SHAKOPEE, MN – As the 2022 meet comes to a close, the final two stakes of the season, the $50,000 Shakopee Juvenile and the Tom Metzen HBPA Sprint stakes, will highlight a thirteen race closing day card.
Tonight will also mark the last night for jockey Ry Eikleberry in the saddle. He will retire at the conclusion of tonight’s card.
Eikleberry posted the following on his Facebook page:
Tomorrow night will be my last time in the saddle as a professional jockey. It’s been a decision that I have given great thought. I feel very blessed to be one of the few riders to walk away on my own terms. I first would like to thank my family who’s unwavering support of my career has made my career so enjoyable. Most of all my wife who has unselfishly traveled through thick and thin to be by my side. She has been there to celebrate the wins and talk through the rough patches. To my two young girls, who have been there to welcome me home every night no matter how the day went. Their smiles and squeals as I walk through the door is undoubtedly my favorite part of each day. I would like to thank the owners and trainers who have trusted and supported me throughout the years. Thanks to all of my agents and valets who have been part of my team. It really does take a village to get a horse to the winners circle and I truly understand that this is a team sport and I feel fortunate to have been a small part of each horses success. To the fans. One of the greatest thrills of my life was hearing the roar of the crowd when turning for home. This sport is dependent on you. It’s been a fun ride and I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my very blessed life.
Eikleberry was Canterbury’s leading thoroughbred and quarter horse rider three times throughout his career at Cantebrury. He rode hard and fair and always conducted himself with class and dignity. His presence will certainly be missed here in future years.
Heading into tonight’s action the leading rider and owner titles have been locked up by Lothenbach Stables (54) and Harry Hernandez (78), respectively. The training title is still up for grabs with Mac Robertson, leading trainer five of the last six year, and Joel Berndt, leading trainer in 2020, tied atop the standings with 60 wins each. Berndt has five entries tonight while Robertson has 15 (before scratches).
In the Shakopee Juvenile, nine two-year olds will go the post to contest the six furlong dash. The favorite is the Larry Rivelli shipper, Two Phil’s. Two Phil’s is one for two, breaking his maiden at Colonial Downs on July 18 taking the field gate to wire, fighting on the lead most of the way. He outlasted Free Soul who came back to break his maiden next out and then finished third in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Colonial. Jareth Loveberry returns to Canterbury to ride.
Runtoday, owned by Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale and trained by Chris Richard, makes his way back to Canterbury where he impressively broke his maiden in his career debut on July 31. Runtoday shipped to Iowa for the Prairie Meadows Freshman Stakes where he ran into a buzzsaw, undefeated Iowan Tyler’s Tribe. While Tyler’s Tribe beat Runtoday by 15 ½ lengths, he was 13 ½ lengths clear of the third place finisher. He’ll be reunited with leading rider Hernandez for the Juvenile.
A steadily improving Rockin the Dad Bod for trainer Wade Rarick and Nick and Tamara Metzen broke his maiden last out at Prairie Meadows. He moves from state bred company into open for the Juvenile, but continued improvement puts him in thick of this one.
The Metzen could be a one-horse affair with Jose Silva Jr. trained Tony’s Tapit bringing in the highest Beyer Speed figures of the group with sharp recent form to boot. A cruising winner last out in a $40,000 optional claimer, Zeke Lara just sat off the early pace and the multiple stakes winning son of Tonalist fired in the lane to draw off by 7 ½. Lara has the ride back and will try and duplicate that feat tonight.
Valorie Lund trained Exxel will have something to say about the early pace, however, and has the speed to take the field from gate to wire. Thus far at Canterbury, Exxel has won an allowance and an optional claimer while hitting the board in two others. He shipped to Colonial to run in the Housebuster Stakes where he finished 4th. His best runs have come on or very near the front end so expect Lindey Wade to have him firing from the gate.
Central Park has beaten 9/5 morning line favorite Tony’s Tapit earlier this season, taking a $40,000 optional claimer field nearly gate to wire on June 23. The David Van Winkle trainee finished behind Tony in his last two starts, the last a Tony’s Tapit win, but in that race he stumbled early and lost all chance. If he and Exxel get caught up on the front end, the race could set up really well for Tony’s Tapit.
Post time for the thirteen-race card is a special 4 PM.
