SHAKOPEE, MN – The Canterbury Quarter Horse Derby and Northlands Futurity were contested at Canterbury Park this evening. The Derby was worth $42,300 at 400 yards while the Futurity carried a purse of $71,300 at 350 yards.

In the Derby, trainer Jason Olmstead had five of the ten qualifiers in the field including the fastest qualifier, Relentless Rocket. The Rocket is a South Dakotan bred by Tom and Bill Maher and campaigned by Tom Maher.

The multiple stakes winner had really rounded into form the last few starts, finishing third in the Prairie Meadows Gold Derby by a neck, before his quick qualifying run on August 7.

Today he broke sharply and was never really threatened, covering the 400 yards in :19.995 under Ramiro Garcia.

“He’s gotten bigger and stronger this year,” Garcia said. “Once the gate opens you really just let him do his thing.”

There was a delay in the start of the race as My Heart My Dynasty acted up in the gate before the race and was scratched by the track veterinarian.

“He knows that it’s time to race,” said Garcia. “That doesn’t faze him.”

Relentless Rocket paid $3.60 for the win. Rompe Corazonez ($4.00) was second and Venetian Cowgirl ($2.60) was third.

Haley Hobbs, trainer of the hard luck My Heart My Dynasty, was lifted in the Futurity by favorite and fastest qualifier, Ding Dong Dulce.

A slight stumble from the gate would have compromised most horses’ chances but Dolce gathered up under Fernando Fonseca-Soto and charged home in :17.935, just clipping long shot Rowdi at the wire. He paid $3.00 for the win. Rowdi ($5.80) was second and Holliewood ($2.80) was third.

“He’s been amazing. I saved all my money last year to buy one from the Heritage Sale. I had him picked out early before I even got to the sale and I had my eye on him,” said own er/trainer Hobbs. “He was not easy to break – he was a brat, but he has been worth it. As long as you let him do his thing, he’ll go out and do it.”