SHAKOPEE, MN – Trainer Bob Johnson notched wins in two of three stakes on Sunday, including the top four finishers in the 1898 Futurity, and Clinton Crawford swept the trifecta in the $72,300 Gopher State Futurity, closing out a weekend of very strong training performances at Canterbury Park.
The day began with the 1898 Futurity, a Futurity for North and South Dakota breds that was cancelled when South Dakota suspended racing but Canterbury Park picked up for this season. In the 1898, filly Divas First Moon overpowered the five horse field to cover the 350 yards in 17.789 and win by 4 lengths as the 1-9 favorite ($2.20) for rider Stormy Smith and trainer Bob Johnson. Johnson also trained the next three finishers in the 1898, Hasta B an Effort, Bhr Jessies Girl and Jessabluemoonlady (finished 2nd but disqualified to 4th).
Smith and Johnson teamed up again in the $25,000 Skip Zimmerman Memorial stakes with California Blossom.
“George Seward called me up after he claimed her and said, ‘I have a project for you'”, Johnson laughed. “We were looking at her to either run in here or in the Keokuk in Iowa. We flipped a coin and she ended up here. It worked out.”
California Blossom ($14.00) broke well and was never headed, winning by a length and setting a track record of 17.360, eclipsing the mark set by the great Whirling Cleat in 2009. Fosse ($3.00) was second and First of 15 ($3.00) was third.
Johnson didn’t have much time to celebrate, though.
“Have to get back and pack up. We’re heading to Prairie Meadows in the morning.”
Clinton Crawford had five of the ten qualifiers for the $72,300 Gopher State Futurity but that was no guarantee of victory. It certainly was no guarantee of sweeping the podium, but that’s exactly what Crawford accomplished in the Gopher State.
Royal Cash Flash, bred and owned by leading Quarter Horse owner Brenda Reiswig, broke from the rail which was considered a good omen for the connections.
“Mrs. Resiwig called me up after the draw and said that her mama won this race from the one hole,” said Crawford assistant Mason Lincoln. “She got away the cleanest of all and she just kept getting stringer through the wire.”
Royal Cash Flash, the 5/2 favorite, was never headed in the 350 yard dash, covering the distance in 17.591 for leading Quarter Horse rider Jorge Torres. She paid $7.00. Left Town ($5.20) was half a length back in second, a head in front of Relentless Candy ($4.60).
“We’re so proud of her,” said Resiwig. “She’s been a good girl.”
Though there may be an occasional quarter horse race for horses still stabled at Canterbury, it is likely that the next quarter horse races will be on Minnesota Festival of Champions Day on September 1 when the Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby and Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity will be run.
Brenda Reiswig (9) locked up the leading owner title while Jason Olmstead (21) will repeat as leading trainer. The jockey title, however, is still up for grabs as Jorge Torres is only two wins up on Nik Goodwin, 16-14. with at least two races to go.
