SHAKOPEE, MN – Fresh off an opening night win with Bourbon County in the 10,000 Lakes Stakes, Rake Farms, Bernell Rhone and Alex Canchari will try and take the $60,000 Lady Slipper Stakes for Minnesota bred fillies and mares with another home bred, Sky and Sea.

Sky and Sea has been prepping well for this race recording a very game 3rd place finish against the boys at Tampa Bay Downs in a $40,000 Optional Claiming sprint in her 2016 debut.  Not one to dawdle, look for Sky and Sea to be prominent early and, if no one else goes, to take over the pace herself.

Minnesota Distaff Sprint Champion Rockin the Bleu’s will ensure that this is no walkover.  Jeff and Deb Hilger homebred Rockin the Bleu’s handled the morning line favorite on Festival Day last year and may again look to sit just off her main rival and try to get past her late again. Geovanni Franco gets the ride for the Mike Biehler trainee.

A pair of 4-year old fillies trained by Mac Robertson will be looking to earn their wings against their elders in the Lady Slipper with 2015 Minnesota Oaks winner Sioux Appeal and stablemate Shaboom, runner up in the 2015 Frances Genter Stakes.  Both have solid work tabs heading into their seasonal debuts.

Stellabrini and Thunder and Honey, both stakes placed mares as well, round out the field for the Lady Slipper.

Selections

Ted: Sky and Sea

Heather: Exacta Box – Shaboom/Sky and Sea