CLOSER LOOK: Closing Day Stakes at Canterbury

Canterbury Park, Minnesota, , ,
Jorge Carreno gives the thumbs up aboard the undefeated Stormation after taking the $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile
Jorge Carreno gives the thumbs up aboard the undefeated Stormation after taking the $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile

SHAKOPEE, MN – Robertino Diodoro locked up the training title weeks ago, but he put an exclamation point on his season with dual wins in the closing day stakes for owner/breeders Mercedes Stables.

“There is no other atmosphere in the country like there is here,” Diodoro said earlier in the day accepting his top trainer accolades.

Stormation, the odds on favorite, made the crowd happy with an emphatic win in the $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile.

Stormation runs his record to four for four taking the Shakopee Juvenile.
Stormation runs his record to four for four taking the Shakopee Juvenile.

Battling Amariah Grace early on, the undefeated Mercedes Stable homebred put that one away and easily held off the late charge of Partay under Rosemary Homeister Jr. to win the six furlong Juvenile in 1:12.50.  Partay was clear for second and Bushrod got up by a neck for third.

The win kept the 2-year old son of Stormy Atlantic undefeated and won his third consecutive stake, pushing his earnings to $115,000.

“He was great,” said winning jockey Jorge Carreno.  “He’s a very good sprinter.”

Candy Ruby capturing the $40,000 HBPA SPrint
Candy Ruby capturing the $40,000 HBPA SPrint

Earlier in the day, in the $40,000 HBPA Sprint, Diodoro and Carreno warmed up with a win on another Mercedes Stable homebred, gelding Candy Ruby.

“To be honest,” said Diodoro sheepishly after the race, “we really just wanted to hit the board with him.”

Candy Ruby broke sharply and never looked back, extending his lead with every stride to win by 5 1/4 in 1:10.11.  Favored Helooksthepart was second with Right Now Ritchie third.

 

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