Shakopee, MN – Canterbury Park is wasting no time in diving into the stakes season with the running of the $60,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes, the traditional opening day feature race. The 10,000 Lakes is contested at 6 furlongs over the main track and is open to Minnesota bred colts and geldings.

Though the 10,000 Lakes only has seven entrants, the field is an accomplished one.

Speakfromyourheart, last year’s champion, will be looking for his first win since that upset victory while the last two Minnesota Derby winners, L’il Apollo and Speed is Life, are both contenders in here. Additionally, Appeal to the King is last year’s MTA Stallion Stakes champion while Affirmed Cure nearly upset the Minnesota Classic field at nearly 17-1 on Festival Day 2014.

The 7/5 morning line favorite is Bourbon County. Owned and bred by Rake Farms and trained by Bernell Rhone, Bourbon County narrowly missed in this race last season. Heading into the turn Bourbon County was running head and head with former champion Heliskier. Bourbon County looked to have put away his top rival late when Speakfromyourheart got up just in time to nip Bourbon County at the wire.

Last season this was Bourbon County’s first race of the season. This year the Minnesota Sprint Champion prepped at Tampa Bay Downs and the tightner should prove to be the difference in this year’s edition of the race.

Speed is Life, who swept the two major 3-year old state bred stakes last season, the Vic Myers and the Minnesota Derby, returns for his 4-year old season in this spot. Speed is Life has been a bit inconsistent but has not been afraid to take on the best horses as evident by his attempt in the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby over the turf. On Friday night, he gets back to sprinting, the main track and state bred company.

Estimated post time for the 10,000 Lakes is 9:33 CT.