SHAKOPEE, MN – The first thoroughbred stakes of the season will be run tonight at Canterbury Park. Both are six furlong sprints over the main track for Minnesota breds and carry a purse of $50,000.
The 10,000 Lakes Stakes only drew a field of five with two being the winners of the last two editions of the race and last two Canterbury Horses of the Meet: Mr. Jagermeister (2018) and Hot Shot Kid (2019). Mr. Jagermeister carries a morning line of 2/5 and, two races back, finished 2 ½ lengths behind sprinting sensation Whitmore in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn. Mr. Jagermeister, out of the Valorie Lund barn, will be ridden by Leandro Goncalves. He has never lost a Minnesota bred race and could conceivably run the field off their hooves.
Hot Shot Kid was nothing short of spectacular in 2019, winning six of seven at Canterbury with five of the wins being stakes. The only time the two have met was the 2018 running of the race when Mr. Jagermeister won handily, clearing Hot Shot Kid by 8 ½ lengths. His prep for this race was a 15 length loss to dynamite sprinter Volatile in the Kid’s first race off his winter layoff. Both top contenders like to be near contention early and with a speed favoring surface at Canterbury thus far this year, could make for a very fast race.
The considerably more captivating of the two races is the Lady Slipper Stakes for fillies and mares. The race features six stakes winners from the eight including the winners of the last three runnings of this race.
Last year’s winner, Ari Gia, had a prep at Will Rogers in a $17,000 handicap where she led most of the way but tired late to finish third. Ari Gia is trained, and owned, by Jose Silva, Jr. Ry Eikleberry rides.
Pinup Girl, the 2018 winner, will be making her first start of the year in the Lady Slipper. This will be her first start in Minnesota under the guidance of Clinton Stuart. Leandro Goncalves, who rode her to a 2nd place finish in the Minnesota Distaff Classic to end her local season last year before heading south, will be back aboard.
Honey’s Sox Appeal (2017 winner), a quick multiple stakes winner out of the Mac Robertson barn, had her first start of the year at Oaklawn Park in April where she finished 7th in a $50,000 optional claimer. Francisco Arrieta rides.
Although a non-winner of the 10,00 Lakes, another Robertson runner, Ready to Runaway, had a stellar 3-year old season and has run very well in open company at Oaklawn this year as a four year old. She finished third in a $25,000 starter allowance to start her season, followed it up with a second in a $50,000 starter and then a third in a $64,000 allowance in Hot Springs, flashing good early speed in her last two. Ready to Runaway could be the one sharp enough to take the Lady Slipper Crown.
Clickbait, a lightly raced 4-year old filly, has been stellar thus far in her three race career, winning her first two career starts here and then running a strong second in her seasonal debut in a $61,000 allowance at Oaklawn. There are rumblings that she will scratch to re-enter next week, but should she stay in, she will be the wild card – unproven in stakes company but full of talent with the ability to stalk the pace. Robertson’s third entry in the race will be ridden by Dean Butler.
Of the four multiple stakes winners, Pinup Girl could be poised to take advantage of a late pace meltdown should none of the early speed types can’t runaway and hide. Given her preps coming into the race, though, Ready to Runaway is going to be tough to catch.
The 10,000 Lakes is the 2nd race on the card with the Lady Slipper slotted for the 6th. First race post time is 4:30 PM. The final three races on the card this evening will be trials for the $49,575 Gopher State Futurity. The Futurity will be run on July 6.
