Tag Archives: Wally’s Choice

Minnesota Oaks/Derby Draw for Made in Minn Night; Glitter Star, Wally’s Choice Fail to Fill

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SHAKOPEE, MN – The August 10 Made in Minnesota Day at Canterbury Park lost some luster after the draw yesterday when neither the $40,000 Glitter Star nor the $40,000 Wally’s Choice managed enough entries to run. Both races maxed out at a trio of participants.

While several tracks have had issues this year filling cards, Canterbury had not been one.  In fact, the rest of the card filled nicely with the six non-stakes on the card, four on the turf and two on the dirt, have an average field size of over 10 per race, not including Also Eligibles.

The pair of stakes left on the evening, the $75,000 Minnesota Oaks and Minnesota Derby, for Minnesota bred three-year-olds, drew five and six horses respectively. Both races will be contested over the main track at a mile and seventy yards.

The Oaks features outstanding filly, Xtreme Diva, winner of the Dixie Belle at Oaklawn and last year’s Northern Lights Debutante, trying two turns for the first time. She has notched three Beyer Speed Figures of 80 and above and if she can get the full mile and seventy yards, she will be very tough to beat.

Both Retired Kathy and Northern Angel are both proven around two turns over the turf, but they’ll be on the dirt for the Oaks. All these factors make the small field an intriguing one.

For the Derby, the apparent standout is Street Warrior. The Suzanne Stables homebred is two for two in his career, winning the two races by a combined 23 ¼ lengths and barely breathed heavily while doing it.  He’ll stretch out to a mile and seventy for this one and will also face foes that have tried the distance with Victorious Vanda the only one that has had success, breaking his maiden at a mile.

MTA STALLION AUCTION STAKES REDUCES PURSE

It was announced yesterday that the purse for the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association’s Stallion Auction Stakes has been reduced from $50,000 to $40,000 and the distance moved from seven furlongs to six furlongs over the main track.

Post time Saturday night is 5:12 PM with the Oaks as the 3rd race and the Derby is the fifth.