Shakopee, MN – There is getting off to a good start.  There is getting off to a great start. Then there is getting off to a perfect start.  Two weekends into the 2017 season in Minnesota and Canterbury Park Hall of Fame trainer has sent out five runners and he’s met all five of them in the winners’ circle after the race.

He’s had good starts before, but nothing like this.

“I’ve never even started a meet two for two,” he laughed.

“They’re coming in off of a deeper Tampa surface and this is a lot lighter surface than what they are used to and they’re just performing well,” Rhone said of his chargers.

The winners have ranged from the odds-on Smoltz to the 10-1 Justeveryday.  All but Justeveryday have been piloted by 2016 leading rider and Rhone first call rider Dean Butler while the latter was ridden by Martin Escobar.

“Martin is my back-up rider and he’s been with me for ages and I just trust him,” Rhone said.  “We lost some speed in that race with the scratch and she was shortening up so we knew we could push her.  Things fell together.”

While Rhone certainly won’t finish the season undefeated, team Rhone is off to a sizzling start to the summer in Shakopee.