SHAKOPEE, MN – There was plenty of speed in the $75,000 Honor the Hero Turf Sprint at Canterbury Park on Memorial Day but there was one lone mare who possessed more than the all the boys and Larry Rivelli’s  Richies Sweetheart seized the lead early and never looked back on her way to a 3 1/4 length win.

“We were looking to get a good break,” said jockey E.T. Baird, “There was good speed and we wanted to get the jump on them and cross over.”

The 5-year old Illinois bred and Baird executed the plan to perfection.  She broke with alacrity and was able to move across toward the rail from post position seven and save plenty of ground on the way to victory in front of a crowd of 11,000.

“It was a legitimate pace,” Baird continued.  “She was going really fast so I wasn’t surprised when we were up front alone.”

Richies Sweetheart covered the five furlongs in :56.40 and returned $6.80 as the favorite.  Mongol Bull ($5.80) and Majestic Pride ($6.40) closed for second and third, respectively.