SHAKOPEE, MN – The Minnesota stakes season kicks off this afternoon at Canterbury Park with the renewals of a pair of $50,000 state-bred sprints – the six furlong 10,000 Lakes and the Lady Slipper Stakes.

The 10,000 Lakes is the fourth race on the card and features the Minnesota return of Mr. Jagermeister.  Odds on favorite on the morning line at 3-5, Jager comes in off an open allowance win at Oaklawn Park.

UPDATE: Mr. Jägermeister, as well as A P is Loose, have been scratched from the 10,000 Lakes.

Mr. Jagermeister finished up his 2018 campaign with blowout wins in three consecutive state bred stakes including the Minnesota Derby and Minnesota Classic.  He’s never lost to state bred horses and has rung up eight wins from fifteen races with earnings of $373,537.  The 4-year old son of Atta Boy Roy will be looking for back to back wins in this edition of the 10,000 Lakes.

The second-place horse from last year, Hot Shot Kid, is back to challenge coming off a strong allowance win opening weekend.  No slouch himself, Warren Bush’s homebred has earned $361,448 and is a multiple stakes winner. Extremely competitive at Keeneland – second in a pair of $80,000 optional claimers to close out 2018 – Hot Shot Kid should make Mr. Jagermeister work hard to get a victory.

Speeding Kid chased Hot Shot Kid around the track opening weekend and is looking to improve off of that effort.

Canterbury’s current all-time money winner, A P is Loose, makes his seasonal bow in the 10,000 Lakes.  As in seasons past, look for this race to be a springboard for longer races later in the season as well as the turf where A P has notched ten of his twelve wins.

The 2018 claimer of the meet, the oft-claimed Mines Made Up, rounds out the 10,000 Lakes field.

The pick after the scratch: Hot Shot Kid

The Lady Slipper features the top three finishers in a bang-up state bred allowance race run opening weekend.  The Stakes will be a preview of what promises to be a very competitive older filly and mare division in Minnesota.

The trio of last year’s champion Pinup Girl, multiple stakes winner and all time Canterbury Park money earner for fillies and mares, Honey’s Sox Appeal, and stakes winner, Double Bee Sting, figure to be battling it out all summer for top older mare honors.

The winner of that allowance, Honey’s Sox Appeal, has been installed as the 8-5 morning line favorite, slightly ahead of 9-5 Double Bee Sting.  Honey’s Sox Appeal, the 2017 winner, is a quick starter who will look to be on the lead early from the rail.

While her rivals will look to be coming late, there will be other early speed to contend with for Honey’s Sox Appeal.  Stablemate Rock That Jewel will break just outside of her while Ari Gia, already with three wins and a stakes placing to her credit this year, will also be looking to contend early.

Both Double Bee Sting and Pinup Girl will be looking to take advantage of a hot early pace and will hope to pick up the pieces late.  Though Pinup Girl will be looking to defend her title, she may appreciate a little more ground.  She was coming hard in the earlier allowance but her late kick ran out of room in the 5 ½ furlong affair.  Though its possible that the six-furlong Lady Slipper may give her all the extra room she needs, she is going to be very difficult to fend off when the races get longer later in the meet.

Not to be overlooked, lightly raced 4-year old Firstmate will be making her seasonal debut in the Lady Slipper.  The 2018 Minnesota Oaks winner is a stalk and pounce type who may be able to settle behind the early speed and get first run at the leaders through the turn for home.

The pick: Pinup Girl

First post this afternoon is 12:55 PM with the 10,000 Lakes as race four and the Lady Slipper race five.

Canterbury is also featuring the Taste of Canterbury experience today.  There will be food specials around the Park featuring many of the new offerings from the food and beverage outlets and the first 5,000 fans will receive a special Taste of Canterbury coupon book which can be used all season long.

The racebook opens at 8 AM.  The first race from Pimlico on Preakness Day is 9:30 AM with the Preakness Stakes scheduled for 5:20 PM.