Eagles Span Dominates Gopher State Derby

Canterbury Park, Minnesota,
Eagles Span, 4, (One Famous Eagle-Tiny First Effort-First Down Dash) overcomes a tough start to take the Gopher State Derby.
Eagles Span, left, (One Famous Eagle-Tiny First Effort-First Down Dash) overcomes a tough start to take the Gopher State Derby.

SHAKOPEE, MN – While the key to winning a 400 yard Quarter Horse race is getting a clean break, Eagles Span ($4.00), ridden by Cody Smith, proved that doesn’t have to be the case in the $20,000 Gopher State Derby at Canterbury Park.

“I was a little bit worried,” said Smith about the break. “But I knew that I was sitting on a ton of horse.”

Starting seventh in the ten horse field, favored Eagles Span quickly got into gear and was able to clear the field, winning by a length in :20.242.  Second choice Iowas Texan Tip ($2.60) was second with Mystical Styx third ($6.80).

Eagles Span1
Photo shows just how much work Eagles Span (L) had to do to win.

“I’ve never seen a horse get knocked that far back in a Quarter Horse race and still come back,” said co-owner Tom Maher.  “I have to give a lot of credit to the trainer and the jockey but today, I have to get a little bit of the credit to the horse.”

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