SHAKOPEE, MN – On a special twilight card at Canterbury Park, jockey Leandro Goncalves rode two of the three stakes winners on the evening.
In the one mile, $50,000 HBPA Distaff, Goncalves didn’t stand a chance – but that was only because he didn’t have a mount. Instead, the very game Beach Flower under Dean Butler put away several challengers to give trainer Mac Robertson and owners Hugh Robertson, John Mentz and Jeff Larson the victory.
Beach Flower broke well and stalked longshot Team Hollywood down the backstretch before moving to the lead and taking over the race. At that point in the race all looked good for Beach Flower until the surging Dontmisswithjoanne pulled alongside and even got a head in front midstretch. Beach Flower fought back up the rail and was able to wrest the lead back and win by a head.
“Once she’s challenged, she extends herself,” said Butler. “Usually when I ask her, she goes ahead and tries hard and gets it done.”
Beach Flower covered the mile in 1:35.68 and paid $4.40. Dontmesswithjoanne ($3.00) was second and Tiz LIttle Bull ($2.80) third.
Lothenbach Stables Giant Payday wanted nothing to do with getting in the starting gate before the $50,000 Brooks Fields Stakes, resisting nearly all attempts by the assistant starters and giving trainer Joel Berndt a bit of anxiety.
“I was a little nervous,” Berndt said. “That was very unusual for him, he’s never done that before.”
Owner Bob Lotherbach was nonpulsed by the antics at the gate.
“Thankfully I missed it,” he laughed. “I got out here a little late.”
Giant Payday broke well and Goncalves allowed him to settle just off the early pace being set by Majestic Pride.
“The instructions were to stay back and then let him run,” said Goncalves. “It really worked out perfect.”
Giant Payday ($9.20) made his move toward the center of the track through the lane, picking up ground on Majestic Pride with every stride, eventually clearing off to win by one and a quarter lengths. Majestic Pride ($4.60) was able to put away Mystic Lake Mile champion Nobrag Justfact early and was a clear second with Nobrag Justfact ($2.40) third.
Giant Payday’s time for the mile was 1:34.85.
The final stake of the evening was the $50,000 Mystic Lake Turf Sprint, contested at five furlongs.
In a field of accomplished horses, there was one question mark: how would the resurgent Satellite Storm react facing stakes quality horses after being claimed for $12,500 on April 3 at Turf Paradise by trainer Valorie Lund for owners Grace and Gamblers LLC.
“I must have sat on these folks’ money for months,” said Lund. “I just didn’t find anything I liked enough to buy.”
Satellite Storm rewarded Lund’s patience and proved that his first two turf tries were no fluke in the Sprint. He broke alertly and allowed Goncalves to take him to the lead and the two never got dirty, leading gate to wire in :55.43.
“Valorie has done such a great job,” said a beaming co-owner Julie Welle after the race.
“I wanted him in these turf sprints,” said Lund, noting that his action is what prompted her to try him over the turf. “He moved like he wanted to run on the grass.”
After easy optional claiming and allowance wins in his first two tries over the turf, Satellite Storm ($5.20) made it three for three in the Sprint, beating Win Lion Win ($4.40) by 2 3/4 lengths. Luvin Bullies ($3.80) was third.
Though nothing is etched in stone, the connections will see how he came out of the race and go from there.
“He’s been in training for a while now,” said Lund. “He’ll need a break and then we can bring him back and plan a spring campaign.”
