SHAKOPEE, MN – The Northern Stars Turf Festival at Canterbury was run last night under perfect conditions: a warm evening, light breeze, good crowd, solid handle ($1.7 million) and great racing was the order of the evening to go with Tacos and Tequila Night at the track.
Here is a recap of the evening’s stakes.
Lady Canterbury
Wrigleyville stalked the early pace under a strong hold from Keibar Coa, passed early leader Thunders Rocknroll and then held off Salty Senorita and Just Ruthless to win by a neck in 1:34.66.
“I got the perfect stalking trip,” said winning jockey Coa. “I knew I had the leader, so she just had to hold off the rest. I let her go and she just went.”
Wrigleyville is trained by Thomas Proctor and was bred and owned by Glenn Hill Farm. The winner paid $5.20. Salty Senorita ($4.60) was second and Just Ruthless ($2.10) was third.
Curtis Sampson Oaks
While the late money came in on Clearly Authentic, the late run belonged to Essential Lady (Thomas/Esquivel), who scored in the Curtis Sampson Oaks by 2 ¾ lengths over upset minded Tamarack.
“When the six scratched, I figured that we’d still be laying second,” said breeder/owner Randall Rowe. That’s where she sat until it was time to go on by and she won in 1:36.01.
The winner, a half-sister to dual Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal, notched her first stakes win here in Minnesota and Rowe and his wife enjoyed every minute of it.
“There are a lot of very nice people up here, said Rowe. “We’re happy to be here.”
Essential Lady paid $5.60 for the win. Longshot Tamarack paid $21.60 to place under a great ride from Jermaine Bridgmohan. Mendelssohns Comet ($6.00) was third.
Mark it in your notes: Essential Lady and Golden Pal have a 5-month half-sister, Notable Lady, who looks every inch a racehorse, even at her tender age.
Canterbury Derby
Lynn Rarick is in the midst of a great year, winning at a 23% clip overall, 25% here at Canterbury, and tonight she scored a stakes win with Knick’s Honor ($3.80). Eduardo Gallardo was aboard, winning his second Canterbury Derby.
With two in the race, Rarick figured it was going play out exactly the way it did.
“I knew one would be in front and the other would be coming,” she said, “and that’s what they did.”
Jackie Paper (Tranquilino/Riquelme) ran a huge race to finish second, paying $4.40 and Mr In Peronal ($3.60) was third.
Rarick will wait to see how Knick’s Honor comes out of the race before deciding on his next spot.
Brooks Fields Mile
The reigning Canterbury horse of the year, Frosty View, was let to go off at 3-1 – and was left alone non the lead as well.
“He has a lot of speed,” said winning jockey Luis Fuentes, “so I wasn’t too surprised that I was out front alone.”
“Down the lane he got out a little bit,” he continued, “so I tapped him to correct, he changed leads and I just let him go.”
Favored Tonka Warrior charged hard down the stretch but fell short by a head, giving trainer Joel Berndt a bit of a scare.
“He had to carry Luis and another 250 pounds,” Berndt joked.
Frosty View paid $8.00 for the win while Tonka Warrior paid $2.40 for second. Silent Runner ($4.00).
