SHAKOPEE, MN – Speed was the word of the day at Canterbury Park Saturday evening as each of the three turf stakes were won in gate to wire fashion.
The evening started with the $50,000 Minnesota HBPA Distaff Stakes going a mile. The favorite was Stallion Heiress, shipping in for trainer Michael Stidham and featuring the return of hometown hero Alex Canchari. The horse has shown speed in the past but when the gates opened it was the lightly raced 18-1 shot Molecules that sprinted to the lead under Leslie Mawing and never looked back.
“I looked at the PPs,” said Mawing, “and the way she runs is pretty much on the lead. I figured when I got her to the front she would run well for me.”
Sick in her last start, the grade 3 Indiana Oaks, the Thomas Foley trained Molecules was the picture of health in the Distaff, winning by a head in 1:35.63 and paying $38.20 to win. The hard charging Beach Flower was second – and may have won if not being shut off on the rail in the lane – paying $4.60. Minnesotan Some Say So ($3.80)was third.
Given the outcome of the Distaff, it was surprising that the lone speed in the $50,000 Brooks Fields, Ibaka, hovered around 5-1 throughout the wagering.
True to form, Ibaka seized the lead out of the gate and only relinquished it briefly under leading rider Ry Eikleberry before fighting back in the lane to prevail by a head.
“The seven [Hay Dakota] passed me pretty easily,” said Eikleberry. “Most horses wouldn’t gut it out like that. I have to give him a lot of credit.”
Ibaka covered the mile in 1:35.27 and paid $13.60 for trainer Francisco Bravo. Majestic Pride ($3.40) was second and Hay Dakota ($3.40) third.
The feature race of the night, the inaugural $100,000 Mystic Lake Turf Express seemed to feature a lot speed on paper but when the gates opened only one horse went to the front and that was Bushrod under Quincy Hamilton.
“I didn’t really see any pace developing,” said Hamilton, “so I decided to go and when I called on him late, he had it.”
“Quincy did a great job,” said owner/trainer Judd Becker. “This horse just keeps getting better and better.”
Never headed, Bushrod ($9.40) prevailed by 3/4 of a length in :56.20. Show Bound ($3.80), a $12,500 claim last out, was second and Minnesotan Fireman Oscar ($5.20) was third.
