SHAKOPEE, MN -Belmont Stakes day at Canterbury will feature the Budweiser Clydesdales, the rescheduled running of the bulldogs and, on the track, a trio of stakes.
Opening the day will be the $34,150 Gopher State Derby, a seemingly wide open affair with the tepid 3-1 morning line favorite, Painted Dynasty, breaking from the rail with Ry Eikleberry for trainer Jason Olmstead.
Painted Dynasty has opened 2018 coming within a neck of being undefeated. She was 2nd in the season opener at Remington but has reeled off two in a row including an easy win with the fastest qualifying time here.
The other two winners heading into the Gopher State are First of 15, also trained by Olmstead, and Marfilmio, out of the Vic Hanson barn.
Minnesota breds take to the turf for the $50,000 Minnesota Turf and Minnesota Distaff Turf in races six and seven. Both races feature many familiar faces, some established turfers and others trying the surface for the first time.
In the Distaff, last year’s winner, Some Say So, is back to defend her title. She ran in a pair of state bred turf affairs last year, this race and the Princess Elaine, and won them both. Outside of state bred company was a little more problematic, but that won’t be a concern for her in the 7.5 furlong test. She had a pair of starts at the Fairgrounds earlier this season but was overmatched. She should find
The place horse last year, First Hunter, is also back for another try as well. She’ll be coming directly off a series of well spaced drills with a nice six furlong work from the gate last Saturday.
Rounding out the 2017 trifecta of returning contenders is Honey’s Sox Appeal, 4th in her 2018 in the Lady Slipper on the dirt. This year’s edition of the Lady Slipper adds several contenders into this field as well as Honey’s Sox Appeal.
PinUp Girl, the impressive winner of that race, will try turf for the first time Saturday. Second place finisher Ta Kela Warning is also going to give the turf a go while Shipmate will try state breds after a pair of flat turf performances against open company last season.
In the Minnesota Turf, defending champion A P Is Loose is the 5/2 morning line favorite. Last season he followed up a solid effort in the 10,000 Lakes with the victory. This year’s edition of the 10,000 Lakes was a less impressive effort, finishing last in the race. He’s certainly better longer and on the turf and booking a pair of solid works between races is encouraging. The seven year old Monarchos gelding will have some young competition in this year’s edition of the Turf.
Hot Shot Kid, 2017’s 3-year old champion, has one turf start to his credit and it was a solid performance in last year’s Mystic Lake Derby – 5th beaten only 3 3/4 lengths. He should find this field a little less compelling than the Derby.
Teddy Time, last year’s Blairs Cove champion, will be making his first start of the season in the Turf while Where’s Jordan, winner of a pair of allowances last summer – one open and one state bred – finished a solid 3rd at this distance in an open allowance on the first of June.
Post time Saturday is 12:45. Interspersed throughout the day will be the bulldog heats, the Clydesdale performance and the 150th Belmont Stakes.
