Reliance Ranches each qualified two horses each while jockey Cody Smith will have a decision to make come the finals as he was aboard five of the ten qualifiers.

Stallion Pyc Paint Your Wagon sired three winners while Ivory James sired two. The state of Oklahoma had five qualifiers while Texas and California had two each and South Dakota had one.

A complete list of the qualifiers is below.

Though unable to qualify in heat 1, Divas Dashing Dude (1), Bella Nonna (2) and Regal Ivory (3) give it all they have. The inside has been a difficult spot for the quarter horses thus far this season.

Second heat winner, No Regrets Here (5) drives to the finish. Dividendz (not pictured) also qualified from race 2.

Gone All In (7), the fast qualifier on the day, puts away the field in her heat. — Gone All In (7), the fast qualifier on the day, puts away the field in her heat, Race 3.

Streakin Wagon takes heat 4. Also qualifying out of this heat was Expensive Paint Job (not pictured)

Miss Famous Diva finishes strongly but failed to qualify from heat 5. Qualifiers were Big Bad Ivory and Okeyfreight

Painted Streaks (8) takes the final heat of the day. Valiant Norther (not pictured) also qualified out of the heat.

As mentioned above, it was Pepsi Family Day at Canterbury and families abounded on the apron, in the petting zoo, on the pony rides and on the playground. A couple of young patrons had a good time with the face painting, ice cream and making new friends.

Enjoying an ice cream on the warm day - and serious about her ice cream! — Enjoying an ice cream on the warm day and getting serious about it!

Making friends with a lead pony between races.

And, of course, there were thoroughbred races on the long 13 race card where an 0-21 gelding finally broke through, a locally based trainer gets the exacta, at least one Minnesota A.P. is running free and a 7-year old making only his second start crushes for his maiden victory.