SHAKOPEE, MN – Northern Stars Turf Festival night started out with a 30-1 bomb in the opener and the upsets continued into the stakes action.

In the Brooks Fields, Alonso Quinonez sent 21-1 Drama Chorus to the lead and didn’t relinquish it, holding off a desperate charge by Fearless Soldier resulting in a tight photo for the win.

“He had to go to the lead,” said winning trainer Tim Padilla. “We got left in the gate last time.”

It went exactly as breeder/owner Pete Mattson figured. “He’s pretty fast. He had to go.”

“He broke so sharply and just went out like a shotgun and the rest was history,” said  Quinonez. “It was really close,” he said. “I had a feeling that we had it.”

Drama Chorus ran the mile in 1:36.32 and paid $44.40 for the win. Fearless Soldier ($5.60) was second and Tonka Warrior ($3.20) third.

However, that’s when the price parade ended. The Canterbury Derby was won on the front end with a dominating performance by Sushi Man. While he had some solid efforts over the dirt, he really found his footing on the turf course.

Ridden by Harry Hernandez, the Minnesota bred broke sharply and never looked back. In the lane he extended his stride and drew off to win by a dominating 9 ¼ lengths in 1:36.61.

Undefeated Chicago invader Homie ($3.40) was second and long shot Innately Good ($4) closed strongly for third.

“He broke sharply in his maiden win but tried to get away from me a little bit,” said winning rider Harry Hernandez. “But tonight, he relaxed and really helped me a lot. He switched leads on his own and he really took off. He was able to give me another gear in the stretch and he was just amazing.”

The only other favorite to win on the night was in the Lady Canterbury when 1-5 Cupids Crush moved her record to five for five on the Canterbury turf running down front running Thunders Rocknroll in the stretch to win by two.

“She’s got a big heart and likes to win,” said co-owner Vicki McGowan.

Co-owner Mike McGowan wasn’t too concerned about the three-month layoff. He knew that trainer Mac Robertson would have her ready.

“It was a long time off but she’s always in good shape,” he said.

“She’s such a sweetheart,” continued Vicki. “She recognizes me when I come into the barn.”

Cupids Crush paid $2.40 for the win while the impressive in defeat Thunders Rocknroll paid $8.20 to place.  Queen Judith ($2.80) was third.

Overall handle for the evening of racing was $1,735,373, the best night of the year thus far.

The legion of longshots led to not one but three carryovers in the horizontal pools.

On Sunday, race 1 will have the early pick four carryover of $8,226. Race 2 will have the pick five carryover of $28,842 while race 4 will start the late pick 4 which will have a $9,049