SHAKOPEE, MN – Canterbury Park hall of fame trainer Mac Robertson continued a stellar season Saturday.  He’s won multiple races in a day, swept four stakes over Fourth of July weekend earlier in the meet and, on Saturday, captured all four Made in Minnesota stakes on the card pushing his season purse earnings to over $1.2 million.

First up was the $50,000 Princess Elaine Stakes.  Robertson’s 5/2 morning line favorite First Hunter was scratched late as the heavens opened up and a drenching rain washed the stake off the turf.  While the sloppy going seemed to move up his remaining entry, Honey’s Sox Appeal, doubts remained about her ability to get the extended distance of a mile and a sixteenth.

Breeder/owner Bob Lindgren had no such doubt.

“She could get the distance,” he said. “She can do just about anything.  She would have done well on the turf, but she’s an excellent mudder.”

Honey’s Sox Appeal broke alertly and jumped out to a two length lead.  She wasn’t threatened for most of the race, but a very game Maywood Hope starting grinding into the lead late.  Honey’s Sox Appeal ($7.00) and Orlando Mojica dug in and crossed the wire a neck in front of Maywood Hope ($4.00). Favored Firstmate ($2.40) never threatened and was third, eight back.  The time of the race was 1:44.34.

“They said she couldn’t run on the turf and she won.  They said she couldn’t run long and she won,” said a justifiably proud Lindgren. “She just keeps proving them wrong.”

In the off-the-turf $50,000 Blair’s Cove, Hot Shot Kid bounced back from his 4th place finish last year and showed that he can get any distance on any surface.  He took the Minnesota Turf last out at 7.5 furlongs and dominated in the six furlong 10,000 Lakes in the mud to kick off the season.  On Saturday he broke well for Mojica who let him stalk the early pace set by Drop of Golden Sun.

 

At the six furlong mark, Hot Shot Kid put away Drop of Golden Sun but had to face the challenge of the late running Fireman Oscar.  Oscar came close to heading the Kid but the Kid never faltered, staring Oscar down (see photo) and never let him get by to prevail by half a length in 1:43.09, paying $3.00 to win as the odds on favorite.  Fireman Oscar ($6.00) was second and Drop of Golden Sun ($4.60) was third.

“We’ve never had one like this,” said breeder/owner Warren Bush.  “We’re trying to enjoy it.  It’s a great, great feeling.”

The next weapon out of the Robertson barn was Ready to Runaway, a $25,000 claim for John Mentz in June, who crushed in the Frances Genter prepping for the Oaks.  Jareth Loveberry was in the irons again for the Oaks after spending 10 days sidelined with a concussion.

“I really want to thank Mac and Mr. Mentz for having faith in me,” said a clearly emotional Loveberry after the race.  “They let me come back and ride after the concussion and their belief in me means so much.”

Loveberry allowed Ready to Runaway to bide her time in the first half of the race and then let her start to roll through the turn.  By the top of the stretch she had struck to the lead and entering the lane she had a 3 1/2 length lead and never looked back, winning by 4 lengths in 1:43.33 for the mile and 70 yards and paying $3.00.

“I thought I might be last early,” said Loveberry.  “But she left well and I just let her run her race.  When I asked her, she went.”

“This was the best claim of my life,” laughed Mentz.  “I called Mac about her and he just said ‘she’s worth the money’.  If he had said ‘no’, I wouldn’t have done it.”

Once again, faith in Robertson’s opinion was rewarded.

Grand Prize ($3.20) was second and She B Glamorous ($6.00) was third.

The final leg of the “Mac Slam” was the Minnesota Derby where he sent out the talented Mister Banjoman against a field of seven Minnesota bred three year olds including the post time favorite, Dame Plata.  Dame Plata bested Banjoman in last season’s biggest 2-year old Minnesota bred race, the Northern Lights Futurity and Banjoman was looking to turn the tables in the Derby.

El Tizar, keen to go early, set the early fractions while Mister Banjoman, guided by Orlando Mojica looking for his third stakes win on the day, was content to stalk a couple of lengths off the pace.  Heading into the far turn, Mojica niggled to him to get going and Banjoman moved up alongside of the early leader and put him away to contend with challenges from Minnesota Miracle and then Dame Plata late, though neither were particularly serious.

Mister Banjoman ($4.80) covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:43.13.  Dame Plata ($2.40) and Minnesota Miracle ($3.00) was third.

Owner Joseph Novogratz went to $200,000 for the son of Maclean’s Music at Fasig Tipton in 2017 and, with the $60,000 winner’s share, just eclipsed his purchase price with earnings – and he’s only three.

“We really wanted to have that horse here,” said Novogratz. “Sometimes you have to go beyond your barrier to get what you want and Mac has done a great job for us.  He’s given us many more successes than failures.”

This time of year is when Robertson really starts to heat up.

“We always want to win,” said Robertson. “But especially in August and September.  That is what we get ready for.”

With plenty of time left in August and September and Minnesota Festival of Champions Day three weeks away, you can be sure that Robertson isn’t done winning yet.