Shakopee, MN – The day after seven of nine favorites won at Canterbury Park, upsets ruled the card and the major stakes were no exception.

In the $100,000 Minnesota Oaks, 10-1 Hotasapistol took advantage of an aggressive early pace melting down late with Alonso Quinonez saving all the ground to score a 3/4 length victory.

Defend the Rose tried to take the field gate to wire, jumping out to a 2 1/2 length lead, before being chased down by Rush Hour Traffic and Rental Pool. As though three made the turn for home and started to tire, they drifted out and Quinonez cut the corner and seized the lead late, stopping the clock in 1:44.04 for the mile and 70 yard race.

“We really thought we had a good chance coming into the race,” said Gary Bergsrud who owns and bred the Flat Out filly with his wife Brenda. “Clint Stuart has done a great job with her.”

“We really had a lot of confidence in the way she drew away at 6 1/2 furlongs last out,” added Gary and Brenda’s son Tyler. “We thought the added distance would be in her.”

Brenda Bergsrud went on to praise the ride of Alonso Quinonez, winner of a pair of stakes on the evening.

“He rode her exactly like he said he was going to before the race,” she said. “It was just perfect.”

Hotasapistol paid $22.60 to win. Even money favorite Rush Hour Traffic ($3.00) was second and Rental Pool ($3.80) was third.

Leading rider Ry Eikleberry showed why he’s always near the top of the standings, masterfully judging the pace of the Minnesota Derby and storming to a 4 3/4 length victory in the $100,000 stake aboard Northern Playboy.

Odds on favorite Weekend Ride took control of the race just after the quarter mile mark and opened up over two lengths on the field down the backstretch. He slowed considerably through the turn and, as the field straightened for home it was clearly apparent that it was not his day.

“The race set up perfectly,” said Eikleberry. “The favorite had been going short so I thought he’d be getting tired late after getting drifted wide through the first turn.”

And when he did, Eikleberry and Northern Playboy took full advantage.

“I wasn’t sure I’d get through at the quarter pole,” he said, “but he drifted out in front of me and gave me an opening. I really think I was on much the best horse. I had a hard time pulling him up on the gallop out.”

The duo and trainer/co-owner Francisco Bravo had to survive a trainer’s objection from the runner up, Love My Boss, for interference on the turn for home, which was quickly disallowed by the stewards.

Northern Playboy was bred and is owned by Bravo and Dale Schenian and paid $14.20 for the win. Love my Boss paid $11.60 to place and Public Safety ($3.40) was third. The time of the mile and 70 yard race was 1:42.97.

In the $50,000 Glitter Star, Ready to Runaway ($2.40) made a mockery of a small, but accomplished field of fillies and mares. Roimes Chirinos took the Mac Robertson trainee to the lead and never looked back, dominating by 8 1/2 lengths and covering the mile and sixteenth in 1:43.20 under no urging.

“She’s awesome,” beamed owner John Mentz after the race.

Next up will be Minnesota Festival of Champions Day and then, to be determined.

“She started pretty early at Oaklawn,” Mentz said. “So she may be due for a break. We’ll see how she’s doing at the end of the meet.”

Stablemate Clickbait ($2.20), partially owned by Mentz as well, was second and Pinup Girl ($2.10) was third.

Drop of Golden Sun’s ($15) trainer Tony Rengstorf really didn’t think he could beat Hot Shot Kid in the $50,000 Wally’s Choice and only had one instruction for his rider, Francisco Arrieta, “I don’t want to be on the lead.”

Drop of Golden Sun broke very sharply and he and Arrieta led from start to finish.

“I thought that one of Mac’s would come after me on the lead,” said Rengstorf. “This horse has been an underdog all through his career. He got really brave on the lead.”

Drop of Golden Sun has really come into his own as a five year old, winning two out of three at Canterbury this season. He was caught by a nose by Cinco Star over the turf in the Strangis last out or he would have been a perfect 3-3 locally.

Hot Shot Kid’s rally never materialized and he settled for second ($3.00). Cinco Star ($3.60) was third. The time for the mile and a sixteenth was 1:42.55.

Another odds on favorite, Westa Waverly ($2.80) took care of business in the $50,000 MTA Sales Graduate Futurity. Well Pro ($2.20) was second and Passthecat ($8.60) was third. He covered the five furlongs in 58.08, winning by four lengths.

“I know this may sound bad, but I really wasn’t that worried,” said trainer Coty Rosin. “He turned out to be even faster than we thought and we really thought he could win.”

A $5,000 purchase at the 2019 MTA yearling sale, Westa Waverly has earned $30,500 in two starts and looked impressive doing it. Rosin is looking forward to the August 30th yearling sale and to what Westa Waverly shows him next.

“He’s still green,” continued Rosin. “He’s getting better and six furlongs should be right in his scope.”

Look out Northern Lights field.