QUARTER HORSE STAKES
Beep Beep Zoom Zoom makes it two stakes in a row, taking down the $50,000 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity with Berkley Packer aboard for Summer Run Inc.
“I can’t put out a shout out high enough to the Olmsteads for all they have done for us,” said Maren Ludemann. “It’s good to show that Minnesota Quarter Horses are something to reckon with.”
“Some small injuries have sidelined some of the string, said Paul Ludemann. “Just small things but enough to send them back to the farm to rehab. Beep Beep has done a great job this year for the team. She’ll head back to the farm, turn out with her friends and we’ll come back next year.”
The Ludemann’s may be looking to add to their string via the claim box as well as having a trio of babies at home.
“We’re so thankful,” said Maren. “God really has his hand in this for Summer Run.”
Beep Beep Zoom Zoom covered the 350 yards in 18.18. Wicked 6 ($9.40) was second and Vo Fantastic Aira ($7.20) was third.
Olmstead and Packer teamed up again for the $50,000 Minnesota QH Derby with prohibitive favorite Jess Doin Time ($3.00). Holy Storm ($3.60) was second and Apolls Reign ($5.20) was third.
Of the two races, this was the easier for the duo as the filly broke sharp, put two lengths on the field nearly immediately and cruised the rest of the way home, covering the 400 yards in 20.20.
“I’ve been riding a lot for Jason in Iowa so I was happy to come up and ride these here,” said Packer. “He told me to just keep her quiet and let her do her thing.
“When you have a heavy favorite, you’re even more nervous,” said breeder/owner Tom Pouliot. “With Quarters we can use embryos and keep on racing the mare so we’ll probably do that and bring her back next year.”
As for her next stop, she’ll be in the trials for the Altoona Derby at Prairie Meadows later this month.
THOROUGHBRED STAKES
The thoroughbred portion of Festival Day kicked off with the Northern Lights Debutante for 2-year old fillies. Worth $100,000 – like every thoroughbred stake on the card – The Deb was contested at six
furlongs over the main track.
Heavily favored Defend the Rose broke alertly and was pressed immediately on the front end for four furlongs. By the time she shook off those early challengers, Rush Hour Traffic had a bead on her and got the favorite late to win by 4 1/4 in 1:13.43 paying $7.60.
“She doesn’t have to be on the lead,” said winning jockey Leandro Goncalves. “She’s okay behind horses. I found myself following the seven horse [Defend the Rose] which is right where I wanted to be.”
Defend the Rose ($2.10) was second and Stylin N Profilin ($3.60) was third.
Breeder/owner Bob Lindgren campaigned champion Happy Hour Honey and, after she retired, bred her to Successful Appeal and produced the favorite in the Northern Lights Futurity, Happy Hour Cowboy. And he ran like a favorite should.
Though the victory wasn’t dominating in terms of lengths, the colt was pressured by L’il Ninja most of the way around the racetrack and he still found enough to prevail by a length over the closing Public Safety ($7.00) under Orlando Mojica and trainer Mac Robertson.
“It’s so special to breed, raise and race them and see them win,” said Lindgren. “It’s about the future.”
Happy Hour Cowboy paid $4.00 to win. Public Safety ($7.60) was second and Big Falcon Rocket ($4.20) was third. The win gave trainer Mac Robertson the first of his three stakes wins on the card.
The mile and a sixteenth Minnesota Classic was decimated by scratches with The Great Casby, Teddy Time and True West all bowing out, leaving a field of 4. The overwhelming favorite was Hot Shot Kid, winner of three stakes already this year. The Kid did not disappoint, going to the lead and holding off the pressure of Fireman Oscar, drawing off late to win by four lengths giving Mojica another riding win.
“We have had the best summer,” said Linda Bush, wife of breeder/owner Warren Bush. “We just love Canterbury and our trainer, Mac Robertson.”
Hot Shot Kid, their first Minnesota bred, has won five of six races and earned $176,705.
“Our breeding in Minnesota is a direct result of the Mystic Lake/Canterbury Park agreement,” said Warren. “The money up here is nearly the same and we love running up here.”
On Labor Day the Bushes had another home bred, this time an Iowan, Minecraft Maniac going in the $100,000 Gov. Terry Branstad Stakes. He went off as the 2-1 favorite and won by a length.
A good summer indeed.
Fan favorite Mr. Jägermeister was a dominate presence in the Minnesota Sprint. He started a bit slowly but was fighting for the lead by the first call with Mister Banjoman. As the field bent through the turn, Banjoman was all in while Jägermeister was ridden confidently by Leandro Goncalves.
By mid-stretch it was all over but tallying the mutual, as Mister Banjoman tired and with a broken rein, faded back into the field and Mr. Jägermeister ($2.80) went on to win by in 1:09. and 5 1/4 lengths. Drop of Golden Sun ($13.40) closed for second in another solid effort with Cinco Star ($2.20) third. He covered the six furlongs in 1:09.87.
“I’m relieved,” said trainer and co-owner/breeder Valorie Lund. “Anytime you have the prohibitive favorite you get nervous about what could go wrong.”
Next up for Mr. Jägermeister would be the Grade III Ack Ack stakes at Churchill Downs, also rumored to be the return race for Omaha Beach.
“You eventually need to run against the best,” said Lund. And all of Minnesota will be watching and rooting.
The final two stakes of the day belonged to the ladies. The Distaff Classic and the Distaff Sprint. In the Distaff Classic, $25,000 claim Ready to Runaway was the 3/5 favorite and looking to win three consecutive stakes after the claim. Firstmate surprisingly went to the lead early and jockey Jareth Loveberry was content to stalk the leader early.
“She was on the outside,” Loveberry explained. “She was nice and relaxed.”
Loveberry let her run through the turn and she ranged up on the outside and powered by the field winning by 7 3/4 lengths in 1:46.13.
Loveberry, trainer Mac Robertson and owner John Mentz had to wait out an objection by the second place finisher that was disallowed before being able to celebrate.
“Overconfidence will never be my problem,” said Mentz. “Whenever there is an objection you get nervous. Once I watched the replay I felt better but we never enter the winners’ circle until it’s official.”
Ready to Runaway paid $3.20 for the win. Pin Up Girl ($3.20) was up for second and Maywood Hope ($2.80) was third.
With his three stakes wins, trainer Mac Robertson extends his record of number of wins in Festival Day stakes to 35.
In the Distaff Sprint, Bob Lindgren was looking for his second stakes win on the day and what would have been a record four consecutive Distaff Sprint championships.
Lady Slipper champion and favored Ari Gia broke sharply and took the lead, drawing off by three when Honey’s Sox Appeal began to make her move through the turn for home.
“I was really happy early when she was in front,” said owner/trainer Jose Silva Jr. “I really though we were going to win from there but then Honey’s Sox Appeal came up and I thought ‘Oh man, I’m going to get caught! I have so much respect for that mare, she’s very good. But our mare gives 100% each time and she did great.”
When Ari Gia changed leads for Francisco Arrieta in the lane she spurted to the lead and drew off to win by 3 1/2 lengths, covering the six furlongs in 1:10.57. She paid $3.60. Honey’s Sox Appeal held for second and paid $2.60. There was no show wagering.
Final attendance for Festival Day was 9335 with total handle a festival day record of $1,051,513 ($334,309 on track and $717,204 off track).
