SHAKOPEE, MN – State bred stakes horses take to the turf course tonight at Canterbury and feature a pair of all-time money winning leaders in their respective fields
The $50,000 Minnesota Turf and Minnesota Turf Distaff will both be run at 7.5 furlongs and feature horses that have proven to be successful on either surface.
In the Distaff, Honey’s Sox Appeal, the leading money winning filly and mare in Canterbury history, returns to defend her title from the off-the-turf 2018 running having already notched a stakes placement this season with a second in the main track Lady Slipper Stakes. She was second in her grass prep for this race when she grudgingly gave way to the late charging Firstmate in a state bred allowance.
Firstmate rocked the tote board that day at 12-1 but will not be sneaking up on anyone after that performance. The four year old Midshipman filly made the most of her turf debut after faltering in the Lady Slipper to start her season. Honey’s Sox Appeal looks to be the early speed in the field and look for Firstmate to be coming at her late again.
Both top contenders have barnmates that could prove to be equally dangerous as turf specialists.
Mac Robertson, trainer of Honey’s Sox Appeal, also sends out the flexible First Hunter. In closing out last season with back to back open company wins, jockey Jareth Loveberry stalked an early pace as well as cut the fractions. Loveberry rejoins First Hunter today after a pair of starts this season which saw her just miss on the lead in her debut and closing to within a half a length in the grass allowance where she finished behind the above two.
Joe Sharp, conditioner of Firstmate, has turf specialist and multiple Canterbury stakes winner Some Say So breaking from the rail in the Distaff. A two time winner of the Princess Elaine Stakes and champion of the 2017 edition of this race, Some Say So was flat in her first two starts this season and finished fifth in that popular allowance prep.
Multiple dirt stakes winner Pinup Girl will try her hand on the turf again as will the late closing Double Bee Sting. Maywood Hope, who is two of three over the Canterbury Park turf and RJs SIlver Syd round out the field.
The eight year old fan favorite, A P is Loose, headlines the Turf. A P is Loose finds himself back in state bred company after making his seasonal bow in the $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile. Though a competitive field, A P should find the sledding a bit easier in the Turf and will be running hard late. A P is the Canterbury Park all time money winner and showed no signs of slowing down last season racking up three wins in six starts including the Blairs Cove Stakes.
A P is Loose’s stablemate, the stretching out Hot Shot Kid, is the second of four entries, including Main Track Only entry Cinco Star, for trainer Mac Robertson. Hot Shot Kid should be sharp early and help lead the way through the early stages. Coming in off a fifth place finish in the tough Dark Star Cup, the Kid notched back to back wins to kick off his Canterbury season including taking down the 10,000 Lakes on the dirt. He has had one trip over the Canterbury turf in the 2018 running of the Blairs Cove where he finished a respectable 4th behind A P is Loose.
The last time Twoko Bay met state bred foes on the grass was to close out his 2018 Canterbury campaign. He handled that field of eight allowance horses and is back in with Minnesotans today after a pair of lackluster performances to kick off 2019 in a pair of open optional claimers.
Fireman Oscar made his local debut this season a memorable one by charging hard up the rail in the slop to take the off the turf Honor the Hero Memorial Day weekend, beating open stakes company at 25-1. His task may be harder tonight when he steps back onto the turf where he has one win in nine starts but should showers enter the picture, he will loom dangerous.
Deep closers Where’s Jordan and Herbie will need some pace in front of them to make their late rallies effective while Formidable Force steps into stakes company after an impressive allowance win in his last start.
An interesting entry is the turf debuting, oft-claimed Mines Made Up. The five year old Mineshaft gelding has won eight of twenty four lifetime with a pair of seconds in stakes yet has been claimed five times since December. He finds himself in the Miguel Silva barn after once again being claimed last out for $25,000. He should be the early speed in the race and, if he takes to the turf, may not look back.
Tiger By His Tail and Monday Confession close out the line up for the Minnesota Turf.
Canterbury has a special post time of 4 PM tonight and twenty thousand plus fans will pack the grounds as well as the surrounding area for the fireworks display shorty after the last race. A fireworks encore will take place on July 4th after racing which will also begin at 4 PM. Friday night will revert back to a 6 PM post time while Saturday and Sunday’s first races will start at 12:45 PM.
Sunday will feature the “Fastest Day in Minnesota Sports” with an all Quarter Horse Card featuring seven stakes races featuring the estimated $150,000 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity.
