SHAKOPEE, MN – Tonight the richest Quarter Horse race of the season will be run at Canterbury Park. The $105,100 Mystic Lake northlands Futurity will be contested at 350 yards. The race is the 9th on the ten-race card and features top qualifier, Alotta Oh La La.
Alotta Oh La La is trained by Mallory Norton, who is having a tremendous meet in Shakopee this summer, winning at a 23% clip out of 44 starters. Alotta Oh La La will be ridden by Story Smith and will be looking for her third win in a row. She has already won one stake this season, taking the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association Futurity on July 13. The North Dakota bred is owned and was bred by Leon Glasser.
Though she was top qualifier, hot on her heels was Charlies Politician. Charlies Politician led most of the way and was caught late by Alotta Oh La La. Charlies moves away from the rail and into the middle of the field for the final.
Jason Olmstead, leading the standings for quarter horse trainers this season, has the other two heat winners among his four qualifiers for the Northlands. They will be bookending the field with Davila breaking from the rail and My Candys Relentless from the outside.
Also on the card will be the $68,175 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby and the $20,000 Mystic Lake Juvenile.
The Derby will be 400 yards and feature top qualifier Apolitical Sass. Olmstead and leading Quarter Horse jockey Eduard Escobedo, winning together at a 34% clip this season, combine with Apolitical Sass who will be breaking from post 9.
Mallory Norton again will be challenging Olmstead with Jesst for Speed out of post 3 and Runaway Seperately, breaking from the outside. While Apolitical Sass outlasted Runaway Seperately in thw qualifying heat the latter was jostled at the start and could threaten with a cleaner trip.
Olmstead qualified six of the ten starters with Norton claiming two spots and Allen Hybsha and Jerry Livingston one each.
The Juvenile is for horses that ran in the Northlands trials but did not make the final. Leading the way is 2-1 morning line choice Southard Rocket.
Racing begins tonight at 5:10 PM following two days of cancellations over the weekend due to bad weather. The forecast tonight is picture perfect with sunshine and temps in the low 80s. Stakes action starts in race 7 (about 8:10 CT)
