Straight From the Horses Mouth!

Thoroughbred Racing Weekend Advance

2012-02-09T13:27:00.000-06:00

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER

UPI Racing Writer

This weekend: Four big graded stakes at Gulfstream Park and Black Caviar stretching out to 7 furlongs in Australia in quest of her 18th straight win.

With Dubai World Cup night fast approaching, those far-flung venues easily – or maybe, stay tuned -- could help determine fields for the big night on March 31.

As of Saturday, it's seven weeks until the World Cup and 12 weeks until the Kentucky Derby.

The haps:

At the top of the weekend list is the $500,000, Grade I Donn Handicap at Gulfstream – recently, the first big East Coast handicap of the year and often a scene-setter for what's to come. In 2007, for example, Invasor won the Donn en route to victory the following month in the Dubai World Cup. Six years earlier, Captain Steve completed the same double and, of course, Cigar won the inaugural running of the World Cup in 1996 off a win in the Donn.

Cigar won the Donn twice, in 1995 as well as 1996, following in the hoofprints of the immortal Pistols and Roses, who won it in 1993 and 1994. Other winners include Saint Liam, Medaglia d'Oro, Captain Steve and Jade Hunter.

Bob Baffert, who trained Captain Steve and also won the World Cup in 1998 with Silver Charm, noted last week at Santa Anita it's not as easy for American horses to compete in Dubai now after the shift from real dirt at the old Nad Al Sheba track to the Tapeta artifical surface at the plush new Meydan track.

Nonetheless, that isn't going to deter many U.S. owners and trainers from chasing the winner's share of the $10 million World Cup purse if they have a horse that looks capable.

Saturday's renewal of the Donn also features what some are calling the "rubber match" from last year's Triple Crown. While Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is not in the field, Preakness winner Shackleford and Belmont winner Ruler On Ice will be in the starting gate.

So will Trickmeister, who is undefeated in five starts but stepping into graded stakes company for the first time. The Triple Crown veterans and Trickmeister all like to run on or near the lead so it could be an interesting tactical race.

"Everybody's knocking this (2011's) crop of 3-year-olds," Dale Romans, Shackleford's trainer, said Wednesday at Gulfstream. "But I think by the end of this year, we'll realize we were watching a good crop last year. You could go five deep that could show up and be this year's top handicap horse."

Also in the field are Flat Out, fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic; Where's Sterling, who won the Iselin at Monmouth last year before finishing second in the Hawthorne Gold Cup; Mission Impazible, second in last year's Clark Handicap; Redeemed, never off the board in eight starts; Soaring Empire, who finished second in the Gulfstream Park Handicap last year, beating the likes of Tizway and Rule; and Hymn Book, second in the Cigar Mile last time out.

Tough race.

On the same card are the $300,000, Grade I Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, the $150,000, Grade II Hutcheson for 3-year-olds going 7 furlongs and the $150,000, Grade III Suwannee River Stakes for fillies and mares at 9 furlongs on turf.

In the GP Turf, Silver Medallion comes in with two straight wins in Florida. Big Blue Kitten won last year's National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga and could be channeling the Kentucky basketball team. Boisterous had two straight graded wins in New York to wrap up 2001. Get Stormy won last year's Maker's Mark Mile and Woodford Reserve. A few others could be dangerous as well in another tough one to handicap. Yummy With Butter is usually in the mix and has a cool name.

Six entries were found for the Hutcheson, which could be a stepping stone toward the Florida Derby if one of them really shows something special. Il Villano, who finished third after showing the way for Alpha in the 1 mile, 70-yards Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct in November, is a prime contender. Another is Ever So Lucky, who was the favorite on Nov. 26 when he finished second to Gemologist in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs going 1 1/16 miles. So it's not hopeless.

The Suwanee River got a field of 10 plus to "main track only" hopefuls.

In California, The Usual Q.T. is a headliner in Saturday's $150,000, Grade II San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on the grass.

The Usual Q.T., a 6-year-old California-bred, was third in the Grade II San Gabriel Stakes on Jan. 16 but that was his first race in nearly eight months and trainer Jim Cassidy said the multiple Grade I winner might not have been fully cranked.

"His schedule was a bit advanced to make the San Gabriel and we've had more time to prepare for this race," Cassidy said.

The Usual Q.T. has not been off the board in nine starts since his trip to Dubai nearly two years ago. But the gelded son of Unusual Heat also has not won since the Grade I Eddie Read Stakes in July of 2010.

Also in the eight-horse field are Sanagas and Bourbon Bay, who finished first and second in the Grade I Hollywood Turf Cup in their last outing Nov. 19; Norvsky, who won the San Gabriel; and Slim Shadey, a British import who oddly enough is not trained by Baffert but, rather, by Simon Callaghan.

Setting sail across the South Pacific, we get to Caulfield in Australia, where Black Caviar continues to face local rivals while her handlers decide which overseas targets will eventually provide a real test for her ability.

After 17 straight wins against overmatched opponents, Black Caviar faces a furlong more than her normal 6 in Saturday's C.F. Orr Stakes and butts heads with Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed and well-regarded Playing God and Midas Touch.

A steady bag of mixed signals has had the 6-year-old mare staying home to try to win 20 straight for the locals; continuing to run at home until Royal Ascot in June; detouring to Dubai for one of the sprints on World Cup night; or plotting a "grand tour" that also could include Japan and/or Hong Kong late in the year with very lucrative bonus money on offer.

First things first. And the first thing is Saturday.

Trainer Peter Moody seems confident.

"The only worry is the 1,400-meter start is 20 meters from where she sleeps every night, so we'll have to keep her awake," Moody told the Daily Telegraph.

"She goes out and makes her own luck in her races. She can race forward or back. She can sit off them or be the speed. I don't harbour any fears there ... She'll be as effective, if not more, at 1,400 meters. I can't see any reason why anybody should be worried about her doing it."

Elsewhere:

-- Aqueduct has the $75,000 Dearly Precious for 3-year-old fillies at 6 furlongs on the Saturday card with three other state-bred stakes during the weekend.

-- At Fair Grounds, Saturday's headliner is the $75,000 Tiffany Lass Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

-- Laurel Park in Maryland cards the $75,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes on Saturday for distaffers at 9 furlongs.

-- In Arkansas, Oaklawn Park, which as enjoyed excellent weather and a big boost in attendance early this season, boosted daily purses this week and Saturday offers the 1-mile Martha Washington Stakes for 3-year-old fillies – a potential Oaks prep.

NTRA Thoroughbred Notebook

2012-02-02T15:43:00.000-06:00

• Q&A with DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Championship $1 million winner Michael Beychok

• A collection of news and blogs about HBO’s critically acclaimed new horse racing drama Luck

• Videos

• Photos

• Triple Crown Watch

• News

• Tweets and Voices from the Grandstand

• Racing Calendar and more

Click HERE to view the NTRA Thoroughbred Notebook

Thoroughbred Racing Weekend Advance

2012-01-27T08:22:00.000-06:00

By ROBERT KIECKHEFER

UPI Racing Writer

He was undefeated at age 2, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was named Eclipse Award champ. But can Hansen keep moving forward Sunday in his 3-year-old debut?

That will be a key question in an interesting weekend of racing that also includes early tests for both Florida- and California-based 3-year-old fillies, the revamped Florida-only Sunshine Millions at Gulfstream Park and the John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston Race Park.

On Friday in Australia, Black Caviar is slated to go for her 17th win without a loss amid speculation she might travel to Dubai for a step into the big time.

But first, Hansen.

The light gray colt streaked to national prominence in the Breeders' Cup by winning a ding-dong stretch duel with the heavy favorite, Union Rags. Try as he might, Union Rags couldn't overcome his wide trip to get by the stubborn Hansen, whose previous wins came at Turfway Park.

But 2-year-old phenoms often either burn out at 3 or simply see their rivals develop into more formidable competition. Will Hansen move ahead or step back in Sunday's $400,000, Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, going 1 mile on the main track?

After he breezed 5 furlongs in 59.81seconds Sunday morning, trainer Mike Maker said, "We've had no bumps in the road. Hopefully, that trend continues."

The five rivals entered for the Holy Bull include Algorithms and Consortium, a promising pair who finished 1-2 in a recent Gulfstream allowance; Fort Loudon, who swept the three races in last year's Florida Stallion Stakes; and stakes winner My Adonis.

Hansen has never seen the hindquarters of a rival during a race but Maker said he doesn’t see that as a disadvantage.

"It's no different than a closer," he said. "You're dependent on the pace. You just hope no one makes him go quicker earlier than he has to."

He was never challenged in his first two starts and got away with 6 furlongs in 1:12.24 in the Breeders' Cup.

Union Rags, meanwhile, is scheduled to start his 3-year-old campaign at Gulfstream in the Feb. 26 Fountain of Youth.

Also on Saturday at Gulfstream, a well-balanced field of 3-year-old fillies will mix it up in the $200,000, Grade II Forward Gal Stakes at 7 furlongs. Wayne Catalano will saddle Sacristy, who won her last two, including the Grade III Old Hat Stakes at 6 furlongs on New Year's Day. Say a Novena, second in the Old Hat, is back for another try. Good Deed comes in from at win in the Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds. Quick Flip won the Sandpiper at Tampa Bay before finishing fourth in the Old Hat. Yara won the Joe O'Farrell Juvenile Fillies at Calder in November. Broadway's Alibi is the only starter without a stakes win and she had scored in each of her last two starts, including a scorcher in an optional claimer early in the Gulfstream meet.

And those Sunday races are only the icing on a cake whose six layers comprise the "Sunshine Millions" races for Florida-breds on Saturday worth a total of $1.3 million in purses. A stellar roster of 48 is set for that program, too, headed by the undefeated Awesome Feather and the recent Eclipse Award winner, Musical Romance, racing in the $300,000 Distaff and the $150,000 Filly & Mare Sprint, respectively. Also on the card is Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mucho Macho Man in the $400,000 Classic.

"Florida Sunshine Millions Day is going to be a tremendous day of championship racing," said Gulfstream Park Racing Secretary Dan Bork. "Every race will feature graded-stakes winners and many of the top horses in the country."

Horse Racing Radio Network will air the Sunshine Millions and a "Luck Pick Six" involving Gulfstream and Santa Anita races, live on its internet site.

Elsewhere around the racing ovals:

Santa Anita has put together a Saturday program that mixes three state-bred stakes events with the $300,000, Grade I Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares and the $100,000, Grade III Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The day also includes a craft beer festival, beach chair giveaway and a bikini contest so fans can bet, sit, sip and ogle.

Mike Smith will be aboard Rumor for the first time in the Santa Monica, run at 7 furlongs. Rumor, a 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie, has never finished worse than second in seven career starts but tackles a graded event for the first time. The field of seven also includes sentimental favorite Home Sweet Aspen.

Killer Graces, a daughter of Congaree, will be among the favorites in a seven-filly field in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Ysabel off her win in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet last month. Charm the Maker was third in the Grade I Oak Leaf last fall, then won the Sharp Cat and finished second in the Grade I Hollywood Starlet last time out. Lady of Shamrock and Batalha were first and second in the Blue Norther Stakes on Dec. 30. The result should give a reading on Kentucky Oaks prospects on the West Coast.

The $200,000, Grade III John B. Connally Turf Cup, run at 9 furlongs over the Houston-area track turf course, attracted seven starters. The morning-line favorite in that tussle is Proceed Bee, a 6-year-old Bernstein gelding who has been a consistent performer in the Chicago area and in northern Kentucky but visits the Lone Star State for the first time for trainer Scott Becker. In a bit of an oddity, Proceed Bee has made 28 career starts with 12 wins and five thirds but has never finished second.

Adding to the Chicago-area flavor in the Connally is Ioya Bigtime, a 5-year-old Dynaformer gelding handled by Team Block who won three races at Arlington this summer, then overcame a rough start to finish second in the Grade II Fayette at Keeneland in his last start.

And, possibly saving the best for last, Black Caviar is on course to win her 17th race sans loss Friday in the Australia Stakes at Mooney Valley.

Managing owner Neil Werrett told the Press Association Thursday that Black Caviar, should she win the Australia Stakes, is targeted for two more runs in Melbourne. After that, he indicated Royal Ascot is an ultimate target with a potential prep in either of the two sprints on Dubai World Cup night – both of which found Black Caviar's name on their entry list.

"Royal Ascot is the ultimate goal and (trainer Peter Moody) wants to get her there in 100 percent shape and working out the best way to do that is what we have to talk about," the PA quoted Werrett.

And if the 6-year-old mare is to travel internationally, there could be stops at the rich stakes races at the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, Japan and/or Hong Kong to round out the year.

First things first: Black Cavier drew the No. 1 post for Friday's race and will face six rivals.

18-year-old jockey from Shakopee gets first two career victories

2012-01-14T14:46:00.002-06:00

Alex Canchari
photo by Coady Photography

Jockey Alex Canchari, son of former Canterbury rider Luis Canchari, notched his first career victory yesterday in the season-opener at Oaklawn. He followed it up with another win later in the card....read about it HERE

Coady Photography

Heartland Poker Tour Announces Canterbury Park Event

2011-12-09T13:54:00.002-06:00

By popular demand, Heartland Poker Tour announced a tour stop in the company’s home state of Minnesota. The nationally-televised poker show will film two episodes at Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino in Shakopee April 20-30, 2012. The event, which could offer the largest poker tournament prize pool ever in the state, is open to the public.

Players can take a shot at “life-changing” money for as little as $65. The two-day Main Event begins April 28 and concludes on April 29 when the field is reduced to six, with qualifying rounds beginning April 20th. The remaining six players will advance to HPT’s TV production set, assembled on site, on April 30. Thirteen high-definition cameras will capture all of the No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em action until a champion is named. To date, 582 poker enthusiasts have played their way to national television exposure on HPT.

Since humble beginnings in Moorhead, Minnesota, HPT built a nationwide following of poker enthusiasts with the mission, “Real People, Unreal Money.” Because the buy-ins are reasonable and the prize money is substantial, HPT tournaments appeal to players at every skill level.

“We see Cinderella stories at every stop,” said HPT Executive Producer Greg Lang, referencing retired police officer Craig Casino who recently won $293,270. “Anyone can have a shot at that life-changing moment on a national stage,” he added. Since 2005, 97 champions have experienced the thrill of an HPT victory. The tour has awarded over 32 million dollars to date.

HPT is expected to continue an upward growth swing in Season 8. For the poker tour that began in one of the most unlikely places, Fargo, North Dakota, 2011 was a year of new heights. The season began with a sellout event in Las Vegas and went on to break attendance records in many markets, including Colorado, Michigan and New York. The tour recently celebrated its first million-dollar prize pool in Colorado with 668 players.

While growing the brand nationwide, Lang said, loyal Minnesota players campaigned for a tournament at home. “They shouted, we listened,” said Lang. “We’re looking forward to seeing many familiar faces in April.”

Located near the Mall of America and downtown Minneapolis, Canterbury Park Racetrack and Card Casino will see a bump in business while the tour is in town, as will other businesses in Shakopee, as players travel from across North America to participate. A top Twin Cities’ gaming destination, Canterbury Park provides 18,000 square feet of casino-style action around the clock for all levels of players. The card room features 34 tables of Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi-Lo and Seven-Card Stud.

”We are excited to host Heartland Poker Tour at Canterbury Park,” Michael Hochman, Senior Director of Card Casino Operations, said. “An event of this stature is a perfect fit for Minnesota’s premier poker room. The opportunity to offer what could be the largest poker prize pool in state history is great news for our players.”

Family, friends and fans are invited to watch the taping live on set or at HPTpoker.com. Seats are available in the audience on a first-come, first-served basis. HPT is available on TV in over 100 million US households in addition to widespread distribution throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Schedule and broadcast information is available at http://www.hptpoker.com/

Scott Stevens returns to work

2011-11-30T15:34:00.001-06:00

Canterbury Park Hall of Fame jockey Scott Stevens will return to riding Friday at Turf Paradise. He has been named on two mounts, the first a Doug Oliver trainee.

Stevens was hurt in a gate incident during training hours in mid-June at Canterbury. He injured both shoulders including a broken scapula. It has been a long road back for Stevens but not the first time the 50-year-old rider has overcome the odds. He also suffered multiple injuries a year prior. While many thought that would end his career, Stevens was back in the winners’ circle less than five months later. He looks for the same to happen this time.

“I’ve been in therapy since July,” Stevens said. “I had to work hard. I’ve got 95% of the motion in my shoulder.”

Stevens was leading rider at Canterbury from 1990 through 1992 and is near the top of the Canterbury historical standings in nearly every record that matters.

Stevens is more than ready for his career to resume. “I feel good,” he said. "Everything works." The veteran chooses his mounts wisely so victory will not be far off.

Stevens was recently named a finalist for the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award. Read more here...

Other news….

Jockey Paul Nolan has moved his tack to New Orleans where he is working for trainer Michael Stidham at Fair Grounds. He has a mount in the second race on Saturday.

Canterbury Park’s 2012 Race Meet Receives Approval

2011-11-17T16:31:00.000-06:00

Canterbury Park received approval from the Minnesota Racing Commission on Thursday to conduct a 62-day thoroughbred and quarter horse race meet in 2012. The meet will begin Friday, May 18 and run through Monday, September 3. Thursday and Friday racing will begin at 7:00 p.m. with weekend and holiday racing beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Featured race days in 2012 will include the 19th renewal of the Minnesota Festival of Champions, a day dedicated to the best race horses bred in the state, and the second annual Fillies Race For Hope, a day of races exclusively for fillies and mares that will benefit Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Foundation. Dates for those events will be announced in January along with a complete stakes schedule.

“The 2012 race meet will closely resemble the meet we ran this year, minus the state government shutdown that caused Canterbury and the horse owners, trainers and breeders to lose 20 days of business,” track president Randy Sampson said. “While the shutdown and loss of revenues had a negative impact on next season’s purses, it is necessary to offer sufficient racing opportunities so that Canterbury continues to attract enough horses to make the meet a success,” Sampson said.

Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota Formed, Selects Leaders for 2012

2011-11-03T16:09:00.000-05:00

Formerly named Racino Now, the Coalition will advocate on Behalf of Horse Racing and Other Equine Activities

In an effort to build Minnesota's equine industry and accelerate rural economic development, Racino Now has approved a new name and elected new officers to focus its work to support Minnesota's horse industry.

Under its new name, the Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota (EDCoM) will replace Racino Now, advocating on behalf of horse owners and breeders, horse racing fans and the tens of thousands of Minnesotans who depend on a healthy equine industry in this state. Jeff Hilger, a longtime Minnesota business owner, thoroughbred breeder and owner of Bleu Valley Farm in Stillwater, Minn., has been named President of EDCoM. Rosemary Higgins, a quarter horse owner from Princeton, Minn., will serve as Executive Director. Quinn Cheney has been retained as the lobbyist for EDCoM in St. Paul.

“The equine industry touches all 87 counties in our state. It will be an enormous economic engine for Minnesota if legislators are willing to make the same investment in horse racing purses and equine development that other states have successfully made,” Hilger explained.

In 2004, Dr. Brian Buhr, current Director of the University of Minnesota’s Department of Applied Economics, estimated that Minnesota’s equine industry created a total economic impact of approximately $1 billion. Additionally, he noted that Minnesota could improve that economic impact with an increase in racing purses.

Increasing horse racing purses is important because it helps grow the entire industry – more horses, trainers and breeders come to Minnesota, requiring more support from farmers, veterinarians, fence builders and other businesses. EDCoM supports Racino legislation, which would provide $135 million in new revenue for the State of Minnesota and make significant investments in the equine industry.

“Putting the new revenue aside, there is a much bigger picture here.” said Hilger. “If our state is like the 12 other states that have passed Racino legislation, it can more than double the dollar value of our equine industry. We are talking jobs here - for farmers, feed suppliers, veterinarians, fence and barn builders and many other businesses. Larger purses will allow Minnesota breeders to be more competitive, attracting trainers, breeders and owners and causing a ripple effect around the state.”

Twelve states have approved Racino legislation, and each of those states has experienced an increase in racing purses and equine development because of the legislation. Independent public surveys have shown that support among Minnesotans for Racino legislation exceeds 75 percent.

“In the short term, we have a vehicle that allows the Legislature to address a few of the toughest problems facing the state, and in the long-run increase jobs and help an agricultural industry that has been hard hit,” Hilger explains. “Simple logic dictates that it is time to move this economic engine forward.”
The Equine Development Coalition of Minnesota is a group of dedicated equine industry members who want to improve economic development throughout Minnesota by strengthening the state's horse industry. EDCoM supports passage of Racino legislation. For more information about the Racino proposal, go to http://www.racinonow.com/.

Breeders' Cup Top 10 Lists

2011-10-20T08:41:00.000-05:00

DRF.com has a list of Breeders' Cup Top Tens for several of the championship races. HGet a head start on your Breeders' Cup handicapping>>>>>>>>> DRF Top 10s

Jared Hubbard Wins $70,769 In Fall Poker Classic Main Event

2011-10-17T13:28:00.000-05:00

Jared Hubbard of Farmington, MN won the 10th annual Fall Poker Classic main event and a $70,769 first prize on Sunday at Canterbury Park. The Fall Poker Classic featured 29 different poker tournaments over 16 consecutive days, culminating with the main event, a $1,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em game, that attracted 293 entrants from 17 states and one Canadian province.

The main event paid a total of $284,210 to the top 30 players while total prize money for the Fall Poker Classic’s 29 events was $1,057,389.

Portland Meadows Showvivor Contest

2011-10-13T08:23:00.001-05:00

Portlans Meadows, which opens Monday, may not be top of mind for many handicappers but I have always found it to offer decent wagering value. Pool sizes have improved greatly over tha past 10 years. Worth a look for those 'capping early in the week. Of course you can bet Portland in Canterbury Park's racebook.

Portland is offering a free online Showvivor contest with up to $25,000 in prize money. The contest begins Oct 24. Enter here.

Below are details from a promotional email:

Live racing from Portland Meadows begins on Monday October 17, 2011 but the contest does not begin until Week 2. Day 1 Monday October 24th and entries close at 11:45am (Pacific). Before each race day, simply log-in to the contest page, and make your selection for that day’s races. You will simply need to pick one horse, and if your horse finishes in one of the top three positions in the official running order for that race, you move onto the next day. The player who can outlast all the other players in the competition will receive $5,000.

If the player who wins can survive the entire meeting, he or she will receive a $5,000 bonus to make the prize total $10,000. And if the last survivor picks a winner each day, he or she will receive a $20,000 bonus on top of the original $5,000, for a grand total prize of $25,000! of the Ultimate ShowVivor Online Contest.

The winner of the inaugural Portland Meadows Ultimate ShowVivor Online Contest will also be the special Daily Racing Form guest handicapper for Portland Mile Day (date to be determined) of the Inaugural Portland Meadows Summer Race Meet in 2012. The guest handicapper’s selections for the Portland Mile 2012 will appear in both online and print editions of the Daily Racing Form.

JM

TURF: An International Gathering of Horse Racing Bloggers

2011-10-06T09:18:00.003-05:00

Tuesday marked the launch of TURF, a collection of the most popular and informative horse racing blogs from the United States and around the world. TURF can be found at http://www.turfbloggers.blogspot.com/ as well as on Facebook at Turf Bloggers.

“Our purpose in organizing this group,” said TURF founding member Valerie Grash, “is to gather the best the blogosphere has to offer in regards to the coverage of horse racing, providing one site where readers can easily find select and thought-provoking writing by individuals invested in sharing their love for the sport. Our members include horse owners, trainers, pedigree and bloodstock analysts, medical professionals, handicappers, fans and even professional turf writers from three continents. With such diversity, readers are guaranteed to enjoy a wide array of opinion and news from all over the racing world.”

In addition to the launch of the group’s website, many TURF members will be posting on their individual blogs this week on issues related to the upcoming Breeder’s Cup.

“By exploring a common theme over the course of our first week,” media contact Ted Grevelis said, “we hope to illustrate the benefits of visiting one “go-to” website as a launch point for readers to further explore the provocative ideas found in our members’ blogs. Certainly another goal is to engage readers in stimulating dialogue about our sport, the kind of open discussion that is sorely needed. As arguably the most dominating event of racing today—and in some ways, the most controversial—the Breeders’ Cup provides the perfect topic.”

Racetracks and news outlets are encouraged to freely link to the TURF homepage from their own sites in order to broaden their customer's access and enjoyment of horse racing news.

In addition to founding members Valerie Grash (Foolish Pleasure/FilliesFirst), Dana Byerly (Green But Game), Jessica Chapel (Railbird), Teresa Genaro (Brooklyn Backstretch), Ted Grevelis (Owning Racehorses) and Kevin Martin (Colin’s Ghost), the members of TURF include:

Steve Zorn (The Business of Racing)
Sid Fernando (Sid Fernando + Observations)
Keith McCalmont (Triple Dead Heat)
Gina Rarick (Gallop France)
Chris Hernandez (Giving My Ten Cents)
Fran Jurga (Hoof Blog/The Jurga Report)
Bill Pressey (ThoroEdge)
Alastair Middleton Horse Racing in Korea
Sue Dalebroux (Post Parade)
Alan Mann (Left at the Gate)
Frank Vespe (That’s Amore Stable)
Gene Kershner (Equispace)
Anthony Falbo (The Turk)
Kate Hunter (Keiblog)

Luck

2011-09-27T11:17:00.003-05:00

Jesse Garcia wins # 2,000

2011-09-22T09:09:00.000-05:00

According to statistics provided by Equibase Company, jockey Jesse Jimenez Garcia won his 2,000^th race yesterday, Wednesday, September 21, when he guided Joyssweetjoy to victory in the fifth race at Albuquerque.

Garcia rode at Canterbury Park for a few seasons. In 2006 he was the second leading rider at the meet. He finished in the top 5 at Canterbury in '07 and '08. Garcia's all-time win percentage in Shakopee is 17.11 while his mounts hit the board 47.65% of the time.

Win an NHC entry and BC betting bankrolls

2011-09-16T09:45:00.002-05:00

The Countdown to the Cup Handicapping Contest begins Saturday and continues each Saturday through October 29. Each contest day is a separate event and Breeders’ Cup betting bankrolls are awarded to the top eight players each contest. Entry is free.

For the persistent, there are also prizes for the top 10 best combined six-day cumulative totals. The grand prize is entry, airfare, and accommodations to the $2,000,000 National Handicapping Championship (NHC) held in Las Vegas this January. Making it to the Vegas contest gives you a chance to play for a top prize of $1,000,000. Last year Canterbury regular Tom Anderson, who qualified in the annual Dog Days of Summer tournament, finished third in the NHC and earned $100,000.

Saturday’s contest track is Arlington Park. Entry deadline is first post scheduled for 1:00PM. You simply select one horse in each of the 11 Arlington races and earn points based on a mythical $20 Win-Place-Show wager. Find all the rules here. And there is no entry fee required to participate!!

Perfect Picks Contest is back

Each Sunday you have a chance to win cash by selecting the winner and/or over-under in 10 professional football match-ups. Entry is free and available from 10am – noon. Here are the details…….

This week’s prize pool is $1,000.

RACE MEET COMES TO CLOSE

2011-09-11T16:30:00.000-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

The flags were at half mast in deference to the 10th anniversary of 9-11, the card was under way 2 ½ hours early to allow time for viewing the season-opener in San Diego for the Minnesota Vikings _ who had cheerleaders in the winner’s circle before the fourth race of the day _ and the 2011 race meet came to a conclusion at Canterbury Park Sunday.

It was a season of highs and lows, in other words a typical race meet (nothing new in the industry), perhaps low-lighted by the 20-day shutdown that cost Canterbury 12 racing days. The track and the HBPA worked out a deal that restored six of those days, hence the late ending to the season on Sunday.

Still, the shutdown cost horsemen 53 races. There were 512 races run in 2011 as opposed to 565 the year before. Another track/HBPA arrangement guaranteed in specific instances money lost by horses entered to run during the shutdown if they ran in later runnings of those races after racing resumed.

Nonetheless, Canterbury lost $1 million during the shutdown, which included the track’s card club.

On a more positive note, Canterbury averaged 6,143 daily attendance, a 4.9 percent gain over 2010. Average daily on-track handle of $171,995 was up 0.8 percent. The import handle improved 6.2 percent. Keep in mind, of course that there were six fewer racing days this year. The total handle was $30,554,020, down from $33,288,766.

The feature event on Sunday’s card was the $35,000 Shot of Gold Stakes, featuring Atta Boy Roy, running for the first time since his last place finish in the Grade I Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes at Saratoga. His chief opposition appeared to be Humble Smarty who won the Honor The Hero Stakes at Canterbury in track record time for five furlongs in a meet best 110 Beyer speed figure.

Atta Boy Roy was simply too good for six foes, despite training for route distances as opposed to the six-furlong sprint on Sunday. With Rusty Shaw hand-riding, he finished a head in front of fast-closing Just Jebicah and Brittany Arterburn.

“He did what he had to,’’ said trainer Valorie Lund. “I was working him two miles every day and just hoped I hadn’t taken too much speed out of him.’’

For his part, Shaw simply guided the son of Tribunal to the wire. “Val had him ready. All I had to do was hang on,’’ he said.

Dean Butler was honored as the leading rider, for the third consecutive year. He had two more wins on Sunday to finish with 83 for the meet.

“I got lucky,’’ he said. “I had some very good horses to ride, thanks to (his father-in-law trainer Bernell Rhone). And I stayed healthy.’’

Butler will head to Remington to ride and then it’s on to Florida. “My family’s there so it’s always good to get there,’’ he said.

Mac Robertson won a seventh consecutive training title. He appeared to have it locked up after increasing his lead to five on Saturday and left no room for doubt with three more on Sunday. He had 43 wins for the meet, eight more than Rhone and 10 ahead of Mike Biehler.

Race three, in which Derek Bell brought home Grace of Greatness, owned by Jerry and Marlene Myers, seemed to sum up Robertson’s year. Grace of Greatness didn’t kick in until the final 50 yards and then appeared shot out of a cannon. Robertson trailed Rhone and Biehler most of the year until the final two weeks when he began pouring it on.

Derek Bell, who had three winners on Sunday’s card and finished in second place for the meet with 69, commented after the third race.

“I wish the meet lasted another month,’’ he said. “He (Robertson) has a lot of bullets left.’’

The Ulwellings, Al and Bill were honored for as leading owners for the second consecutive year, although Al was represented by his daughter, 12-year-old Hunter and son, 10-year-old A.J.

They won the title a year ago with 25 wins and were confident they could match that again this meet but had to settle for 15 wins. “They competition was a lot tougher this time,’’ Bill said.

Horse racing has truly taken hold in the Ulwelling household. Hunter wanted to become a jockey for a long time, but with urging from her father now hopes to pursue another field. “I want to become a veterinarian,’’ she said.

The Ulwellings use Mike Biehler and Gary Scherer as trainers and will send their horses with Biehler to Remington Park in Oklahoma City and with Scherer to Hawthorne and Arlington in Chicago.

The last winner of the 2011 season was Jestintime, a seven-year-old gelding owned by Pete Glidden, trained by Harvey Lowell Berg and ridden by Patricia Trimble. The win was perhaps a good luck token for Trimble, who will marry Shaw in Phoenix on Nov. 11.

She was greeted as she dismounted in the winner’s circle, as were the other eight winners on the card, by clerk of scales Jerry Simmons, who as a show of patriotism on this solemn American day, was wearing a tie that pictured the statue of liberty and an American flag showered in fireworks.

Lori Keith departed Shakopee for Phoenix with a much-desired win after riding First Captain to a narrow victory over Jaival on the turf in the eighth race for the Goebel family of Almar Partners and trainer Vic Hanson.

She finished fourth in the standings with the win, her 32nd of the meet, and was the first female rider to finish in the top five since Paula Bacon in 1995.

“I was really happy to win this one, for the owners and for Vic,’’ she said. “I’ve been riding a lot of horses for Vic and have had a lot of seconds and thirds the last two weeks.’’

Closing day is always a bittersweet occasion. Everyone is eager to do something new but is saddened the meet is coming to a close at the same time.

Rider Luis Robletto is considering a short trip to Remington Park. “Maybe a week or so,’’ he said. Then on to Louisiana.

“I know why you like Louisiana,’’ jockey lounge custodian Bill Chestnut cracked. “Because they don’t have extradition there.’’

Robletto chucked and ambled off.

The meet officially came to a close with a comment made earlier in the day by pressbox media assistant Kate Ulrich.

“Never settle for good,’’ she said, “when you can have great.’’

2011 Divisional Champions

• Horse of the Year- Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson)

• Older Horse - Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson)

• Grass Horse – Tubby Time (owner: Jeff Larson; trainer: Mac Robertson)

• Older Filly or Mare – Sheso Dazzling (owner: Eric Von Seggern and Kurt Kindschuh; trainer: Mac Robertson)

• Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding – Wild Jacob (owner: Stanley Mankin; trainer: Stanley Mankin)

• Three-Year-Old Filly – Polar Plunge (owner: Camelia Casby; trainer: Gary Scherer)

• Two-Year-Old – Heliskier (owner: Marlene Colvin; trainer Mac Robertson)

• Sprinter – Just Jebicah (owner: Lonnie Arterburn and Ron Stolich; trainer: Lonnie Arterburn)

• Claimer – Just Jebicah (owner: Lonnie Arterburn and Ron Stolich; trainer: Lonnie Arterburn)

• Quarter Horse – Cruzin the Wagon (Terry and Mary Louise Pursel; trainer Brent Clay)

CANTERBURY JOCKEYS TO MARRY

2011-09-10T18:00:00.000-05:00

By JIM WELLS

It’s the Grand Canyon state for Rusty Shaw and Patricia Trimble when the Canterbury Park meet ends on Sunday.

The two jockeys have never ridden at Turf Paradise, but are eager to test the Phoenix track for a couple of reasons. They like the idea that the meet runs October through April. That will coincide nicely with a return to Shakopee next May. It will also allow Trimble to put her four-year-old daughter, Taylor Page, in school for the entire school year.

Oh, yes, there is one other thing.

Shaw and Trimble plan to marry in Phoenix and they won’t need a reminder on the date.

“It’s on 11-11-11,’’ Shaw said.

Trimble and Shaw have known each other for 10 years, but have been an item only the past year or so. It’s all working out just right they way they see it.

Shaw and Trimble met a decade ago at the Ocala 2-year-old in training sale. They were both employed breaking babies.

A friendship developed. Eventually, Rusty introduced Patricia to a friend of his and the two of them hit it off and had a child, Taylor, together. When that relationship ended, Shaw was the right man in the right place at the right time.

Rusty admits he wasn’t always the most eligible man around but he’s cleaned up his act and that’s been the difference. “I’m much better now,’’ Shaw said with the hint of smile.

Shaw and Trimble had never raced at the same track together before they arrived at Canterbury this summer, and now they’ll arrive as a team at Turf Paradise, too.

The opportunity came about unexpectedly. Trainer Valorie Lund agreed to use them both at her home base in Phoenix and the setup fits their plans perfectly.

“It was hard to pass up,’’ Trimble said. “I especially like the long meet. I can put my daughter in school and not worry about pulling her out halfway through the school year to go someplace else.’’

Shaw is a native of Chicago, Ill. Trimble is from Vancouver, B.C. Her parents and a number of her friends will be in Phoenix for the wedding.

“It should be really nice,’’ she said.

ROBERTSON, ULWELLINGS WIN TITLES

Mac Robertson wrapped up another training title, his seventh straight at Canterbury Park to highlight a season in which he was elected to the track’s Hall of Fame.

Derek Bell rode Gypsy Melody, the winner of the second race, for Robertson. Nik Goodwin rode Variable for Robertson as the winner of the fifth race. That provided Robertson with a five-win lead over Bernell Rhone in the training standings.

Goodwin rode three winners on the card to give him eight for the weekend. He won five races on Friday night’s card.

Goodwin’s other winners were Our Miss Brookside, trained by Gary Scherer for Al and Bill Ulwelling, who won the owners’ race for the second year, and Desert Prize in the card closer.

TIDBITS ON THE NEXT TO LAST DAY

Sheila Williams, the former media relations director at Canterbury, was at the track on Saturday to watch a friend’s horse race.

The horse is Dear Fay. The friend is Bo Vujovich, who wasn’t able to attend.

So Williams represented her friend in the paddock before the race, approaching trainer Vic Hanson.

“Hi, I’m Sheila Williams, Bo’s friend,’’ she said. “Shouldn’t this horse be wearing blinkers?’’

“Anything else?’’ Hanson responded.

*Steve Anderson, who announces races at Fonner Park in Grand Island, Neb., and at Lincoln, is at the mic this weekend for Paul Allen, who departed the Twin Cities on Saturday for San Diego where the Minnesota Vikings play the Chargers on Sunday. Allen is the voice of the Vikings for KFAN radio.

GOODWIN WINS FIVE RACES

2011-09-09T22:40:00.001-05:00

by Jim Wells
When Nik Goodwin looked over Friday’s races earlier in the day he felt a surge of confidence.

“I knew I had a real live card,’’ he said. “I thought I had a chance to win with all seven.’’

Goodwin had to settle for less _ five. Goodwin rode five winners on a single card in 1997 at Assiniboia Downs, but Friday’s effort was his best ever at Canterbury Park.

Afterward, his three-year-old son, Layne, was waiting in the winner’s circle to give his dad a hug.

The five wins were one less than the track record, set by Hall of Fame rider Derek Bell, who rode six winners on the June 14, 2002 card.

Goodwin rode Morgans A Blumin for his first win in race two and Timetobook in race four.

He hit the hat trick with A P Dreamer in race five, got his fourth on Cheap Chocolate in race six and brought in his fifth winner on the card, Jumpin Jordyn, in race seven.

He originally thought he would head to Florida after the Canterbury meet to break babies. Now he’s reconsidering after his hot finish to this meet. He vaulted into fifth place, two wins behind Lori Keith, with Friday’s effort. He has 28 winners for the meet.

“I’m going to play it by ear,’’ Goodwin said. “Maybe now I’ll go to Calder for a while.’’

THE MERRICKS OF SAYRE, OKLA.

2011-09-09T18:34:00.001-05:00

by JIM WELLS

The names roll off the tongue like a sacred litany, although at one time the new blood line was questioned in some quarters as heretical, a sacrilege to the industry and all it was.

The passing of time dissipates most disagreements, in the horse business and religion, and it has in this case, too, and we are left now with only the names that occupy special places in the record books.

They were horses named Easy Marble, Easy Six, Extra Easy, My Easy Credit, Easy Date and, of course, the inimitable Easy Jet, with whom the line was brought to prominence.

It is all understandable today when Joe Merrick tells you that many people associate his name only with quarter horse racing, despite the many other endeavors he has undertaken since his father, Walter, became one of the legends of quarter horse breeding and racing.

One of the founding members of the American Quarter Horse Assn., Walter Merrick rose from a dollar a day ranch hand to alter the course of the American quarter horse. He bred several Hall of Fame horses, including Easy Jet, Jet Deck, Easy Date and the champions Byou Bird and Toast the Host.

Merrick was inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's Hall of Great Westerners and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. He died in 2006 at 94 years of age.

Walter sent Joe to Canterbury Downs in 1986 for the track's first quarter horse meet, and Joe has been back many times in the quarter century since, including this summer.

"And he usually has more thoroughbreds with him than he does quarter horses,'' said Canterbury's stall superintendent Mark Stancato.

The Merricks returned to Oklahoma last week. Joe, had taken a load of horses home a couple weeks earlier. He originally thought he would need to make two or three trips last week to finish the job. "I dreaded the thought,'' he said. His daughter Kari and her boyfriend saved the day. "They showed up with a 10-horse trailer,'' Joe said.

So between the two drivers, they managed to make the return in a single trip.

Mention the Merricks of Sayre, Okla., and will get a nod of recognition from just about any horseman or woman

over the age of 40 and in many cases much younger, too. Some of that younger recognition has to do with Joe Merrick's adventuresome spirit and willingness to give new projects a try. Some of the younger folks, for instance, might associate the Merrick name solely with the Professional Bull Riders Assn. The Merricks ran the bull registry and helped set up PBR shows at arenas around the nation for four years. "We would have stayed on, but they moved their headquarters to Pueblo, Colo,'' Joe said. "We didn't want to move.''

Why leave all that history and family connection, he reasoned.

The Merrick name got its early recognition, of course, with Easy Jet, and Walter Merrick's decision to infuse thoroughbred blood into the short-horse line. It transpired like this: Merrick chose one of his best mares, Lena Valenti, and bred her to the thoroughbred Three Bars. The result was Lena's Bar, an outstanding race horse later bred to Jet Deck. Their foal was Easy Jet, a quarter horse racing and breeding legend who now has his final resting place on the Merricks' 14 Ranch outside Sayre, founded by Walter and still part of the family.

Some bluebloods in the industry were thoroughly opposed to adding thoroughbred blood to their breed's mix, but Merrick won over and the rest as been assigned to the record books.

Joe was born in 1957, the youngest of Walter and Tien Merrick's four children. He and Sherry had been married 10 years when he brought a stable to Shakopee in 1986. "We were married in 1976 and we won a race the very next day _ that was our honeymoon _ at Ruidoso Downs,'' Joe said.

They have been a team ever since. You will find Sherry attending to the various barn duties many mornings while her husband is ponying a horse to the track. Friends describe the Merricks as devout Christians who let their actions and treatment of people speak on their own and never proselytize.

Both of them pitch in with just about anything that needs doing, working shoulder to shoulder with their hired hands. Their friends and acquaintances describe them as true horsemen in every sense of the word. You need only see one of them break down after losing an animal to understand their passion for horses, despite Joe's insistence on not becoming attached in a business like horse racing. You will know that Sherry sometimes is grieving the loss of a beloved horse at the claiming box if she's missing from the barn for a couple of days.

You will understand Joe's love of horses, too, by his forgiveness for their misdeeds, even major ones. "We planned on being at Canterbury last summer,'' he said, "but then I had the accident.''

Merrick was ponying the well-bred Indy Express to the track at Will Rogers Downs when his saddle horse drifted a bit too close. "It was my fault,'' Merrick said. Indy Express tried to take a bite out of the horse's neck and, when Merrick tried to wave him off, got Joe's hand instead.

A stud like Indy Express has a vice-like bite. He took all of Merrick's left thumb, including the lower part of the hand and left it dangling. Merrick was air-lifted from the track and his thumb was reattached. The healing process prevented his planned trip to Shakopee for the summer. Today, he has some numbness to remind him of the incident

"He said he can't hitch-hike any longer because people don't know which way he's going,'' Stancato said.

Or as Merrick also put it: "There are things in this business that will test your mettle.''

The Merricks have three children _ Kyle, 33; Kori, 27 and Kari, 20.

Kyle was a good high school running back but, as Joe describes it, was genetically handicapped at 5-feet-8 and 185 pounds _ yet very fast, with 4.4 speed. An excellent student, he had an offer to Penn, but chose instead to get a degree in range management at Oklahoma State University. He handles the cattle along with the bucking-bred bunch at the 14 ranch founded by his late grandfather.

Kari spent parts of the summer at Canterbury. Kori lives in Oklahoma and is married to Cody Whitney, who had a 94.74 ride aboard three-time PBR Bull of the Year LittleYellow Jacket in 2004 and has ridden in several PBR finals.

So, there are quarter horses, thoroughbreds and bulls in the Merrick family history. There is also music. Joe has recorded two CDs _ a third is in the can _ with songs he has written that would draw solid reviews on any two-step floor. Or you can simply sit and enjoy some of the tunes inspired by Merrick's life and the people in it.

On the CD "Ranches and Rodeos" he has recorded a song called 'Wild Horses' and 'Easy Jet'. On the album "New Bad Habits" there is 'Quarter Horse Rider,' 'What Makes a Cowboy' and 'Don't Give Up.'

Joe Merrick was 12 years old during Easy Jet's phenomenal two-year-old season in 1969 when he won 22 of 26 races, including the All American, a season that culminated with various awards: World Champion Quarter Running Horse, Champion Stallion and Champion 2-year-old Colt, the first two prestigious awards rarely given to a 2-year-old.

Walter Merrick hauled the precocious colt to track after track, and Joe frequently was assigned guard duties in a stall near the horse. Tracks, especially the smaller ones, had very few security provisions at the time. "I'd sleep in that stall,'' Joe recalled, "with a pistol that was almost too heavy for me to lift.''

Easy Jet stayed safe through it all, although Joe recalled occasions when "someone would drive up to the barn and shine their lights in on the stall.''

Roused from his slumber, Joe would sit up in the stall, the lights in his eyes but only momentarily. "When whoever it was saw me, they'd move on,'' he recalled. Still, he has wondered from time to time who occupied those vehicles and what were they seeking.

When he looks back now, it was a special time. "It was a magical time,'' he said.

Merrick got on Easy Jet's back only once, taking him to the barn. One of the hands gave him a funny look and asked "what I was doing,'' Joe said. "It was my one and only chance to get on that horse.''

Easy Jet not only won the All American, he sired three winners of the race: Easy Date, Pie In The Sky and Mr Trucka Jet.

Walter Merrick sold and reacquired Easy Jet a couple of times. He syndicated the horse during the oil boom in 1980 when Easy Jet's stud fee was $30,000. The horse was syndicated for an astounding $30 million, 50 shares at $600,000 each. Many of the investors were prominent in the oil and gas industries. When the industries went bust two years later, the deals dissolved.

"Everything tanked,'' Joe recalled. "The economy went bad.''

Walter Merrick handled the situation just as he had the other vicissitudes of his life.

"Dad was just a cowboy,'' Joe said. "He knew what it was to have money and not to have money.''

Maybe Joe sums it all up best in 'What Makes a Cowboy.'

"No one knows what strikes the prose that stands the test of time

Or the tune that has that old familiar ring.

And heaven help me if I need a reason for my rhyme.

'Cause no one knows what makes a cowboy sing."

If Joe and Sherry Merrick never get their Seattle Slew or Affirmed, it will be just fine. They've got plenty to fall back on.'

"You know, maybe all you get out of this business when it comes right down to it,'' he said, "are the memories.''

Some fine ones at that.

　

Two Thoroughbred Titles Still Up For Grabs

2011-09-09T11:22:00.000-05:00

The race for the top thoroughbred jockey is over as Dean Butler has a 14 win lead over Derek Bell and will win his third consecutive riding title.

Leading owner and trainer is a different matter.

Bernell Rhone won two races Thursday night and now is a single win behind Mac Robertson who has 36 wins. Mike Biehler is three behind Mac.
Mac has 14 horses entered in 13 races over the final three days while Bernell has 14 entered in 11 races. Mike has eight entered in seven races.

Al and Bill Ulwelling of Elk River won the owner title last year and have a two victory lead over Curtis Sampson of Hector heading into the final three days. The Ulwellings will send out three horses in two races while Curt has four entered in four races.
jm

THAT'S LEMMON WITH TWO Ms

2011-09-08T20:59:00.001-05:00

by JIM WELLS

Know anybody from Lemmon, S.D.? Wonder where it is?

According to Mark Stancato it's "100 miles from the nearest anything, smack dab in the middle of nowhere, very near to nothing and not on the way to anything.''

Stancato didn't say whether those lines are his own or borrowed from Canterbury's 2011 quarter horse training champion, Bob Johnson, who is, in fact, from Lemmon.

"Bob's one of the wittier people I know,'' said Canterbury's stall superintendent. "Anytime you have something to say to him, he'll come right back with something that will crack you up.''

Johnson, incidentally, was reared about 20 miles from Lemmon on a ranch he still calls home that has been in the family since the late 1800s, land homesteaded by his grandfather, Oscar Johnson."I like it there. It's quiet,'' Johnson said. "It's a place to call home, and it really is home.''

Johnson didn't get home much this summer. "A couple of times.'' And he isn't apt to get there much for the next few months, either.

Thursday morning, for instance, Johnson made his remarks by cell phone from Billings, Mont., where he was galloping horses in anticipation of the upcoming races this weekend, a $40,000 Futurity and $30,000 Derby for Paints and Appaloosas.

"I've always liked Paints,'' Johnson's caller told him. "Trouble is they've bred most of the paint out ouf them,'' Johnson responded. "A lot of these horses now are solid color but they are Paints.''

Johnson brought some horses to Canterbury Downs in 1986 for the track's 10-day quarter horse meet that year. He came back again, as he recalls, in 1989 and has been stabling horses in Shakopee most summers since.

Johnson won the 1,000th quarter horse race of his career at Canterbury Park. "There are only a handful, maybe 25 (quarter horse) trainers in the country who have done that,'' said racing secretary Doug Schoepf. "Bob's a hard worker. Last year he had horses here and Denver and was hauling to Prairie (Meadows) plus Billings. Wherever they have a futurity or derby,'' he'll show up.''

Johnson won the training title, his first at Canterbury, by two wins over Brent Clay and Ed Ross Hardy, who was inducted into the track's Hall of Fame this summer after winning nine consecutive titles.

"To me, the guy should be in the Hall of Fame,'' said quarter horse racing secretary Josh Van Oort. "He won his 1,000th race at Canterbury two years ago, the 25th guy to win that many. He always has a good stable, helps us fill races and is always positive in any situation.''

Van Oort says a few more Bob Johnsons on the grounds would improve matters even more. "They don't get any better than Bobby. They really don't.''

Schoepf once rode for Bob's dad, John G. Johnson. "We go back to the 1960s,'' Schoepf said.

So, it was a special moment this summer when Bob Johnson saddled a horse for John Johnson that won the Minnesota Stallion Futurity at Canterbury.

"That was pretty cool,'' Bob said. "Dad just turned 80 in July.''

Johnson won the 2011 Canterbury training title but he had already earned the respect of other horsemen after nearly four decades of hauling horses, thoroughbreds included, from track to track, always maintaining a good stable.

"He's someone young trainers can look up to and respect and older ones still respect,'' Van Oort said. "I wish we had 10 more like him.''

Johnson's life changed last February when he married a woman from Phoenix. Clearly, it would take a horsewoman to understand and tolerate his life and that pretty much describes his new bride,Shilo.

She was on the backside at Canterbury last year. While Bob would truck some horses to Billings, she hauled others to Prairie Meadows. She sometimes had horses racing at Canterbury during the day and some at Prairie the same night.

Johnson's life changed and so did his schedule. He used to lay up at the ranch from October to March. Not this year. He intends to take seven or eight thoroughbreds and a similar number of quarter horses to Phoenix.

"I used to go home for the winter. That sounds kind of backward now, doesn't it,'' he said.

His dad and brother, Gary, will have to handle the ranch, the cows and horses on their own this time.

For anyone requiring more precise geography, Lemmon is on the North Dakota-South Dakota border, about 80 miles from Montana. "About 350 miles from Billings,'' Johnson said.

What doesn't need additional description is this Johnson anecdote concerning the view of others about his neck of the woods:

A fellow once told him: "You must be from here, because I don't know anybody who'd move here.''

WELLINGTON WANTS THE PARKING SPOT

Tom Wellington was tied with Tad Leggett for the riding lead with one race left in the quarter horse meet three or four years ago in Shakopee.

When Wellington's horse won the final race, he heard the announcement: "Tom Wellington is the Canterbury riding champ.''

One problem.

"They took my number down and Tad won the race and the title,'' Wellington recalled.

That's been a small burr under his saddle since.

Funny how things work out sometimes.

Wellington left Canterbury with more than three weeks left in the meet this summer. He had 12 wins at the time, two more than Jennifer Schmidt.

"I really didn't expect 12 wins to hold up,'' he said Thursday.

It was good enough this time for Wellington to claim the title by one.

"I just might come up there again, now that I have that parking spot (given to the previous year's champions directly in front of the Canterbury entrance).''

Wellington has won several titles at Prairie Meadows and others in Kansas, too, but this was his first in Shakopee.

And he expects the royal treatment regardless of his plans.

"Even if I don't come back there next year, I want that parking spot,'' he said. "I'll need it when I come to visit.''

CHAMPION OWNERS

Kenny Laymon tied for fourth in the trainer standings with Amber Blair and Carl Clevenger. They each had seven wins for the meet.

Which was enough for Laymon and his wife, Regina, the names behind JK Running Horses LLC, to win the owners title in their first year at Canterbury.

"We've sent horses up here before but this is the first time we stabled here,'' Laymon said. "We plan on coming back again next year.''

Laymon attributes his successful meet to luck and some pretty nice horses. "We've sent some pretty good ones up there in the past, but this summer I just decided to do it myself,'' he said.

Turned out just fine at that.

2011 Live Racing Comes To A Close at Canterbury Park

2011-09-07T11:37:00.001-05:00

The 2011 live race meet at Canterbury Park comes to a close this week with racing Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 8 - 11. Post times will be: Thursday and Friday at 7:00 pm, Saturday at 1:30 pm, and Sunday at 11:00 am. Free admission is offered all week.

A Purple Pre-Game Party is scheduled for Sunday. Along with an earlier than normal 11:00 am first post for the nine-race card, several activities are planned to accommodate football fans including an appearance by the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders, a Football Fan Viewing Zone with large-screen televisions, and food and beverage specials such as $1 hotdogs and $2.50 tap beer. “We are creating a festive atmosphere for those that want to enjoy football as well as the final day of the race meet,” senior marketing manager John Groen said. “We will offer the best of both worlds for the horse racing and football fan.”

Sunday will also offer the traditional Family Day activities with free pony rides, a petting zoo and face painters. Parking is always free. For more information go to http://www.canterburypark.com/ or call 952-445-7223.

DID SOMEONE SAY RACINO

2011-09-05T18:02:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Even on a bright, balmy Monday afternoon, it was still possible to agree that every silver lining has its cloud.

Take Minnesota’s horse industry and the refusal of state legislators to represent the wishes of the people who elected them. In poll after poll, seventy to eighty percent of Minnesotans support a Racino at Canterbury Park, and time after time state legislators refuse to give it to them.

Instead they couch their objections with thread-worn clichés that are nothing more than camouflage for the true reason behind their obduracy _ campaign donations (all documented) _ from Minnesota casinos.

Getting campaign cash has become more important than the voters in American politics.

In the meantime, an untold number of small businesses directly connected to horse racing struggle or never get off the ground in Minnesota, untold taxes are never collected and the state’s horse industry continues to stagnate.

Horse racing puts veterinarians, breeders, stable help, farriers, farmers, truckers, grain salesmen, pari-mutuel clerks, concessionaries, hot-walkers, gallop boys and girls, jockeys and trainers to work.

A racetrack is the hub to the entire horse industry but it all begins with the breeding farms and operations and they are suffering.

“We can’t afford to breed in this state any longer,’’ said breeder Dave Dayon during Saturday’s Minnesota Festival of Racing. “A lot of breeders I know just can’t invest any longer.’’

This is an industry with a domino effect. Better purses mean better horses, bigger crowds and more money for horse owners, breeders, riders and trainers. Better purses mean more investment, more jobs, more taxes. Simply put, Minnesota is not keeping pace with other states where Racinos are part of the mix.

The argument of no interest in racing is a crock.

“No interest?’’ said Jeff Hilger, who operates Bleu Valley Farm near Stillwater, one of Minnesota’s foremost breeding operations.

“Yesterday, there were more than 11,000 people here to watch Minnesota-bred horses (in the Minnesota Festival of Racing.) Think what the crowds would be like with really good horses.’’

Another 9,500 showed up on Monday.

Hilger and his wife, Deb, rely upon purses at Canterbury to sustain their business. Good purses provide incentive and result in more investment by horse owners and breeders, etc. etc. etc.

Here is the future of Minnesota breeding in microcosm: In the sixth race on Monday’s card, Satin Edition, a five-year-old mare owned by the Hilgers, started and won for the second time since last Thursday night. Two races in four days?

“Somebody asked me why I would run that mare for $3,500 ( in winnings),’’ Hilger said. “I told him that I was running for $7,000. It just took two races.’’

In any event, the race was the last for the daughter of Holy Bull. Her future, like that of racing in Minnesota, is uncertain.

“I’ll hold her until February,’’ Hilger said, “to see if we get a Racino.’’

If Canterbury gets a Racino, Hilger can see a reason to invest more and will breed Satin Edition. “Otherwise I’ll find someone good who will use her as a hunter/jumper,’’ he said.

That is the current state of racing in Minnesota. The purses are such that many horsemen can’t justify additional investment.

“If you win a race, you can pay some bills,’’ said Paul Knapper, a Lonsdale horseman. “If you finish second, you can’t. If we had a Racino, you could finish second and still pay the bills.’’

Knapper and his trainer, Joe Merrick, who will return to Oklahoma on Tuesday, have discussed the subject ad infinitum this summer, the need for Canterbury to get some help.

It is not only breeders and trainers who see the need.

Jockey Ry Eikleberry rode his final races of the meet on the Labor Day card. In the past he has always returned to his home in Phoenix and raced at Turf Paradise. Not this time.

He’ll head to Zia Park and then El Paso (Sunland Park). “I’ve always gone back to Phoenix because that was home,’’ Eikleberry said. “But I need to go where the purses are. “Turf Paradise and Canterbury both need Racinos.’’

FESTIVAL KISSED BY AN ANGEL

2011-09-04T19:06:00.000-05:00

By JIM WELLS

The man who brought horse racing to Minnesota in 1985 had a special way of explaining situations in which the planets, the seas, the wind _ all the forces of nature _ seemed to conspire for a positive outcome.

“We were kissed by an angel,’’ Brooks Fields, the president and CEO of Canterbury Downs, would say on such occasions.

The heavens were in perfect order on Sunday. How else to explain an afternoon of absolutely balmy weather, ideal for being out of doors until the Festival races were concluded and only the final event on the card, a maiden claimer, was ready to go and the rain began…briefly.

On the most special day of the year for Minnesota horsemen, the weather, the fans and the horses themselves contributed to the show in the 18th running of the Minnesota Festival of Champions.

A crowd of 11,214 was on hand for the 10-race card offering more than $400,000 in purse money, the largest recorded turnout since 1992, the first year of the Festival. The on-track handle was up 17.7 percent.

Intermingled throughout the afternoon were tears of joy, elation and, in some cases, maybe even residual grief.

Who wouldn’t cry, as Gretchen Eaton did, after hers and husband Art’s Bella Notte won the $50,000 Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship for the third consecutive time.

How many pictures do you need, Gretchen?

“We’ll, we’ve got employees, friends?’’

Will twenty-five handle it?

“It’s an easy game,’’ said winning rider Derek Bell. “Just hang on.’’

Bella Notte’s win drew applause from the nearby crowd, another reason for tears.

Who wouldn’t feel deep emotion when the last horse broken by your recently departed husband just won the $50,000 Northern Lights Futurity, as Heliskier, now 2-for-2, did for Marlene Colvin.

Bun Colvin, a respected and well-known horseman at Canterbury the last three decades, died last January. Marlene used to watch him ride the 2-year-old Appealing Skier colt in the pasture outside their South Dakota home. “Yes, it’s the perfect tribute,’’ she said.

“That’s a nice horse,’’ said Mac Robertson, whose horse, Private Warrior, ran out of the money in the race. “Bun broke him, a nice job. I would have broken him.’’

Who wouldn’t feel joy, vindication and gratitude when a horse you just claimed for $15,000 wins a $50,000 race first time back, as Jaival did for trainer Valorie Lund and owner Peter Seals and Eight Ender Stables as the third pick in the Minnesota Classic.

That race presented an obvious question:

How do you like Minnesota-breds so far, Valorie?

The best answer in this case might be an old axiom: buy low, sell high.

In any event, the horse was Lund’s first Minnesota-bred. “We gave him a lot of schooling,’’ she said. “In the paddock, in the gate. I was nervous, not having a race before this one.”

Not to worry. The favorite Black Tie Benny and second choice Suddenly Silver locked up on the front end, before Benny took a bad step on the turn and Martin Escobar pulled him up. At that point, Jaival and Rusty Shaw took dead aim at Suddenly Silver.

Can you feel anything but overwhelming glee when your horse makes mincemeat of his opponents to win the $35,000 Minnesota Turf Championship as Tubby Time did for trainer Mac Robertson and owner Jeff Larson?

Tubby Time moved to the head of the line for Horse of the Year with the win, in light of Sheso Dazzling’s puzzling no-show in the $50,000 Minnesota Distaff, won by Tez Savitri under Eikleberry for Bernell Rhone and Kissoon Thoroughbreds.

“I had a lot more horse than I planned on,’’ said Eikleberry.

“It was perfect timing by the jockey, a great ride,’’ said Deon Kissoon.

How might you feel if your name is Cam Casby and your Keewatin Ice just ran down Jills Summer Raine inside the 16th pole to win the $55,000 Northern Lights Debutante.

“Wonderful,’’ pretty much sizes up Ms. Casby’s attitude afterward.

How would you react if your horse, Nomorewineforeddie, is winless in three starts this year and can’t seem to find a race but comes up big when he does, in the $50,000 Minnesota Sprint Championship for the second consecutive summer.

“Congratulations,’’ said Richard Grunder, Ry Eikleberry’s agent,to the winning owner, Anthony Didier. “Where did you (Bizet) finish,’’ Didier responded. “Second just like last year,’’ Grunder said.

Dale Haglund had to feel a measure of pride as the owner/trainer of Streak N Hot, who blew away nine foes in the card opener, the $15,000-added Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity under Wilfredo Arroyo. After all was said and done, the race was worth $19,400.

Pithia, who lost big to Lien On Me last time they met, reversed that result in the $15,000-added Quarter Horse Derby under Eikleberry. Ultimately, that race was worth $18,650, and the winner’s worth increased, too. That left owner Rodney Von Ohlen of Alpha, Minn., feeling a bit better about sale prospects for the three-year-old filly in the November Oklahoma sale.

All in all, Robertson had to feel pretty good himself by day’s end. His three stakes wins put him the training lead, one in front of Bernell Rhone and two in front of Mike Biehler.

A SILVER TOUCH TO A GOLDEN FESTIVAL

2011-09-03T17:46:00.000-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Here are the details, as they occur only in horse racing, a sport that at times resembles extended family as much as it does industry:

On Sept. 12, 1992 the first Minnesota Festival of Champion was conducted, put together entirely by Minnesota horsemen for Minnesota horsemen and their Minnesota-bred horses.

There was a winner that afternoon in the very first Minnesota Sprint Championship by the name of Silver Me Timbers, the sale-topper at the 1989 Select Minnesota Yearling Sale, a $19,000 purchase by Jan and Connie Chumas out of the first crop of Silver Ghost.

Silver Me Timbers had been bred by Art and Gretchen Eaton, who were in racing at the time with the intention of breeding only, something that changed suddenly when one of their horses didn’t sell at sale and they wound up racing him.

Good thing for Minnesota racing. The Eatons will race today in the 18th running of the Festival as the event leaders with nine wins.

The second of the two horses they have entered on today’s card is Suddenly Silver, a seven-year-old gelding from one of the last crops of Silver Ghost.

It so happens he will be ridden by Derek Bell, the leading rider in Festival history with 20 wins. So, Hall of Fame owners/breeders will team up with a Hall of Fame rider to run a horse whose half brother won on Festival Day nineteen years ago.

Suddenly Silver is no stranger to the race. He won the Classic in 2008 and in 2010 and was second in 2009.

Told about the historic connections to the inaugural Festival, Bell mulled over the details. “That’s pretty cool,’’ he said.

Bell has been on Suddenly Silver several times, including his 2008 Classic win and second-place finish in the 2009 running of the same event.

“He’s a good horse. He can win, but he’ll have to beat Black Tie Benny. I don’t know if he can.’’

There are “horses to beat’’ in the other Festival events, too.

The $15,000 Quarter Horse Futurity will feature Streak N Hot, owned and trained by Dale Haglund, who has won twice and finished second twice from five starts.

Brent Clay chases his second $15,000- Derby win with morning line choice Lien On Me. Seis it Fast, the 2010 Horse of the Meeting, is in the field of nine, too, but is winless this year in six outs.

The Eatons are the owners/breeders of Bella Notte, the two-time defending champion of the $50,000 Distaff Sprint who will be favored slightly over Chick Fight. Both horses are from the Mac Robertson barn.

Nomorewineforeddie is the defending champ of the $50,000 Sprint Championship and will again face Bizet the 2010 runnerup and 2009 winner of the race.

The favorite in the $55,000 Northern Lights Futurity is likely Heliskier, owned by Marlene Covlin and trained by Robertson.

Tubby Time has won three straight on the grass and is the horse to beat in the $35,000 Turf Championship.

The horse beat in the $55,000 Northern Lights Debutante is Jills Summer Raine, trained by Doug Oliver and ridden by Lori Keith.

Sheso Dazzling, with Bell up, will be the filly to beat in the $50,000 Distaff Classic. She and Tubby Time are contenders Horse of the Meet.

Two decades ago, Gretchen Eaton was certain she and Art were in the horse business as breeders only, but she had reservations just the same after the sale of Silver Me Timbers at the 1989 yearling sale.

“We were staying at the Canterbury Inn after the sale. I went to check on the horses and Connie (Chumas) was there giving the horse a carrot. I thought then that everything was OK, that the horse had a good home,” Gretchen said.

That recollection surfaced as Eaton thought about that day many years ago, before Silver Me Timbers proved his mettle in the inaugural Festival Sprint.

The Festival has come to mean different things to different people, but she summed it up in these terms:

“It’s the Academy Awards for Minnesota-bred horses.’’

Art Eaton:

“It’s like a homecoming game in football.”.

The kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. today with nine championship races and more than $400,000 at stake.

NEVER SAY NEVER

Supreme Ghost is four years old but had not won in six career starts. Then again, Supreme Ghost, an absolutely gorgeous silver/roan, had undergone some infirmities in his young life.

First there was time he was cast in his stall and injured a hock that swelled to the size of a beach ball. Then he injured a tendon. Consequently, Supreme Ghost did not race at all as a three-year-old and was in danger of being retired to pasture.

If he goes on a pension now, it won’t be as a non-winner.

There he was in Saturday’s fourth race huffing and puffing toward the finish line, on the lead and headed for win No. 1. Inside the 16th pole, he looked ready to quit, once, twice, but each time he wanted to cash it in, Paul Nolan gave him a reminder with the stick. Each time he lurched forward a foot or two, enough to propel his body another jump. He got there just in time.

A much appreciated win for the horse, his owners _ Carin Offerman and Dennis Strohkirch _ his rider and his trainer, Troy Bethke.

“I didn’t think the wire was ever going to come up,’’ said Bethke.

ARTERBURN, KEITH CUTTING A WIDE SWATH

2011-09-02T22:52:00.001-05:00

by JIM WELLS

Trainer Mike Biehler was grinning ear to ear as he entered the winner’s circle and then broke into a laugh.

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,’’ he said, shaking his head in utter amazement.

What he was talking about was the ride that Brittany Arterburn had just put on his horse, Coyote Way, after picking up the mount from the injured Dustin Dugas in the second race Friday night.

Arterburn has dominated the turf at Canterbury Park this summer, riding primarily for her father’s barn. The Arterburns have truly put on a show.

Brittany opened Friday’s card with a grass win aboard her father’s horse, Awesome Dream, and then guided Coyote Way home in the very next race at 17-1.

The Friday crowd, obviously, didn’t give her much of a chance. Not even Jason Coyote, the horse’s owner, was expecting a win. “Nope,’’ said Biehler.

Here are the figures on Lonnie Arterburn: He is 13 for 42 on dirt and grass. He is 10 for 27 on the grass.

Here are the astonishing figures on Arterburn the daughter: She has won 13 races from 31 starts on the grass, a phenomenal 42 percent.

“She’s nothing short of phenomenal,’’ said paddock analyst Jeff Maday before the third race.

Arterburn and Lori Keith stood at the top of the steps in the winner’s circle watching a replay of the second race.

“They should rule you off the turf,’’ Keith said. “When I came up to you I thought I was going to blow past you.’’ Instead, Keith’s horse, All Night Star, faded to fourth.

Keith, who will become the first female rider to finish in the top five since Paula Bacon in 1995, is currently in fourth place with 29 wins. She had a great meet at Turf Paradise in Phoenix over the winter as well and has ridden 90 winners in 2011.

Ry Eilkeberry, riding the Mac Robertson-trained Variable, owned by Bob Ryan, finished a fast-closing second to Coyote Way. “Another couple of jumps and we win,’’ Ryan said. “But I’ll take second. I’m happy with that in her first time out.’’

Meanwhile, the conversation shifted back to Brittany Arterburn. “She’s unbelievable on the turf. She’s really tough,’’ added Biehler, who moved into a tie with Bernell Rhone for the training lead.

Rhone laughed at the manner in which it occurred. Brittany is married to his son, Scott.

BEHIND THE SCENES

Jockey lounge custodians Jerry Simmons and Bill Chestnut were recalling the old days together at Waterford Park years ago.

It seems that the jockey room laundry was sent to a nearby hospital laundry on a regular basis for cleaning.

On one occasion, the laundry was returned and included three straight jackets. You guessed it. Simmons and Chestnut set out to try the new apparel on some of the riders. They laughed, nearly giggled, at some the recollections of some riders struggling to free themselves from the restrictive jackets.

That reminiscence brought on a whole new line of discussion. Simmons recalled someone who could change the shape of his body by stretching out and slip out of a straight jacket that way.

That brought up the subject of Houdini, who knew how to escape just about any restraining device made. “He was also a great self promoter,’’ Chestnut pointed out.

“Well, was anybody better at that than Muhammad Ali,’’ Simmons said.

There’s no telling where the conversation might have gone, but the bugle sounded for the next race, commanding the attention of everyone within earshot.

SHYROCK GOT AN EARLY START

2011-09-01T22:37:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

John Shyrock was only 10 years old and his options limited but he had a pretty good idea how to make a buck just the same.

He didn’t weigh more than 100 pounds. “Nobody was looking for somebody that size to run a jackhammer or work as a roughneck in the oil fields,’’ he recalled.

“Galloping horses was a no brainer. I could get on 15 or 20 of them a day.’’

Shyrock had grown up around horses in the Illinois hinterlands. “We used horses in some places more than people used tractors,’’ he said. “We grew up in the sticks. Everybody farmed with horses.’’

Shyrock, who’ll turn 73 in December, grew up in southern Illinois and eventually he graduated from gallop-boy status to jockey, riding at the county fairs throughout the state. He could slip by at his young age galloping horses many places, but “I had to reach 16 to get my license and ride,’’ he recalled. That was his goal.

As time wore on, riding gave way to training and Shyrock is still at it, hunkered down this summer at Canterbury Park. He handles most of the barn himself, galloping, grooming and training the seven horses in his care. His small stable has produced a 2-6-3 record from 20 starts.

Shyrock has been training at Canterbury the past decade. Although he missed the 2010 meet here, he considers this the place to be during the summer months.

“I always do pretty well here,’’ he said. “I really like the place, but then I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like Canterbury. You could go through the barns and ask 100 people and 98 would give you the same answer about the place.’’

There are links to stories about his past in Shakopee, too.

“Whenever you’re in this business, you’re bound to run into people you’ve known for some time,’’ he said.

One of them here is clerk of scales and jockey room custodian Jerry Simmons, who rode for Shyrock at Illinois fairs in the 1960s.

“I rode a horse one time for John by the name of Genial Jim. I was on him six or seven times and was never beaten,’’ Simmons recalled.

“And Jerry rode some of the time against (Canterbury steward) Noble Hay,’’ Shyrock added.

Shyrock plans on giving Turf Paradise a try once the Canterbury meet concludes, even though he has usually returned home to Illinois and Hawthorne Race Course in the past. He owns a home 11 miles from Hawthorne and has worked as an assistant there to Joel Burndt.

“We’ve been working together one way or another the past 15 years. He’s almost like a son to me,’’ Shyrock added.

Shyrock is Canterbury’s Trainer of the week this week, an award he’s gotten several times over the years. He has numerous stories about the racetrack and acquaintances over the years, but one of his favorites is about his two children.

His daughter, Deborah, and son, once rode as jockeys at the same time. “They were the first brother and sister to do that,’’ Shyrock added. “Dave didn’t ride more than a few months. He was getting too big and he knew it.’’

There is also a link to racing royalty in John Shyrock’s family story. His now deceased former son-in-law, Phil Marino, was the original trainer of John Henry.

GROOM OF THE WEEK

Jose Gonsalves, who handles Atta Boy Roy for trainer Valorie Lund, was honored for his work in the barn. “He’s an excellent horseman,’’ Lund said, “not just a groom.’’

Atta Boy Roy was named best turned out horse at Saratoga , where Gonsalves accompanied the horse recently for the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stake.

THURSDAY TIDBITS

Rider Anne Von Rosen will miss the remainder of the meet after breaking a collarbone in an early morning spill during Thursday works. Dustin Dugas, injured in the paddock last week, had hoped to resume riding Thursday but is still on the mend and has decided to return home to Louisiana on Friday.

The Mac Attack

2011-08-31T16:57:00.002-05:00

by Angela Hermann
Mac Robertson has dominated the Festival of Champions in the past couple of years. While half of the MN bred horses on the grounds are nominated to multiple races, the power hand typically lies in barn C0. However, his main competitors this year could fall into a number of races…..where will they go? This is one handicapper’s guess……

-Bella Notte – ‘Bella has not exactly been 100% this year, but on her best day can still wire even the fastest group of Minnesotan Mares. Her effort behind stablemate Mindy Sue in the Hoist Her Flag was not bad at all, and the workouts all summer have been sparkling. Nothing says she couldn’t rebound against her statebred foes in the Distaff Sprint, as this may have been the target all along.

-Chick Fight – Another quick filly, but one that Mac doesn’t run against Bella Notte anymore after the 2010 Lady Slipper. This is the wild card of Mac’s girls, as he appears to have both distaff divisions covered with Bella Notte & Sheso Dazzling. Chick Fight can go short or long, in front or just off the pace, but isn’t a slam dunk for either race.

-Sheso Dazzling – The star of the barn this year (as far as MN bred girls go), Sheso Dazzling rides a three race win streak into the Festival of Champions. An enterprising route to three in a row, this filly has taken down a couple of competitive sprints as well as the Princess Elaine stakes. She continues to train sharply, with three works since the Princess Elaine including a bullet 59.20 five furlong move on August 31st. To put it in perspective – Mac’s Heliskier and Chick Fight both worked the same morning in 1:03 and 1:04 and 1/5 respectively. She can run as far as they’d like on what surface they’d like….but the race they choose should be her final push for Horse of the Meet.

-Jost Van Dyke – Barry & Joni Butzow’s fairly delicate speedster should be heavily favored in 2011’s Sprint Championship. This one’s only career blemish came at the hands of Just Jebicah and March Twelfth, subsequent one-two finishers in the HBPA Sprint Stakes. He may have taken on a handful that day, but MN bred competition proved no match in his last outing. At 1-9, Jost improved his record to 3-4 in an impressive stalking score. No Minnesota bred has beaten him yet!

-Tubby Time – The only bump in the road for this horse came in the 10,000 Lakes Stakes this year – His only endeavor on dirt. Thus far, Tubby is undefeated on the Canterbury Turf and should be headed that way come Festival Day. No Minnesotan has made much impact in the turf division this year, and he should once again go off the prohibitive favorite.

-Suddenly Silver – Though this Eaton horse has won on the turf this year, it appears his goal has been a repeat in the Classic Championship. The victor in 2008, he relinquished said title in 2009 but took a short field wire to wire last year. His only win this year came on the grass in a restricted allowance (against others whom had never won on turf), but last year he came into the Classic winless and still managed to wire at even money. Not a ton of other options for Mac in this race, unless…..

-Coconino Slim – Mac’s new recruit would have to return on extremely short rest to pick up a win Festival Day, but he was given plenty of rest before his victory on August 28th. His first try at a route proved instantly successful, as Derek Bell took over when ready over seven foes. The removal of blinkers and the stretch in distance appeared to reverse Coconino Slim’s form…will he strike while the iron’s hot?

On the Bubble……

-Grace of Greatness – Certainly deserving of a try in the Distaff Classic, Grace of Greatness has improved start by start in 2011. When stretched out on the turf, this filly gamely hung on over Latin Journey and subsequent winner (and stablemate) Go for the Moon. She didn’t break any track records that day, but came back well enough in the Minnesota Oaks to pick up third in an exciting finish behind Polar Plunge and winner Bertslittlesister. She doesn’t appear to be better than Mac’s big three, but she would make a nice exacta filler in the Distaff Classic if entered with any of her stablemates.

- Morgan’s a Blumin – She’s had five starts in the past couple months, and they’ve perhaps run out of spots for the big gray filly. Strictly a turf horse from her past performances, she would be forced to take on males if Mac chooses to run her Festival Day. There is always the possibility of something coming up in the closing weekend for her as well, so consider her a maybe until the smoke clears. Odds are there won’t be too many of her kind around at the end of our meet, so she may be entered in whatever will fill on the turf.

Mac’s two year olds have been covered in earlier blog entries – Let’s keep an eye on the draw to see who goes where, and if they can be beat. It’s always a tough task with this stable – But we’re going to try!

STEVENS LEAVES SHAKOPEE ON THE MEND

2011-08-28T17:38:00.002-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Canterbury Hall of Fame rider Scott Stevens took in a bit of Minnesota culture before he headed home to Phoenix on Sunday.

Last Friday there was the state fair. “Yeah, the great Minnesota get-together,’’ he said.

On Saturday night, he and Pam attended the Minnesota Vikings-Dallas game. They ended up with a couple of last-minute tickets so they called the Nolans, Paul and Sherry.

Paul had a mount in Saturday’s last race, so he rushed home afterward and the Nolans hustled off to the Mall of America and caught the train to downtown Minneapolis, arriving during the second quarter.

“I told him he could time it better by leaving when Paul Allen left,’’ Stevens said facetiously. Allen, who announces Canterbury racing, also is the voice of the Vikings, and left after Saturday’s fourth race.

As it turned out, Stevens and Nolan were not the only jockeys at the game. “I got a text from (Dean) Butler during the game,’’ Stevens said Sunday. “He was there, too.’’

Stevens has spent another summer in Minnesota, as he did last year, recuperating from track-related injuries. This time he broke both shoulders in a schooling accident in the gate.

Originally, his right shoulder was in a sling. Once it healed, he underwent surgery on the left shoulder, which was damaged more severely. That limb was removed from a sling last Tuesday, one week ahead of schedule.

“After five weeks in a sling, it still feels kind of heavy,’’ Stevens said.

“I’m not supposed to lift anything heavier than a cup of coffee, but that’s already shot in the wind,’’ he added. “I had to pack. Pam helped but…’’

Stevens will get a late start at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, which starts on Oct. 1, as he did last year. He’s been told it will take five months before he can get back in the saddle. “Dec. 18 will be five,’’ he said, “so I’m looking at something between the middle of November to the middle of December.’’

Stevens was 90 miles south of the Twin Cities during the Sunday conversation. He and Pam were under way and planned to stop in Emporia, Kan., for the night.

“I just talked to my brother, Gary,’’ Scott said. ‘He was at Saratoga yesterday and he called me on his way. He was in Washington, D.C., and was taking a flight to New York. I told him he was going to get stranded (afterward, because of the storm). But he drove to Buffalo and caught a flight to Louisville and is driving back to Los Angeles. We might try to hook up with him in Oklahoma.’’

WILL THERE BE A PHOTO FINISH

With nine race cards left, the trainer’s race tightened up even more on Sunday after a hot start to the card from Mike Biehler, who won the title in 1992.

Biehler saddled three consecutive winners, starting in race two: Local Big Shot, Machorina and Somerset Swinger.

Biehler has 31 wins for the meet, one behind the leader, Bernell Rhone, and one ahead of Mac Robertson, who had one winner on Sunday.

Machorina and Somerset Swinger were ridden by Lori Keith, Canterbury’s most improved rider this meet (nosing out turf champ Brittany Arterburn). Keith now has 29 wins and is solidly in fourth place, behind Ry Eilkeberry, Hall of Fame rider Derek Bell and two-time defending champion Dean Butler, who picked up two winning mounts from the injured Dustin Dugas and added a third win of his own. He has a 10-race lead over Bell, who had one winner on Sunday.

A FAMILIAR FACE RETURNS

Terri Hoffrogge was back at her desk as the horsemen’s bookkeeper, filling in for Tiffany Leggett, who returned to college. Hoffrogge started the meet in the office and will end the meet there.

In between, she has been doing similar duties a0t Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, where her husband, Todd, a long-time trainer at Canterbury, runs a farm.

“I started the season here and will end it here, that’s right,’’ Terri said.

OTHER TIDBITS

Canterbury riders have escaped without serious injuries despite a tough week on the track.

Juan Rivera banged up a leg on Friday night’s card and was back riding the next day, although still limping noticeably.

Dugas was catapulted by his mount in the paddock before Saturday’s first race and landed hard on his back. He made a brief visit to the track on Sunday and is hopeful of riding by Thursday but might need a week.

Sunday, Nolan was dumped outside the game by 2-year-old Demi’s Heart before the fifth race, but was okay afterward.

SAMENDRA, ALL BETS ARE OFF WIN STAKES

2011-08-27T18:10:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

One was pretty much a two-horse contest that turned into a one-horse race, the other a horse’s race to lose and she did just that.

Oh, the vagaries of the game and how they come into play!

The first race, as a side note, was so cut and dried from one perspective (likely a consolidation of opinion) that the winning animal drew more than $191,000, in show bet cash, $185,000 of that total put down in New Jersey.

That 6 ½-furlong event was the $25,000 MTA Stallion Auction Stakes for colts and geldings the progeny of stallions whose service was sold at the 2006 MTA Stallion Auction.

The 1-2 favorite was Samendra, a 3-year-old chestnut colt by Demidoff, owned by Kissoon Thoroughbreds, trained by Bernell Rhone and ridden by Dean Butler.

He was the overwhelming pick backed by the big bridge-jumping wager from New Jersey. He had beaten the second choice in the race, Dancingwithbigron, twice before.

Would the third time be the charm for Dancing…?

“I sure hope so,’’ said trainer Franciso Bravo.

Rhone wasn’t taking anything for granted, despite two earlier victories over Bravo’s horse. “We won but not by much,’’ he said.

There still was no doubt about the horse to beat.

“You have to beat the three horse (Samendra),’’ said Dancing’s owner Dale Schenian. “If you don’t beat the three horse, you finish second or third.’’

Which is precisely what happened. Samendra won and Dancingwithbigron finished second.

This time the winner finished in front by a stout 1 ¾ lengths.

“I think he got in some trouble before, was checked once or twice,’’ said winning owner Deon Kissoon, clearly pleased with the stake victory.

The overwhelming choice to win the fillies half of the auction stakes, at the same distance for the same money, was Bert’slittlesister, owned by Curtis Sampson, trained by Tony Rengstorf and ridden by Dean Butler.
The horse’s name, if you care to know, came about this way:

A while back, when Bert Blyleven was still hoping to reach the baseball Hall of Fame, he got involved in racing through the Sampsons. They had a horse named Bertsquestforfame, who had won two races in a row and was on the way to winning a third when she injured a sesamoid and didn’t race again.

The horse running on Saturday got her name quite naturally, since she was a full sister to the injured filly.

She had a stable mate running in Saturday’s race, too, a Demidoff filly called All Bets Are Off, same owner and trainer with Derek Bell up.

Bert’slittlesister, a recent winner of the Minnesota Oaks with two sprint wins to boot, was sent off the 1-9 favorite. Her stable mate was 15-1.

All Bets Are Off likes to run on the lead but wasn’t given much chance of stealing this race despite her preferred running style. Say what!

Bell put his horse on the lead by the quarter pole and she stayed right there. Bert’slittlesister tried to challenge in the stretch drive but could not reach her stable mate, who got there first by 2 ½ lengths in 1:19.

The third-place horse, Silent Copy, was seven lengths behind the winner.

“She gets in front and she’s tough,’’ said Rengstorf about his $32.60 winner..

“Running on the lead works,’’ Sampson said to Bell in the winner’s circle.

Bell was grinning like the cat that had swallowed the canary as he headed down the steps from the winner’s circle. “Don’t ask me,’’ he said. ‘I just put her on the lead….’’

Nik Goodwin was grinning, too, although for different reasons after recording a hat trick on Saturday’s card, the first time he has won three races in a couple of years, as he recalled.

“And it was almost four,’’ he said after losing on Heavenly Due by a short head in race eight.

He got that mount as a replacement for Dustin Dugas who was thrown in the paddock shortly before the first race by his mount, Demis Native Dancer, landing very hard with an impact that could be heard several yards away..

He was hospitalized for observation. Tests revealed no broken bones and there was hope he would ride on Sunday’s card.

GOOD NIGHT, BAD NIGHT…IT ALL DEPENDS

2011-08-26T22:37:00.000-05:00

By JIM WELLS

A good night for one man might be a bad night for another, or, in some cases, maybe a fabulous evening.

It’s all a matter of perspective, but you could pick up nods of approval from almost anyone in the know when a horse named Francis Henry cruised to an easy win, lengths ahead of the nearest rival, in race four Friday night.

Horsemen and anyone else familiar with the situation gave the winner a mental thumbs up, because he was trained by Troy Bethke, one of their own, who has had a miserable summer, even by his own estimation.

“I’ve never had a meet like this one,’’ he said. Indeed not.

With only 10 days left in the meet, the one-time champion trainer at Canterbury notched just his third win. He’s been plagued by bad luck, misfortune, bad cards, poor rolls of the dice, you name it and it’s happened. Breakdowns, head bobs at the wire, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

So when Francis Henry romped for owner Dave Hansen, there were whoops from certain quarters, including the winning rider’s. Paul Nolan has had a tough summer, too, but became Bethke’s favorite jockey, for a short while at least, while notching his 11th win of the meet.

Sir Francis demonstrated a bit of attention-deficit disorder early in the race but got his mind back on business with a reminder or two from his rider. “I had to get him to focus,’’ Nolan explained.

Hansen himself was surprised at the easy victory. “This was a very pleasant surprise,’’ he said.

By the way, the winner notched the first win of his career running in the six-furlong maiden claiming event and is now 3-1-0-0.

On another front, the Ulwellings, Bill and Al, inched a bit closer to their first owners’ title with their 14th win of the meet in the opening race on the card, won by Big Cal, ridden by Lori Keith.

The Ulwellings had one other shot on the card, in race three with Borregan Lass, who finished off the board. Nonetheless, they now have a six-win lead over Curtis Sampson in the standings.

“Mr. Sampson probably deserves it,’’ Al said. “He owns the place, and we’re just guests, but our horse ran well.’’

He was referring, of course, to Big Cal, now 4-5-2 from 18 career starts with earnings of nearly $60,000, including Friday’s take.

The Ulwellings have 14 wins, 10 seconds and 13 thirds from 66 starts this meet and earnings of nearly $128,000

They are rooting for Mike Biehler, who handles most of their horses, to win the training title.

Biehler and Mac Robertson had one win apiece on Friday’s card and trail the leader, Bernell Rhone, by three.

The Ulwellings will send some of their horses with Gary Scherer to Hawthorne Race Course when the Canterbury meet ends and others with Biehler to Remington Park.

“Then, at Thanksgiving, Gary will take his to the Fair Grounds,’’ Bill said.

Back to the good night, bad night concept:

Juan Rivera was thrown backwards out of the gate when his mount in race five, Cuvees Choice flipped. Rivera limped off the track and took off the rest of his mounts on the card. Wilfredo Arroyo replaced him on Cuvees Choice, an easy winner in the race.

“That was a good one,’’ Arroyo said as he stepped on the scales afterwards.

In this case, one man’s bad night was another’s good night.

RACING ITS OWN REWARD FOR SUTERS

2011-08-25T22:41:00.002-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Life-altering circumstances presented Milt Suter and his wife, Janice, a chance to begin racing their own stable. Life-altering events put that operation on hold for several years.

Milt, 74, was told to give up farming if he wanted to live a while longer. “I had three strokes and a heart attack at age 50,’’ he said. “I turned everything over to my son, Ron. We had had horses at the track with other people. I had to do something and I liked racing…’’

The Suters started out slowly when they first struck out on their own. “We went to the little tracks, in South Dakota and Nebraska, kinda worked our way up,’’ Milt said.

All went relatively well until tragedy struck in 2000. “Our daughter, Sharon, was killed in a car accident and her husband died of cancer,’’ Suter added. “They had three children, teenagers, so we went home to raise the grandchildren.’’

Suter was born and raised near Clara City, Minn. He and Janice returned and spent the next several years getting the three grandchildren through high school.

“I’m proud of all of them,’’ Suter said. Matthew was a high school wrestler, a heavyweight. That set him up for his present avocation. “Right now, he does the rodeo,’’ Milt added. “He’s a steer wrestler.’’ He’s also a full-time farmer near Clara City working with 52,000 head of hogs.

Then there’s the other grandson, Thomas. “He went to the high school state tournament and finished fourth at 189 pounds,’’ his grandfather added.

Thomas is studying to become a CPA. Oh, yes, on the side he shoes horses.

The Suters’ granddaughter, Andrea, is married with three young ones of her own and lives near New London, Minn.

The Suters also have two sons. Ron still farms his parents’ farm along with his own, about 1,000 acres in all.

Patrick lives near Monticello and works for a telecommunications company and has a scrap metal business on the side.

Milton describes himself as a low profile trainer. Indeed, he and Janice have a three-horse stable; it includes La Malinche, Stratus and Marina Nolan.

It is truly a joint operation. “We’ve been married for 50 years,’’ Milt said. “Everything we’ve done has been together.’’

Janice studies the charts and whatever other information she can gather when the Suters are out to claim a horse. “She says when we should claim one,’’ Milt added. “That’s her job.’’

Suter has grown to love Canterbury over the years. “There’s not a track that’s any better,’’ he said. “Management here knows what it is like for people on the backside. They’re devoted to the people. Other places you’re just a number.’’

Suter compares Canterbury to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, where he had his heart bypass operation. “They’re both first-class facilities,’’ he said.

The Suters claimed La Malinche this spring at Fonner Park and have run her five times at Canterbury, where she has won her last two outs and finished second once.

“I had never seen the horse, but Janice checked it out and said we should claim her. That’s what we do when Janice says to claim one. If they all made money like this one does it would be a really good game.’’

The Suters claimed their other two horses at Canterbury last summer. “I don’t like to claim horses too much,’’ Suter said. “People get mad when you claim their horses, although I’ve had them claimed from me. It’s the name of the game.’’

La Malinche will make her sixth start in Shakopee in Friday’s second race. On Saturday, Marina Nolan will start in the third race, written for nonwinners in 2011.

Milt will also receive a commendation, a blanket and a check from the HBPA as its trainer of the week.

“That’s quite an honor,’’ he said, “for a low profile trainer.’’

The way he sees it, each day is its own reward, particularly after the news he got from his heart surgeon. “I asked him if the bypass surgery was really necessary,’’ Suter said. “He said that in his best opinion I had less than six weeks if I didn’t have it.’’

That was 24 years ago.

GROOM OF THE WEEK

David “Eli” Jones was named groom of the week by the HBPA for the work he has done in the barn of Miguel Silva. Jones has worked the track for several years and handles Rare Sunset, Tooby Me, Avorian and Caboasian Lass in the Silva barn.

In his free time, Jones loves trips to the lake, fishing and cooking.

Three-Way Trainer Title Battle – What do they look like this weekend?

2011-08-25T16:36:00.003-05:00

by Angela Hermann

Bernell Rhone continues to lead the way in our trainer standings, but Mike Biehler and Mac Robertson have been making things interesting lately. Biehler tied up with Rhone at one point, but has remained close while Mac has recently cut into their margin. All three barns have solid favorites and likeable longshots throughout the coming weekend – Here’s what they bring to the table….

Thursday:

Race 1 – Bernell kicks things off with morning line favorite Disappearing Cash. Though she looks like the one to beat on paper, she’s assumed that role many times before and come up short. She never loses by many, but the lifetime best mark here is third. It’s another field that looks ripe for the picking though, watch out.

Race 2 – Biehler and Rhone both bring entrants to the table in Carousing and She’s On Her Way, respectively. Carousing certainly appears to be in better form, and makes the drop from Allowance company to claimers for the Ulwellings. She’s On Her Way should get the early lead with her good speed, but just hasn’t been able to stretch it like she did last year. If this race should come off the turf though, move her chances way up. On the lawn, though, this handicapper prefers Carousing.

Race 4 – Biehler brings two chances to this maiden claimer. King of the Hills cuts back from two consecutive route efforts, while Three Desperadoes tries to rebound from his last effort as the beaten favorite. Both appear to want a similar position early, stalking what should be a tepid pace. Three Desperadoes appears to be the slightly better sprinter, and made slight improvement from start two to start three. Give the edge to TD, but still think they may be up against it with limited speed signed on for them to stalk.

Race 5 – Mac shows up as the only trainer in the fifth, seeking two in a row with John’s Knight Out. The quality of the field he faced August 3rd will be tested here, as he meets several horses that defeated those foes in the past. Overall it appears to be an evenly matched race, but Derek Bell should be able to ride nearly the same race he did that day. Should be tough.

Race 6 – The Ulwellings have another live runner for Biehler in Tapinot. Ry Eikleberry hops aboard for the first time, and Tapinot has only known Juan Rivera up to this juncture. The rider change, in addition to first-time blinkers, seems to indicate that they are going for the lead. Tapinot has not shown blazing early speed in the past, and draws outside of quick Sharp Angle. It’s an evenly matched field, but without a cozy early lead I have to question his chances.

Race 7 – Speedster Taconite draws the rail for Mac Robertson, and with the likely scratch of Seattle Sal chances only escalate. Throw his first race of the year out and Taconite is back to his old self, coming into this spot off an impressive win at this price. Should go off favored or as the second choice, and will be very tough to run down.

Friday:

Race 1 – Big Cal represents the Biehler barn in a small but competitive field. Big Cal did NOT like the turf at all last time, but returns to his preferred distance and surface. If he runs the same race that he did in his first outing of the year, he should be in front at a short price. However, if he should stub his toe there are a number of talented runners capable of running him down.

Race 3 – Biehler and Robertson go head-to-head on the turf with two very different animals. Go for the Moon (Robertson) has not won in quite a while, but always runs close enough to take money. She’s come back as the beaten favorite in her past three outings, but has plenty of speed to lead this field for at least a little while. Borregan Lass has speed herself, and enters this race as a new member of the Biehler stable. She was claimed out of her first race for $10,000 but immediately moves up in class. She also stretches out and switches surfaces – an awful lot of changes for a filly who handled her first assignment gamely. Borregan Lass certainly appears to be moving in the right direction/has more room to improve, but both are somewhat vulnerable with questions to answer.

Race 4 - Mike Biehler draws in again, this time with a first time started named Downtown Delight. The son of Devil His Due has a couple of good recent works and finds a field with plenty of forgettable efforts. Ry Eikleberry takes the call, and there are some things to like. Get a good look in the paddock!

Saturday:

Race 1 – Morning line favorite Lucky Straw represents the Biehler barn. He’s been hot and cold thus far in three lifetime starts, so the question is which Lucky Straw shows up today? Based on morning workouts and his race on June 17th, he has the talent to easily wire this field. Based on his last performance, his first beyond 3 ½ furlongs, he’ll be the field’s caboose. With the lack of experience in any other combatant, this should be your favorite at post time as well.

Race 2 – The MTA Stallion Auction Laddie appears to be a two horse race, one of those being Samendra. Trained by Bernell Rhone, he appears to have the controlling speed and should be able to take this field wire to wire. Dancingwithbigron used to show more early pace than he has lately, but still could call on that early lick should Derek Bell decide to keep the pressure on ‘Sam. Still, Samendra has not lost to Dancingwithbigron and shouldn’t start Saturday.

Race 4 – The girl’s division of the MTA Stakes appears to be a bit tougher for Bernell, as he saddles longshot Sajani. Her only win to date came in a rather suspect statebred route, and she hasn’t shown any early speed in her career. Things may turn her way down the road, but for now it appears she is in a bit too tough.

Race 5 – This field is anyone’s guess, but you can get 6-1 on Dean Butler and Bernell Rhone with Breaking Barriers. Previously trained by Deb Hale, he has two third place finishes from four career starts. All of those efforts came at the bottom of the barrel for MN breds, the same type he faces Saturday. Minnifrey, the victor of his last race, came back to be beaten as the heavy chalk last weekend and leaves even more questions for BB to answer.

Race 6 – The long-awaited debut of Private Warrior comes in a surprising spot – a maiden claimer. The string of works is strong though not consistent, and the field he faces doesn’t exactly jump off the page. No need to repeat Mac’s percentages with first timers or two year olds – This horse should be favored and is your likely winner if all goes according to plan. Curious though….with a Maiden Special Weight on the same card why go here?

Race 7 – Emerald Bay Stables brings back Pursue a Dream for his 2011 debut. Trained by Mike Biehler, this horse has never won on our turf course but faces his easiest field to date. He is dropped in for a tag for the first time in a long time, and draws the rail. It’s not an easy field by any means, but it’s not the likes of Inca King and Heza Wild Guy, winners of his last two tries on our turf. His mornings works have been steady up to August 9th, but with no activity since that time does he need the race?

Race 8 – Biehler tries the turf again, this time with Minnesotan Pioneer Edition. Dean Butler takes over, and at a square 5-1 it appears he has a good chance from the inside. There is some speed entered to set up his late kick, but Butler will need clear sailing. Pioneer Edition fell in his last start but has worked since then. Big class drop here as well!

Race 9 – Mac and Mike both take a shot in the last with Making a Racquet and Jump to the Rescue. Making a Racquet takes a huge class drop from Allowance company, while JTTR looks to put two in a row off her maiden score. It took the drop to 10,000 claimers for ‘Jump to prevail, while Making a Racquet appears to need the class relief after an almost 30 length defeat. With a lot of speed in this field, it seems to benefit Biehler’s horse but Making a Racquet’s class alone keeps her in this. Pretty even chances in both corners.

Sunday:

Race 2 – Biehler begins a string of five straight races with Local Big Shot. Drawn well in a field of six, Juan Rivera’s mount has the speed to wire this field but could also stalk from the outside post. Nothing drawn to his inside appears to have quite the gate speed, but he’s also offered up for the lowest price of his life. He looks tough to catch!

Race 3 – Turf Sprinter Machorina stretches back out for Emerald Bay, but has drawn into a field of horses that like the front end. She is three of four in the top two on our turf, but watch for scratches of speed horses as it is everywhere in this field. Seems to set up for the closers, but they aren’t exactly win machines.

Race 4 – The only trainer in the first half of our card Sunday, Biehler returns with Somerset Swinger. A first-timer and a bad actor, she was entered last week but scratched by stewards. She worked a moderate half instead but appeared to be more than ready that day. Lots of first timers draw into this race, as well as speedy Spuety’s Cabin. If she can get past that one, the rest of the field does not appear to be all that tough.

Race 5 – A full sister to Three Desperadoes makes her debut in this race, Three Blind Mice. She has worked out inconsistently for Biehler but a couple of the breezes appear to show early pace. None of the starters in this field, either, appear to be worldbeaters. Stands as good of a chance as any in here, but don’t feel quite as confident about her as Somerset Swinger.

Race 6 – All three of our leading trainers meet for the first time this weekend in a competitive statebred allowance. While Bernell & Mike have charges with experience at a route, Mac’s Coconino Slim tries a mile for the first time. He appears to be the classiest of the entrants, but questions still remain for this new member of the Robertson barn. Not So Fast Festus (Biehler) got the best of Leftyluke (Rhone) the last time they met, while Gold Country Cat (Biehler) also got his last win over Leftyluke last summer. All runners have chinks in their armor, but expect the favored runner between them all to be Coconino Slim. Good race!

Race 7 – Bernell Rhone tries to get Snugglin Jo Jo back on the turf….or does he? Our leading trainer used this tactic last time to wire a field of N2L claimers off the turf. Setting a crawling pace, he beat only 6 horses that day in modest time. Snugglin Jo Jo appears to be a type that needs to stay close if not on the lead, but the field he faces is not speed laden besides No Lip. He draws to that one’s outside, and may just be able to work out a similar trip. Well spotted, this appears to be a field he could very well beat.

It looks like a good weekend for all three of our top conditioners – Who do you think will come out ahead?

A Look Ahead – Northern Lights Futurity

2011-08-24T10:56:00.000-05:00

by Angela Hermann
As the Festival of Champions approaches, we turn our attention to Minnesota-Bred two year olds. Though we haven’t seen all of the contenders hit the track yet, we’ve seen a few standouts break their maidens impressively. Here’s a glance at some of the names we’ll see September 4th:

• Bobble Doit – Barbara Rehbein’s homebred has not won yet, but the speedy son of Lucky Lionel has run two solid seconds thusfar. He has positional speed for regular pilot Dean Butler, but has yet to find that winning desire. Though not known for his prowess with two year olds, Bernell Rhone appears to have a nice one on his hands that will only get better with time.

• Heliskier – The blood is rich with young Heliskier, and the connections are some of the best we have with two year olds. Mac Robertson sent this son of Appealing Skier and Plana Dance out for his first race just last weekend, but he did not disappoint at 7/2. Showing tractability from the start, the big bay rated just off pacesetter Cheap Chocolate and took over when given his cue from Derek Bell. The talent certainly is there, and this should be your favorite if all goes according to plan.

• Private Warrior – Heliskier’s stablemate has not started yet, but has been working well for his debut. A keeneland peurchase by John Mentz, this son of A. P. Warrior appears ready to start in the coming weeks. Though the timing may be tight to get him to the Festival of Champions, he has been strong in the mornings. Mac certainly doesn’t rush his two year olds, but this one may just be talented enough to make the cut off one start.

• Speakfromyourheart – Another first-out winner from a strong two year old stable – And this one may be a price. Madam Speaker has thrown nothing but runners and this colt is no exception. We haven’t seen the son of Lion Heart since July 22nd, but that race looked like a good learning experience for him. Though he’d shown blazing speed in workouts, Speakfromyourheart sat patiently off the pace under Lori Keith and drew off convincingly in the stretch over Cheap Chocolate and Desert Prize. The hope here is that Vic Hanson’s gelding gets away from the crowd with Heliskier and Sun Country dominating the betting – But this is the horse to run down!

• Sun Country – We haven’t seen this Iowa-Based Richard runner yet, but with that meet ending the son of Sun King should head north to take on his own kind Festival Day. He’s raced twice in open stakes with little success, but took open maidens wire to wire in a nine length score on July 26th. Carrying the experience and speed with him, Sun Country should make life difficult for any colt that takes him on for the lead.

Comment if you think there’s an up-and-coming two year old I missed! Best of luck on Festival Day with these two year olds – We have a talented group on our hands.

ARTERBURNS, JOHNSONS WIN STAKES

2011-08-21T18:16:00.000-05:00

By JIM WELLS

A number of truths, half-truths and outright lies were exposed to the light for proper analysis during Sunday’s card, the 55th of the 2011 season.

Right off the bat, let us dismiss the rumor: Joe Mauer, the Twins Mr. Versatility, can play first base, right field or behind the plate but will not fill in for his grandfather, Big Jake, Canterbury’s Hall of Fame tout who has peddled tip sheets since 1985.

Yes, Canterbury’s favorite Irishman, Paul Nolan, is back in town with another stakes win under his belt. Nolan was at Assiniboia Downs on Saturday to ride in the $25,000 Osiris Stakes.

One of his colleagues alluded to the win as Nolan headed down the tunnel for the third race on Sunday’s Canterbury card. “Watch out,’’ he said. “Irishman up.’’

Yes, it is true. A Lonnie Arterburn-trained and Brittany Arterburn-ridden horse can win on the dirt. The Arterburns demonstrated as much with a convincing win with Just Jebicah in the $25,000 HBPA Sprint Stakes.

No, it is not always true that a man’s real opponent in life is himself, but it was in this case. Bob Johnson saddled six of the eight horses in the field for $19,940 Northern Plains Stallion Futurity. Clyde Smith brought in the convincing winner, Johnson’s Meter Me A Lady, who ran away from the field. Paddock analyst Angela Hermann told Johnson afterward that she imagined he had to enlist the help of an octopus to saddled that many horses.

That left Johnson with a very simple explanation: “She was the best, much the best.’’ The Johnson gang assuredly got together for a celebration Sunday night. The winner is owned by John G. Johnson, Bob’s father.

The Arterburns have dominated the Shakopee grass this summer. Brittany has acquired the sobriquet, “Queen of the Turf,’’ riding almost exclusively for the family barn. She has thrown in a couple of dirt wins along the way, but Sunday’s was claimed with a masterful ride.

Dean Butler and March Twelth issued a strong challenge inside the final 16th but Arterburn got Just Jebicah to dig in once more, repel that bid and reach the wire ¾ length in front. It was another 6 ¼ lengths back to Malone Slam, trained by Kevin Eikleberry and ridden by Glenn Corbett.

“The horse ran off with her,’’ said Lonnie Arterburn. “He showed that kind of speed the other day.’’

Rider and trainer had slightly different story-lines after the win. The rider indicated she took the lead by design. Be that as it may, it was one more win for a strong stable that has had a stellar summer.

Yes, on another front, it’s true, CanterBuddy is the fastest mascot in Shakopee, as he demonstrated convincingly by whipping 11 rivals in the Mascot Derby Stakes.

On non-related fronts, Paul Allen was back at the Canterbury mike for Sunday’s card after a two-day hiatus to Seattle for the Minnesota Vikings game, and Hermann was back in the paddock after a day off to participate in her sister’s bachelorette party. She was replaced on Saturday by Andrew Offerman, Jeff Maday and Ted Grevelis. Grevelis pointed out that it took three men to replace one woman.

Nolan’s visit to Assiniboia was worth the trip, although he was certain to hit the hay early Sunday night. He left Shakopee at 7 a.m. on Saturday and was back home at 4:15 a.m. on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the six Johnson-trained horses in the Futurity reminded trainer Doug Oliver of an instance years ago. “We called it a charity race,’’ he recalled.

“We were running in the bushes at the time and one fellow had 10 horses he took with him on the circuit and couldn’t win a race all summer.’’

So, as only happens in the bushes, a race was made for the guy at the end of the summer, at a fair meet. A race for only his horses. “It gave him some getting away money,’’ Oliver recalled.

And that tale wound up a full day, the fifty-fifth of the 2011 meet.

A Look Ahead – Northern Lights Debutante

2011-08-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

By Angela Hermann

As the Festival of Champions approaches, we turn our attention to Minnesota-Bred two year olds. Though we haven’t seen all of the contenders hit the track yet, we’ve seen a few standouts break their maidens impressively. Here’s a glance at some of the names we’ll see September 4th:

• Rita’s Cheetah – Our very first two year old victor of the season took down males in her debut at 3 ½ furlongs. She hasn’t raced since but has worked out four times, including a bullet 5/8 on August 9th. This filly is bred to run at two, and has some of the best 2 year olds connections at Canterbury. If she returns to the form she showed in her first out, this could be an upset!

• Final Moment – Fans of Prairie Meadows have seen this filly run a trio of times for Chris Richard. She’s progressed nicely in each effort, amassing over $25,000 in earnings with her win and pair of place finishes. In her initial try, she broke tardy and still ran bravely five wide to finish second as the beaten favorite. Though she showed improved speed in the second go-around, it was in try number three that this Cactus Ridge filly broke her maiden. If she has the speed to wire open company, who knows if any of her statebred foes can keep up…..

• Jill’s Summer Raine – That brings us to this speedy Doug Oliver trainee. Well prepared for her career bow, Jill’s Summer Raine navigated five furlongs from an outside post in near wire-to-wire fashion. She followed in the footsteps of dam Bobsled, whose only race came at two and was won in speedy fashion. Sire Yonaguska did his best work at two as well, taking the G1 Hopeful Stakes in a long string of graded sprint victories. She’s also been working nicely as of late and should bring her A-Game come Festival Day.

• Go Go Jill – This Sampson-owned filly also took three tries to break her maiden, but did so decisively in her first try at 5 ½ furlongs. She’s another daughter of Cactus Ridge, out of stakes winning Go Go Jack. Though the time of her win didn’t break any track records, she appears to be a filly rounding into form at the right time with plenty of room to improve. The Sampsons don’t appear to have many other options for this race, so all hope will be riding on this gray homebred.

• Keewatin Ice – A talented filly that got off to a rough start, Keewatin Ice is most likely going to be one of if not the favorite in the Northern Lights Debutante. Though she broke slowly and had to circle horses, Bryan Porter’s charge determinedly got up by two lengths in her first race on Lady Canterbury day. Bred and owned by Cam Casby, the gray has not been on the track since but off her first effort alone should be taken seriously in a field loaded with speedsters. She appears to be fleet of foot herself in morning workouts, so keep an eye on post position to see where she’ll end up early. She’s a little filly with a big heart – That versatility only makes her more dangerous.

• Sputey’s Cabin – Tim Padilla’s lone two year old filly nominee to this race enters off two straight place finishes, both run against top-flight company. She’s quick, but needs to find a way to stretch her speed just a bit further. Strapped with an outside post in her last, Sputey’s Cabin had to fight slightly quicker fractions that she set in her first race, but stayed on well to finish a few lengths back of Go Go Jill. We know where she’ll be early, it’s just a matter of how long that speed can last. Maybe the third time will be the charm for this daughter of Ballado Chieftain.

AVENUE SISTER FINDS THE RIGHT LANE

2011-08-20T17:47:00.002-05:00

By JIM WELLS

It had the trappings of a much bigger race with the paddock crowded, talk buzzing among the owners, and connections everywhere were hoping it was their day regardless of what the handicappers said.

Half of the field had run in the Lady Canterbury Stakes, Canterbury’s premiere race. Granted, the results varied widely, but just the same.

Randy Sampson, the track’s president and CEO was present. So was board member Dale Schenian.

“Good race. Good race,’’ said Schenian in the paddock. “Very competitive.’’

“We’ve got an outside chance, a shot,’’ said trainer Lonnie Arterburn. “But it’s very competitive.’’

Senor Luis Canchari, Louie the Glove from bygone days, saddled Diamond City, a big outsider at 30-1. Nonetheless, Senor Glove was dressed to the nines, in suit and hat, ready for the big show.

There was a field of 10 for the $35,000 Minnesota HBPA Mile, run on the Canterbury turf.

Anything can happen on race day, in such a race, but this one ran true to form with Derek Bell guiding Mac Robertson-trained 3/2 favorite Avenue Sister to the victory.

Bell got his mount to respond in the stretch drive for a victory over pacesetter and third choice Rare Sunset, ridden by Anne Von Rosen.

The winning owner, John Mentz of Lakeville, has four, originally five, horses with Robertson this summer. He has been in the game since 2001 when he won his first career race in the Claiming Crown Iron Horse that year. “We were hooked right there,’’ he said Saturday.

Avenue Sister was sent off as the favorite, based largely on her third place finish in the Lady Canterbury under Bell, who was supremely confident the entire race on Saturday.

“I figured we had this one won when the overnights came out,’’ he said.

Avenue Sister, a 4-year-old filly by Roar of the Tiger, did not disappoint. Bell was full of confidence in the stretch drive. “I had plenty of horse,’’ he said.

When he asked, Avenue Sister responded and steadily gained on Rare Sunset, who had moved well in front, by as much as 2 and ½ lengths at the half mile call, and finished ¾ lengths in front.

Rare Sunset had a full three lengths on Samantha’s Rule and Wilfredo Arroyo, sent off at 16 -1. In fourth was Mesa Mirage, ridden by Lori Keith, at 29-1.

For the record, senor Canchari’s horse, Diamond City, got left at the gate and finished last 19 lengths behind the ninth-place horse, Jeffell.

Bell was still smarting from the race immediately preceding the stake, after his mount, Joni’s Justice, reared in the gate and unseated him. His left thigh and arm were banged up and were bothering him after the stake. “I’m done now for the day, so that’s good,’’ he said.

All in all, it was a good day … He won two races, including the stake, and moved to within five of Dean Butler, who is leading the riding standings.

NOW IT’S BACK TO THE BOOKS

Tiffany Leggett, the horsemen’s bookkeeper, was offering cake to very special folks who stopped by to see her on Saturday. It was a delicious chocolate variety, soft and spongy on the tongue, marvelously palatable.

Saturday was Tiffany’s last day on the job. She left Saturday evening for Alamosa, Colo., and Adams State where she will be a junior.

Her degree fits quite nicely with her Canterbury job. She’s majoring in accounting.

Tiffany and her assistant in the office, Kelly Thorne, were trying to come up with a new scheme to lay on their buddy in the announcer’s booth on Saturday, Richard Grunder. They were trying to concoct something to top their latest prank, when they informed Grunder that every horse in a given race had been claimed.

A passerby was asked to contribute to the fund of ideas being collected. The individual suggested they inform Grunder that the last of the season’s turf races had just been run because a rare fungus, just discovered, had infiltrated the root system of the grass and would take several weeks to eradicate.

Tiffany politely considered the suggestion and then discarded it like yesterday’s newspaper.

Classes start on Monday, so Tiffany planned to hit the road as early as possible Saturday night. She wanted to leave enough time along the way to stop at Alamosa Race Track and watch a couple of races.

FRIDAY NIGHT HUGS AND HANDSHAKES

2011-08-19T22:34:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

It has its own special charm but Friday night racing in the most recent instance included visits from old friends in new positions or locations, familiar employees in unfamiliar roles and some interesting races to boot.

Tammy Domenosky, a vibrant figure on the backside and in the Shakopee training ranks the last few years, is based in Chicago this summer but was at Canterbury Friday night to saddle horses in races three and seven.

Her presence drew a contingent of press box and TV room folks to the paddock where there were hugs, handshakes and a variety of greetings exchanged.

Kevin Gorg, Canterbury’s former handicapping analyst, was in the paddock to say hello with a night off from his new sports assignment with the local Fox affiliate.

“I missed her (Domenosky) in Chicago two weeks ago,’’ he said, “so I’m here to make it up tonight.’’

There were hugs exchanged between Domenosky and media relations director Jeff Maday and even the Oracle. A mere handshake for your intrepid reporter.

That emotional display took place before the third race which featured an 11-horse field, including a five-year-old gelding named Bravo Prado whom we shall return to shortly.

A number of regulars asked about the unfamiliar voice delivering blow-by-blow accounts of the races as they occurred. Paul Allen, Canterbury’s regular man at the mike was with the Vikings. Richard Grunder, who calls the races at Tampa Bay Downs and is a rider agent in Shakopee, was scheduled to fill in but was not available because of a miscommunication. Thus, racing fans were treated to the soothing, pleasant annunciations of press box multi-tasker Andrew Offerman.

Anne Von Rosen had a win on the card and for one race was wearing silks that made her look folded into an American flag. It was suggested by one press box wag that she might end up at half mast along with other flags on Friday.

Now, about Bravo Prado, a five-year-old gelded son of El Prado. He was nearly killed in an accident at the Fair Grounds last December. A horse broke down in front of him during a race and twisted sideways as it happened. Bravo Prado was t-boned by the stricken animal, who had to be put down. Bravo Prado escaped that fate after breaking several ribs and puncturing a lung as well. He was hospitalized for two to three weeks afterward with his future uncertain.

He was turned over to trainer Mike Biehler a few weeks later and he discovered why the recovery was lingering. It was thought at first during his works that he was still bothered by sore ribs, but Biehler discovered the actual problem. “He had an abscess in a hind foot,’’ he explained. Once that was cleared up, Bravo Prado was back on his game shortly.

He had won twice in four starts under Biehler and nearly added another win under Lori Keith to that total Friday but was beaten in the final jumps by the Mac Robertson-trained and Derek Bell-ridden Abounding Aptitude, who got away at 9-1. Imagine that, a Robertson-trained horse paying $20.60. It happens about as often as Haley’s comet swings past.

Robertson’s two wins for the night pulled him to within one of Biehler in the trainer standings and five of Bernell Rhone, who had one winner Friday and leads the pack.

Domenosky did not leave Canterbury with a win to show for her trip, but seemed pleased earlier in the evening about her visit.

“You’re doing a great job,’’ she said to Angela Hermann, who replaced Gorg in the paddock this meet. “I’ll bet you all miss him (Gorg) just the same.’’

Domenosky made it clear that she missed a number of people and Canterbury itself.
“I really do miss it here,’’ she said. “It’s nice to be back.’’

THIS BIG HORSE LOOKS KINDA SMALL

2011-08-18T21:31:00.004-05:00

BY JIM WELLS
　
Atta Boy Roy stood outside the barn where his stall is located with his head erect, in the fashion of one of racing's revered greats from, say, the 1930s or 1940s who were captured for all time in the sepia tones of some photography then.
Say this about Atta Boy, he knows when he's being studied and he poses for his audience, achieving a regal stance meant to elicit respect.

He gives the appearance of being compact, rather smallish, and yet his size is deceiving. "He has a 76 1/2 inch girth,'' said his trainer Valorie Lund, lining up directly in front of the subject at hand. "You can see he has a nice neck, flat knees and full cannon bones. Perfect conformation. You could run a plum line down his front and it would be perfectly straight.''
Clearly, the trainer loves this horse, and she makes no bones about it. "He's so smart and handsome if he were a man I'd run away with him,'' she said.
Racehorses come by their names in various ways, some rather routinely, but the details of Atta Boy Roy's naming bear mention.
His name was originally Irish Tribe. Valorie didn't care for the appellation nor did the Roy Schaefer, who was about to make the winning bid for the horse.
With the bidding under way, Lund kept elbowing Schaefer to encourage the process, saying with her body language, atta boy, Roy.
This occurred at the Washington State Blue Ribbon Yearling Sale. The consignors had a $30,000 reserve on the horse. "We were willing to go $35,000,'' Lund recalled. There was no need.
Irish Tribe didn't show well before the sale. "He had a lip chain on him and was acting up,'' Lund said.
The consignors later lowered the reserve to $20,000, which continued to fall and Schaefer wound up getting the yearling for $4,500.
Not bad for a horse that has earned $525,000 to date.
This 6-year-old son of Tribunal from Irish Toast has additional deceptive qualities. "He looks like a puppy but he has a tiger inside,'' Lund added.
He is easy to handle unless you get rough with him. His trainer says simply that you better be prepared for all hell to break loose if you try to take advantage of Atta Boy's otherwise good nature.
Atta Boy's most recent outing was in the Grade 1 $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stake at Saratoga on Aug. 7. He finished last in the eight horse field.
"He doesn't like to run down into the dirt,'' Lund said. "He doesn't have to be on the lead. Had he been outside, he could have worked his way in, but two horses dropped over and pocketed him.''
Lund said that simply took Atta Boy's race away from him.
Atta Boy has a constant companion whenever he travels or goes to the track,
He ponies up nicely to Lund's saddle horse, Written in Red, not all that startling until you discover that the pony horse is a stud, too.
The other day, for example, Atta Boy peered out his stall window and spotted Written in Red being loaded into the van destined for Saratoga Race Course. "He began talking immediately,'' Lund said. "The two of them love each other.''
　
Wherever she goes, Lund gets comments from outriders or other track personnel once they discover her saddle horse is a stud.
Written in Red had bad knees and tender feet as a runner so Lund was left with a decision to make. "I decided I'd rather have a good saddle horse than a bad racehorse,'' she said. She also intended to geld him after the decision. "But I never found a need to,'' she said
A side note: Written in Red was foaled by T H Siberia, who broke her maiden at Long Acres in 1991 with Canterbury Hall of Fame rider Scott Stevens in the irons.
Lund is at Canterbury Park for the first time this summer, with 16 horses. She is now a resident of Phoenix, Ariz., and trains winters at Turf Paradise. A native of Oregon, she trained for several years at Long Acres, then moved to Boise where she and her ex-husband ran a restaurant and she raced at Les Bois.
Despite the shutdown this summer, Lund has enjoyed her first experience with Minnesota racing, particularly Canterbury's management style with horsemen. "That's the only reason I stayed during the shutdown,'' said Lund, who considers the winter meet in Phoenix and summer meet in Shakopee a nice fit. "It transfers well,'' she said.
Of course, Lund doesn't mind travel, not if you consider the trip she took in 1976 as a 17-year-old. She was part of the Great American Horse Race that began in Frankfort, N.Y., and ended in Sacramento, Calif. She was featured in a Sports Illustrated Piece as well as in a number of other magazine and newspaper articles on the subject.
Atta Boy has demonstrated in works that he likes the track in Shakopee but he will not get an opportunity to run here. There are simply no races for him.
Lund hopes that's the case, too, on Sunday with Gatling Gun, who'll run in the $25,000 HBPA Sprint Stakes.
He's not Atta Boy Roy, but he's quick, quick, quick just the same.
　
TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Lonnie Arterburn got rave reviews on Canterbury's turf course from his daughter, Brittany, who rode in Shakopee last summer, so this year he sent his stable _ mostly grass runners _ from Florida to Shakopee to test out those reports.
The results have been impressive. Brittany, who rides almost exclusively for her parents, Lonnie and Doris, has been dubbed Queen of the Turf. Lonnie's barn has shared that success.
His runners hit the board 63 percent of the time and are 9-4-4 from 27 starts, good enough for eighth place in the training standings despite a smallish stable.

GROOM OF THE WEEK
John Provisiero has been on the racetrack for 31 years, starting as a youngster in New York when he walked hots before school in the morning. He is working his second meet for trainer Percy Scherbenske and is described by most who know him as a happy fellow with a good personality, always willing to try to cheer up his colleagues and companions. He'll pitch in even when the work's not his, as he did recently, assisting a stable at the other end of the barn when a horse there contracted colic.

Who do YOU think should be PA for a Day?

2011-08-18T17:35:00.007-05:00

Every Thursday night during live racing we've been scouting out contestants who want to be Paul Allen for a Day. They each took their turn calling a pre-recorded race in front of the crowd. But now, we're stepping it up to the next level. One of the following two contestants will get the opportunity to call a LIVE race next Thursday night with coaching from PA himself. Should it be Pat from Burnsville or Luke from Lakeville?

UPDATE:
Congratulations to Patrick M. who will be calling Thursday night's fifth race LIVE from the announcer's booth! Make sure to come out to cheer Pat on this Thursday: August 25th. It will be Buck Night, so there will be dollar specials all night long!

Thanks also to Luke and all of the other great "Be PA for a Day" contestants we've had this year. Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and willingness to take a shot at race calling! I think we can all agree that Paul Allen's job is not easy!

YOUNG CHALLENGER, TOUGH SHIPPER WIN STAKES

2011-08-14T18:22:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

The old guy has lost a step. The obvious favorite didn’t like the grass, and the young guy stepped up.

If only we knew these things before they take place.

Alas…
The winner of Sunday’s $50,000 John Bullit Stakes came out of that bunch, and it was the young guy, 3-year-old Wild Jacob who emerged not only the winner but was impressive enough to create hopeful speculation from his owner/trainer Stanley Mankin and draw solid reviews from the observing critics.

Wild Jacob was second choice in the race at 9-5, Stachys the beaten favorite at even money and Heza Wild Guy, the 10-year-old gelded son of Wild Event, ran out of the money as the 5-1 third choice in the six-horse field.

“Hey, what about doughnuts in the morning,’’ trainer Valorie Lund said to Mankin, her barnmate on the backside. “Just think what he could do if he had a real trainer,’’ Mankin responded.

Wild Jacob burst from the middle of the field at midstretch to finish a widening length in front of El Poppie, 9-1, and another head in front of 8-1 Edgerin. Heza Wild Guy finished in front of only one horse.

“I have to admit he’s lost a step,’’ said Jerry Pint, one of the Wild Guy’s two owners. “We’ll have to look for a softer spot.’’

Stachys, who ran fourth, struggled on the turf, where he had only one previous start (and win), according to his rider. “He didn’t like the grass. He wasn’t handling it,’’ said Derek Bell.
Bell, still suffering the effects of a spill he took Saturday when the horse he was on broke down in front of the grandstand, won two earlier races on the card and was clearly disappointed to miss a third.

Mankin, on the other hand, is now making brave plans for his three-year-old after watching him mature from a skittish 2-year-old into an aggressive runner.

“He was scared of other horses,’’ Mankin said. So the trainer sent the horse to a friend of his in Colorado for some schooling.

He has learned other lessons in the past year as well, such as when to dig in. “I thought he was going to hang (in midstretch),’’ Mankin said. “But he shifted gears. He can really run that last 16th.’’

Winning rider Ry Eikleberry, who’s been turning up the heat the past 10 days, made a thankful man of his agent Richard Grunder.

“Thanks for the great birthday present,’’ Grunder said as Eikleberry bounded down the steps from the winner’s circle after the race.

Mankin now is eyeing the East Coast for his rising three-year-old.

The other stake on the card, the $50,000 Brian Barenscheer Juvenile, went according to script. The ship-in and 1-2 favorite, Hogy, had the pace he likes to aim at and responded under rider Florent Geroux for a lengthening ¾ length victory over Squid, second choice at 2-1. Third went to the only filly in the six-horse field, Grand Forest.

The winning horse and rider shipped in from Chicago, where Hogy is 2-for-2 at Arlington Park.
Hogy caught a number of observers’ attention in the paddock with his glistening coat and a still growing but well filled out frame. Then he demonstrated that he was more than simply looks.

YEARLING SALE
The sale-topper at the MTA yearling mixed sale on Saturday was a chestnut colt by Friends Lake from Run With Joy. Hip No. 30 was purchased for $30,000 by James Almond III from Oak Tree Farm, agent for Avalon Racing.

Gross proceeds from the sale were $198,500. Of the 36 yearlings that went through the ring, 31 were sold during the sale.

The average selling price was $6,403. Median price was $3,000.

Larry Cascio bought the second highest-priced horse, a filly consigned by Mary and Eric Von Seggern for $25,000.

Anthony Didier, a familiar Nebraska name at Canterbury, paid $15,000 for a gelding consigned by Wood-Mere Farm, LLC, the leading consignor with $44,800 in sales.

Osborne Farm sold six horses to lead in that category. Wayne Simon was the leading buyer with three horses purchased.

Upsets in Minnesota Oaks & Minnesota Derby

2011-08-13T17:56:00.002-05:00

Both the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks and the $60,000 Minnesota Derby went to underdogs on Saturday afternoon at Canterbury Park. However, had you looked at the nominations earlier in the season, it is likely that the winner of the Minnesota Derby, Black Tie Benny, would have been your favorite to win the race.

Winner of the $55,000 Northern Lights Futurity last August, Black Tie Benny had only been seen once this summer, finishing fifth in the Victor S. Myers Stakes on July 23 – the local prep race for the Minnesota Derby. Following that race, trainer Bernell Rhone took the blame saying his horse simply ran a bad race.

“I shouldn’t have scratched him [out of an allowance race prior to the Myer],” Rhone said. “I didn’t want him to run over a wet track, but in hindsight, he really needed that race to get fit.”

However, Benny was more than fit enough to stretch his speed over a route of ground in the Minnesota Derby and took the field wire to wire under the guidance of jockey Martin Escobar. Rhone was pleased with the effort.

“I wasn’t thrilled with the early fractions,” Rhone said. “I thought they were going much too fast, but he obviously appreciated the extra ground.”

Following the race, Rhone and owner Barbara Rehbein both said that they intend on skipping the Minnesota Festival of Champions and will instead point to an allowance race while keeping an on the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby to be run on October 19 at Remington Park.

“We’ll likely run him one more time at Canterbury this year,” Rhone said. “I don’t want him to face older horses quite yet and he will likely need to try open company before we make any final decisions on his fall schedule.”

If Black Tie Benny heads to the Oklahoma Derby, he will try to follow in the footsteps of fellow Minnesota-bred Wally’s Choice, winner of the 2004 Oklahoma Derby, owned by Curtis Sampson and Wally and Joyce McNeil.

Sampson had something to celebrate himself on Saturday as Bert’slittlesister held off the prohibitive favorite Polar Plunge in the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks. Bert’slittlesister, owned and bred by Sampson (in conjunction with Craig Biorn), stalked the pace and was able to keep a nose in front of the favorite who encountered traffic trouble on the far turn.

Races for Meet Leaders Heating Up

The races for leading jockey & trainer for both quarter horses and thoroughbreds are heating up. Dean Butler, defending champion jockey, held a six victory margin over six-time leading rider Derek Bell entering the day and looked to land a heavy blow when he swept the early double with Blue Ra Ra and Tabby Lane. Derek Bell fired right back winning the day’s third and fourth races aboard Chick Fight and Heliskier, but Butler got the last word winning both the fifth and seventh races on the card. The four-bagger left Butler with an eight win lead with nineteen race day remaining on the card.

Bernell Rhone once again looked to draw clear of his competition for the leading trainer crown by notching three victories on Saturday (one being the aforementioned Minnesota Derby). The victories gave him a three win lead over Mike Biehler and an eight win lead over six-time defending champion Mac Robertson.

Thomas Wellington, featured yesterday on this blog, currently holds a one victory margin in the quest for leading quarter horse rider. Jennifer Schmidt, leading quarter horse rider in 2007, is second in the standings and trails Wellington by only one.

Bob Johnson won the day’s first quarter horse race and in doing so pulled himself into a tie atop the leader board for leading quarter horse trainer with Brent Clay. Both Clay and Johnson have nine training victories so far this year. Nine-time defending training champion Ed Ross Hardy trails both Clay and Johnson by one victory.

WELLINGTON BIDS CANTERBURY ADIEU

2011-08-12T22:54:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Thomas Wellington was on his way out of the jockey lounge Friday evening, headed for the tunnel down the hall where riders and anyone else addicted to nicotine retire for a smoke.
“Hey, you better talk to this guy,’’ said jockey room custodian Bill Chestnut. “This is his last night here, and he’s darn good rider.’’

A hard statement to dispute anywhere at Canterbury Park, since Wellington started the evening in first place among the track’s quarter horse riders. He would leave at such a juncture?

“Well I got a lot of work waiting for me at home,’’ he said. “I need to get to it.’’

Wellington is a Missouri native but has been a resident of Des Moines the last 15 years. He and his wife, Kelly, have two daughters, 10-year-old Kylie and 16-year-old Shelby. The girls have some barrel racing competition coming up. Wellington wants to be there for that but he also needs time to round up some mounts for the upcoming quarter horse meet at Prairie Meadows, where he won titles five consecutive years at one time.

He departed Canterbury Friday night after running third in race eight with his only mount on the card with 12 wins, one more than Jennifer Schmidt. He added a qualifier when asked if that was it for the year. “Well, we’ll see,’’ he said. “You never know.’’

In addition to riding quarter horses, Wellington is a union carpenter. He and his wife built their home themselves in Colfax on nine acres as much out of pride as anything. “I just thought it would be nice to build our own house,’’ Wellington said.

Kelly was an active participant in the project. “Couldn’t have done it without her,’’ Wellington said. “She did the foundation, was in on a lot of the cement work.’’

The 1,800-square foot house is now 3,000 square feet. “We finished off 1,200 square feet in the basement,’’ he said. “Yeah, it’s plenty of space. The first night we slept there I thought it was way too much house for us.’’

Then again, all during the building phase the Wellingtons lived in a mobile home, so the adjustment to more spacious quarters took a while.

They were no longer whacking elbows when they passed one another in the hallway.

Wellington, 41, grew up with horses. His dad had racehorses, mostly thoroughbreds, so young Thomas was galloping them by age 12 and rode his first race at 14, at a county fair.
Thomas came by his two livelihoods quite naturally. He dad is also a carpenter.

Although carpentry can be a more reliable occupation, it might have to change places with riding quarter horses in the current economy.

“I worked for two companies that were both Minnesota outfits,’’ Wellington said. “But the market’s not that good in Iowa right now.’’

Of course, during the boom times Wellington burned both ends of the candle. . He’d work all day in the heat and then ride at night. “I wasn’t getting much sleep back then,’’ he said.

There isn’t much doubt that Wellington is a good hand, no matter the task. But Chestnut had to have a little fun with him on his last night just the same.

“Hey, these quarter horse riders don’t do anything you can call work,’’ Chestnut said. “They only ride a couple of hundred yards.’’

Wellington smiled and continued down the hallway toward the tunnel.

EIKLEBERRY CONTINUES A ROLL
Ry Eikleberry rode three winners on Thursday night’s card and continued the hot streak Friday by riding two more.

He finished second on Smokem Gray in race one, losing out to Grandpa George ridden by Derek Bell.

He got his first winner of the night in the very next race, riding Yes He’s A Pistol, trained by Wade Rarick and owned by James Taplin.

Eikleberry’s mount was scratched when race three was moved from the turf to the main course. He ran out of the money in race five on Jolicoeur, but got his second win in race six on Patriate, trained by Bob Johnson for Linda Parker.

Eikleberry was on the lead aboard Cluny, owned by Fr. Jack Donahue, in race seven when the horse broke down.

He has 30 winners for the meet and trails Dean Butler, 47, and Derek Bell, 41.

Minnesota Derby Analysis

2011-08-12T10:06:00.000-05:00

by Angela Hermann

We’ve finally reached a distance test for our state-bred three year olds. The favorites look formidable, but let’s see what each entrant has to offer:
$60,000 Minnesota Derby:

1. Samendra – Bernell Rhone brings in another two-headed attack to our state-bred stakes. While the girls have both thrived around two turns, neither of his colts have even seen a yard past six furlongs. They’ve spent a good part of their careers running against each other, with the series split at a win apiece. Samendra, however, has a seasoning edge this year on Black Tie Benny and is making start number four of 2011. In the Victor S. Myers Jr. Stakes, he displayed a new dimension in coming from father off the pace than ever before. Though he was no match for Victory Sled down the lane, Samendra still seemed to learn quite a bit from this race and keeps the barn’s go-to rider in the irons. Your morning line favorite makes all the sense in the world but still must turn the tables on Victory Sled.

2. Victory Sled – Surprisingly, this streaking son of Victory Gallop and Victor S. Myers Champion is a square 4-1 morning line. I’d be shocked to see those odds stick all the way to the gate, but if they do expect to see a dashing handicapper near the windows. Though the year started off a bit bumpy for the Riecken trainee, he seems to have come into his own in his past three efforts. A neck shy of three in a row, this gelding has adopted a more patient style of running that’s benefited him in a couple of speed-laden fields. No shortage of speed in here, look out….

3. Black Tie Benny – Speed sandwiches Victory Sled, and that brings us to the other Rhone entrant. Barbara Rehbein’s Black Tie Benny enters this race off a campaign that got off to a late start. Entered in a race earlier in the summer with Samendra, Black Tie Benny scratched that day and was further delayed in starting 2011 by the government shutdown. Though he did get a race in the Victor S. Myers, he is still a bit behind and as a result we’ll let him go for this round. A very talented and gutsy animal, a mile & 70 may just be a bit too much at this point. Keep an eye out for this horse in our Festival of Champions, as the older sprinters will have a quick youngster on their hands.

4. Dancingwithbigron – After a string of hard luck and close calls, Dancingwithbigron was finally able to put all the pieces together on July 22nd. After four tries at a win this year, he finally pulled through against 11 allowance foes. The Schenian homebred has learned to relax this year and appears a different animal in blinkers. He does, however, have a few bold names in his running lines including Samendra, Desert Alley, and Black Tie Benny. Can he improve off his last start?

5. Limo – The “Hope” horse takes a giant step from maidens to stakes animals. Limo dons the hood for this event, and does so off a forty length improvement from start one to start two. However, he remains a maiden in a group of talented animals. The blinkers appear to have added some pep to his morning workouts, but it’d be a stretch to find Limo in the winner’s circle Saturday.

6. Desert Alley – We find more speed in the form of Tony Rengstorf’s son of Desert Alley. Although it appears on the surface that the chestnut will not relish the added ground, the blood certainly says he has a chance. Juan Rivera has guided him to a win and a third in stakes company in their last two efforts together. With one endurance-building workout since that time, Blue Heaven’s homebred will either need to learn to relax in a hurry. Dangerous at a juicy price.

7. Mondovi – This year, Mondovi has been a tale of two horses. When given more ground to work with, he’s become a very game runaway winner. However, sprinting this year has not been Mondovi’s game as it was last year. Off an impressive maiden win, this Biehler trainee went through a bit of a drought until June 19th of this year. Though that win was a dead-heat with Nice to Meet Me, he showed a new dimension in the Victor S. Myers stakes in closing significant ground from near last. He compromised his chances at the start that day as well, and could get a small piece of the action if everything goes according to plan.

8. Nice to Meet Me – Two rivals from earlier in the year line up next to each other in the starting gate, this being the other co-victor of the aforementioned June 19th Allowance. Nice to Meet Me, however, made a bold run up the rail at a game Mondovi, and appeared to be going slightly better at the end of that heat. Gary Scherer decided the Blair’s Cove was worth a try last time, but older foes proved a bit too much. Both of these entrants (Mondovi and Nice to Meet Me) come in off lackluster performances, but we have the feeling that both will be around at the end with this route experience on their side.

9. Distinctive Saint – The other maiden rounds out the Derby field for Vic Hanson. Though there’s some money in the bank at a distance of ground, much of this horse’s best work has been done on the front end. There’s no lack of speed to his inside, and today could prove a test of tractability. ‘Saint has proven some closing ability in the past, but will almost certainly have to show it today from the outside post. Blinkers get removed today, but the order remains tall for a maiden against several multiple winners.

BALMY WEATHER, BUCK DOGS BRING OUT THE FANS

2011-08-11T23:00:00.004-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Balmy weather, dollar hot dogs and who knows what else were enough to produce the largest turnout for a Thursday night card this summer.

Anywhere you cared to look, there were human beings. The grandstand apron during races was packed tightly with bodies. The outdoor section on the second level of the grandstand was filled to capacity much of the evening.

It was crowded enough that a Shakopee raccoon chose a seat on top of the sign next to the large television screen in the infield.

“I can’t believe he’s still there,’’ said one fan moments before the fifth race. “He was there for the first race and he’s still there.’’

Meanwhile, Ry Eikleberry got the card off with a statement, winning three of the first four races, including one for Joyce and Wally (the Beerman) McNeil on his 77th birthday.
Eikleberry hand, has shown signs the past week of picking up his game. Thursday night’s effort was the most recent indication.

In race one he was on Crown the Cat, the horse with 63 owners, 62 of them members of the club founded and overseen by media relations impresario Jeff Maday.

Eikleberry didn’t have a mount in race two, won by Piccolinni, a filly ridden by Luis Robletto and trained by Bruce Riecken.

But he teamed up with Bernell Rhone on Snuggilin Jo Jo to win race three.

“There was no pace in either of those races,’’ Eikleberry said with a shrug.

There was, however, when Eikleberry brought home Wally’s birthday gift, taking advantage in that case of a front-end duel between Mane Slick and Gents Suprem Lady aboard Lady Beryl.
From no pace in the first two races to plenty of pace and a winner again.

“You can do that if you have enough horse,’’ Eikleberry said. “She’s a nice filly but she’s been a bit disappointing. Maybe this will help her confidence.’’

Breaking Eikleberry’s hold was Nik Goodwin aboard post-time favorite Casey’s On Call in race five, the start of what he hopes will be another good week after the best of his Canterbury career last week when he rode seven winners.

Trained by Clay Brinson, Casey’s On Call went to the lead and appeared headed straight to the winner’s circle until Dalliance, with Dean Butler up, hooked him in the stretch drive. Casey shed that challenge inside the final 16th and won for the fourth consecutive time.

“He could have given it up there,’’ said Goodwin, “but he went on about his business. I really like that horse.’’
So, another, even better week under way?
“Well, I’ll have to win two a day,’’ Goodwin said.
That didn’t happen Thursday, so he’ll need three on one of the week’s three remaining cards.

TRAINER OF THE WEEK
Randy Pfeifer calls northern Minnesota home right now, about 20 miles north of St. Cloud, but he is a native of McLaughlin, S.D., a whistle stop on the Standing Rock Reservation.

He has a 10-horse stable in Shakopee this summer and sent out two winners on July 20, his third and fourth of the meet, enough to earn trainer of the week. Pfeifer does all his own work. He breeds, breaks and gallops his own horses, sometimes at his own peril.

Take an incident a few years ago back in South Dakota. He was on a horse some distance from the barn when it decided it wanted no further part of the work. “He went one way and I went another,’’ said Pfeifer, who ended up with a broken leg.

The horse wasn’t about to go for help so Pfeifer handled matters the only way available. He crawled home.

“It was about a half mile,’’ he said.

GROOM OF THE WEEK
Rachel LaCount has worked in the Bruce Riecken barn for three years and handles just about every task in the place.

She grooms Tricksters Queen, Sol Fire and Cubfanbudman, and was honored this week for her unfailing devotion and attention to duty in the barn.

Minnesota Oaks Preview

2011-08-11T10:18:00.002-05:00

by Angela Hermann

We’ve finally reached a distance test for our state-bred three year olds. The favorites in Saturday's Oaks look formidable, but let’s see what each entrant has to offer:

$60,000 Minnesota Oaks:
1. Pleasant Life - This gray filly has tried a route of ground twice now, and seems to have turned the corner with the added yardage. Though she started the year in for a $10,000 tag, the Vic Hanson trainee was able to take down older open foes in her last try at 7 ½ on the turf. Compromised by a slow pace in her first race on dirt, she was reserved a bit further back on the turf and surged late to defeat J’Noodle and fellow Oaks entrant Bailout Bailey. She will get the distance, now it’ll be interesting to see how much she’s improved since her four length defeat at the hands of Sajani.

2. Polar Plunge – Favored prohibitively at 7/5, all eyes will be on the daughter of stakes winning Shakopee. She has yet to taste defeat, but also has a distance question to answer. When interviewed following the Frances Genter Stakes, young Dustin Dugas surmised that Polar Plunge does her best work sprinting and would most likely stick to short distances. Gary Scherer, however, has an excellent record with stretching horses of this quality. Until they beat her, this is still your front-runner for champion three year old filly and strictly the horse to beat.

3. Bailout Bailey – The lone maiden in this field, Bailout Bailey enters the Oaks with her work cut out for her. Thus far the Crimson Classic filly’s only on-the-board finishes have come on our turf course, twice against $25,000 claimers. Virginia Peters dons this filly with blinkers for the first time, but odds are against the hood making up multiple lengths on others in this field. Pleasant Life, Martha’s Yankee, and Academy’s Win have all broken their maiden at the expense of Bailout Bailey. In the running for the longest shot on the board.

4. Grace of Greatness – Mac Robertson looks to turn the tables on Polar Plunge, who defeated his 2010 two year old champion filly Esprit de Bleu in the Frances Genter. Grace of Greatness gamely proved her ability at a distance in her first try, taking a $25,000 NW2L Claimer on the grass. The daughter of Greatness seems to do her best work on the front end, which could prove a challenge to anyone looking to duel with Polar Plunge.

5. Academy’s Win – Despite being the co-experienced member of the field, Academy’s Win has not hit the local winner’s circle in over a year. That win produced her lifetime best Beyer figure (28) but came at five furlongs. She does have a win this year in North Dakota, but has not registered a Beyer figure in 2011. Leaning elsewhere for the winner.

6. Sajani – Here is the wild card of this bunch – Sajani is one of only two contenders in this field with a win on our local course around two turns. The other lies just to her outside, both under the same conditioner’s care. Bernell Rhone sent Kissoon Thoroughbreds’ homebred out for her first win in start number two, and the daughter of Demidoff improved over fourteen lengths on the stretchout. The numbers are a little light for this filly, but when you can stretch out off one sound defeat into a runaway win, you must be respected.

7. Sam’s Grindstone – The Sampsons bring two fillies to the fight in this year’s Minnesota Oaks, and this daughter of Grindstone appears to be the longer winded of the two. Sam’s Grindstone has done all of her running around two turns this year, and should be more than prepared for some speedy opponents to duel up front. One possibility for this proposed duel is the other Sampson runner Bertslittlesister, but with so many stretching out pace should not be an issue. The blood is there – Kentucky Derby winner on top, former champion Samdanya on bottom. They’ve waited a long time for this filly to live up to her potential…..maybe Saturday is the day.

8. Martha’s Yankee – Van Winkle appears to be looking for a turnaround in form from this filly. She started off her Canterbury career with a bang, taking a field of quick fillies (including Smarty Prance) wire to wire in the mud May 22nd. However, past that point Martha’s Yankee has not been the same animal. Each of her past four efforts have resulted in double-digit defeats, including her initial try going long on July 29th. The barn is not giving up on her quite yet, but it’d take quite the reversal of form to end up on top.

9. Smarty Prance – ‘Smarty has taken an interesting route to end up in this spot. Making her debut this spring at Oaklawn Park, she has been a different animal on her home turf. Chris Richard has managed to compile a record of one win and two runner-up finishes in this filly’s limited career in Shakopee. Her two efforts to the south? Sixth. Taking a distance hike against stakes caliber boys in Iowa proved a bit too much, but she held gamely for second behind Sam’s Grindstone when returning to Canterbury. Very much mixed signals from this daughter of Added Edge, but (As mentioned in an earlier post on this blog) she does have the blood to run all day if all the stars align on Saturday. I will be using this filly as a live longshot in my wagers!

10. Bert’slittlesister – One cannot doubt her speed and heart, but this handicapper questions the amount of desire to travel further than six furlongs. The far outside post does not help matters for a filly that’s never seen a second turn, and with pace-reliant Sam’s Grindstone to her inside you’d think this is a pacesetter. Dean Butler does get aboard though, and if anyone’s going to nurse her speed along it is our leading jockey. It appears too many want the lead in here, and as a result I must pass on this game little horse.

That’s the field! A win would almost certainly sew up Three Year Old Champion Filly honors for Polar Plunge, as well as avenge mother Shakopee’s loss in this very race in 2003. Is she up to it? Will she know defeat for the very first time? Comment with opinions & picks – This is a renewal of the Minnesota Oaks worth talking about.

Minnesota Derby & Oaks on Saturday

2011-08-11T10:12:00.001-05:00

Minnesota’s best 3-year-old thoroughbreds will be featured on Saturday at Canterbury Park in the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks and Minnesota Derby. An annual staple of the Minnesota thoroughbred racing scene, the Minnesota Oaks and Minnesota Derby date back to before the days of pari-mutuel wagering in the state.

The $60,000 Minnesota Derby is a wide open affair featuring nine Minnesota-bred colts and geldings. Samendra, owned by Kathy & Deon Kissoon of Prior Lake, MN is the morning-line favorite. Victory Sled enters the race following a victory in the Victor S. Myers Stakes earlier in the year. Black Tie Benny, winner of last year’s $55,000 Northern Lights Futurity, will make his second start of the racing season in the Derby.

Polar Plunge, 7/5 on the morning line, will be the prohibitive favorite in the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks. Bred and owned by Camelia Casby of Shakopee, MN, Polar Plunge is undefeated in three lifetime starts. Eight rivals will enter the starting gate in hopes of unseating the favorite. Grace of Greatness is most likely to defeat Polar Plunge, she is owned by Jerry & Marlene Myers of Maple Grove, MN.

Canterbury Park will also host its first Food Truck Festival this Saturday. Presented by Metro Magazine, the Food Truck Festival will feature the best food trucks from the Minneapolis – St. Paul area. Racing begins at 1:30pm on Saturday, gates and the Food Truck Festival will open at noon. Admission to racing and the Food Truck Festival is $5. Admission for children under 18 and parking are both free. For more information, call (952) 445-7223 or visit www.canterburypark.com.

See race analysis HERE.

A FULL PLATE WITH A VARIED MENU

2011-08-07T17:31:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Call him a jack of all trades or maybe a multi-tasker,but by either definition Rusty Shaw had his plate full on Sunday.

He was at the track by 4 a.m. to handle the horses in Valorie Lund’s barn, to work them, hot-walk them, feed them and help settle them in for the day if they weren’t running later on.
Then, he was in the jockey lounge late that morning to fulfill four riding assignments.

“I’m an assistant slash jockey slash hot-walker slash gallop boy, a little bit of everything,’’ Shaw said.

Shaw agreed to assist Lund with her barn this summer, but she went a step further with her list of expectations. She talked Shaw into riding the meet for her after he rode two winners right off the bat from Lund’s barn, one at Churchill Downs on opening day in Shakopee, the other one day later at Canterbury.

Sunday afternoon, with Lund at Saratoga to saddle Atta Boy Roy in the Grade I Vanderbilt, Shaw took S S Shelby to the winner’s circle for her in Race 3 at Canterbury. He got his second win on the card with Cachemassa Creek for Bryan Porter.

Then he settled in to watch the Vanderbilt in the jockey lounge. He was rooting for the big horse in the Lund barn, naturally, out of loyalty and self-interest, too. “I get two percent if he wins,’’ Shaw said.

Alas, the Grade I competition in New York was too fierce and Atta Boy finished last in the field of eight.

SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN
One day after Extreme Day, conditions around Canterbury Park were quite quiet (try saying that 10 times quite quickly), probably in respite from the boisterous proceedings 24 hours earlier.

Whatever the reason, there was nothing remarkable about the card or the day other than minor changes to the rider and trainer standings.

Suddenly, things are heating up.

Mike Biehler, the training champion at Canterbury in 1992, saddled two winners on the nine-race card, moving into a tie with Bernell Rhone, who won the training title here in 1996. They have 24 wins apiece.

Mac Robertson, who has won six consecutive titles, did not have a starter on Sunday’s card and is next in the standings with 16 wins.

Meanwhile, the rider standings remained unchanged at the top. Dean Butler, working on a third straight title, didn’t ride a winner Sunday but still leads with 46 wins for the meet. Derek Bell, inducted into the track’s Hall of Fame on Saturday night, didn’t ride a winner Sunday either and is second with 39 wins.

There were two double winners on Sunday’s card. Lori Keith increased her win total to 23. Shaw now has eight.

Jennifer Schmidt rode Stoli Vanil, the winner of the last race on the card out of the Ed Ross Hardy barn. Schmidt is tied with Tom Wellington, both with 11 wins. Hardy, who has won nine straight training titles and 10 overall, has eight wins, one behind the leader, Brent Clay.

An Afternoon of Strange Occurrences

2011-08-06T21:30:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

They say that bizarre things happen in threes, and another piece of evidence to support the claim became available on Saturday.

1.Juno left us one day earlier and despite taking off at 26,000 mph will not reach its objective, Jupiter, 1.7 billion miles away, for five years. That sounded a bit Extreme heading into the day
2.Twenty-two years after his death, it was announced that the DNA of serial killer Ted Bundy was loaded into a national data base. That sounded extremely Extreme.

3.On a hot, muggy afternoon at Canterbury Park, Josh Van Oort, the track’s assistant racing secretary and quarter horse impresario, won the race between the fourth and fifth on the card aboard a camel named Camel Kingdom. Charts weren’t immediately available but the margin of victory was either a long hump or a short neck.

Even the humidity level was extreme but did not hamper attendance, 15,358.
In another rare display, Hall of Fame rider Derek Bell, inducted on Saturday night, put on a Hall of Fame performance, scoring a perfect hat trick plus one by riding four consecutive winners: Shoot It’s War, Gold Brew, Suddenly Silver and dead-heating on Bobadieu in the fifth through eighth races.

The last two of those winners are trained by Mac Robertson, inducted on Saturday as well.
The card got under way with the 100-yard Spurt in the Dirt quarter horse allowance. Ry Eilkleberry rode the winner in that one, Dash of Paint, most appropriately for trainer Ed Ross Hardy, inducted into Canterbury’s Hall of Fame on Saturday night, too.

Hardy saddled two horses for race two, the $33,150 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Futurity/North Central Quarter Horse Racing Assn. Futurity.

But that one went to the Amber Blair-trained Paint Or More, ridden by Thomas Wellington.
Brittany Arterburn, the Queen of the Canterbury turf, pulled off another truly extreme feat, riding the winning bird in the Ostrich races. Not only was the winner not trained by her parents, the race was on the dirt.

It was truly an eventful day in Shakopee with several events crammed into a space intended for several fewer. In addition to the Camel and Ostrich races, the track held its Hall of Fame inductions, adding Bell, trainers Robertson and Hardy, owner/breeders Jeff and Deb Hilger and Sir Tricky to the pantheon of figures prominent in Minnesota racing.

Bell, the master of pace, demonstrated once more his almost uncanny ability to save a horse until precisely the right moment. In this case his masterly move came in the marathon race of the card, the 2 and 1/16 mile claiming event, appropriately titled, “around and around they go.’’
When the length of the race was compared with Juno’s long trip, trainer Jerry Livingston, never one to be outdone, commented: “Hey, that spaceship might finish its trip before some of these horses finish theirs.’’

It felt like that at times to Bell on this particularly humid day. “That’s a long way to ride a horse today,’’ someone said to him.

“Especially when he won’t slow down,’’ Bell responded. “He was pulling on me the whole way. My legs feel like spaghetti right now.’’

The marathon came down to a stretch duel between Gold Brew and A P Dreamer, ridden by Nik Goodwin. Those two were eyeball to eyeball until Gold Brew drew off at the 16th pole for a clean win in 3:44 and 2/5.

The winner is trained by Bernell Rhone, a Hall of Fame conditioner himself, adding another proper touch to an extremely long day.

How about this one for an extreme event:
The fifth race concluded with horses matching their post positions in order of finish: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

“I’ve been around racing for 50 years,’’ said jockey room guard Bill Chestnut, “and I’ve never seen anything like it before.’’

Nor had jockey room custodian Jerry Simmons.

“It must have happened. I just haven’t seen it,’’ he said. “It’s certainly very rare.’’
The occurrence was brought to the press box attention by Peggy Davis, the track’s clerk of course and placing judge. She’s worked at Canterbury since Day One and had not seen such a finish before either.

Then again, all things extreme were happening on Aug. 6, 2011 at Canterbury Park.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS IN SHAKOPEE

2011-08-05T22:50:00.001-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Friday night at the races has its own special ambiance, racing accompanied by music, in this particular case the dulcet tones of The Irrisistibles and Mick Sterling. There is also what’s billed as the state’s biggest happy hour on these evenings.

It has a flavor all its own. Not to mention the races themselves.

Oh, yes, the races. Where else can a fellow from Peru confound the experts, bring even the seers of the races themselves to their knees. Where else can such a fellow’s glove fit better than M.J. ‘s or certainly O.J.’s, and stop the naysayers cold in their tracks.

We’re speaking, of course, of Louie the Glove, Senor Luis Canchari, long a Minnesota resident but once a visitor from Lima, riding on cards at Canterbury Downs. Friday’s card was only into the second race when Senor Canchari struck, saddling a five-year-old mare named Diamond City, a maiden since her first out in December of 2008.

Andrew Erwin, the rider named on the horse, was replaced by Luis Robletto, who took the mare gate-to-wire, besting the post-time favorite and second choice, too. At 16-1, Diamond City, was, quite clearly, not on many players’ minds.

And the real highlight?

Louie the Glove, as he was known during his riding days, is now a 50 percent trainer at Canterbury. He is two-for-four. Friday night was truly under way.

Race three produced no real surprises just more consistency of the kind that creates respect as opposed to surprise. Brittany Arterburn, Queen of the Turf at Canterbury, got her minions to bow before her majesty once more, riding Slew City Storm out of the family barn into the winner’s circle after a mile and 1/16 turn on the turf.

Arterburn had run second in race one aboard the family’s Sugar Peaks _ on the dirt. She commanded race three from gate to finish and is now 9-4-2 from 21 Canterbury starts.
The Arterburn barn is 9-4-2 from 22 starts. You can do the math to determine how often Brittany is aboard the family stock in Shakopee this summer.

The Arterburns are from northern California. Tired of running a public barn, Lonnie Arterburn and his family left California some five years ago to begin their own operation in Ocala, Fla.

“We left pulling three trailers,’’ Brittany recalled _ mom and dad in one, Brittany in another and her sister, Jamie, pulling another. “We had to make two trips,’’ Brittany added.

The Arterburns have been running good grass horses for some time, but decided this summer to move that stock to Shakopee. “We claimed a few but bred some ourselves, too, and Brittany kept bragging about the great grass course here,’’ Lonnie said.

After riding another winner Friday night, Brittany arrived in the winner’s circle to a chorus of acknowledgement. “I entered that horse the other day,’’ Jerry Simmons said to Lonnie. “That was the difference tonight,’’ Lonnie replied good naturedly.

To which Simmons said to a passerby: “He was a rider himself at one time. And the breeder of Lava Man. ‘’

Brittany arrived back in the jockey lounge to another chorus.

“She’s Queen of the Canterbury turf,’’ one valet said.

“She is that,’’ said another.

And so it went, until Ms. Arterburn, now Mrs. Scott Rhone, left the building, which she often does after a single mount, but on this particular Friday evening after two.

A BUSY MAN
Ry Eilkeberry was up bright and early Friday and on a flight to Colorado where he rode a qualifier for a $130,000 Quarter Horse final later this month at Arapahoe Park. . Eilkeberry’s horse qualified with one of the fastest times of the day, and the rider was back on a flight to the Twin Cities and at Canterbury on time to ride his first of five mounts on the card, in the third race.

Eilkeberry is considering riding in the final at Arapahoe “There is a $200,000 thoroughbred stake the same day,’’ he said. “I’ll see about getting a mount in that one. We’ll see.’’

DID THESE FELLOWS HAVE A RIDE HOME?

A Friday night bachelor party presented some observations and quotes of its own.
Approaching the announcer’s booth in the pressbox, one member of the party was heard to say: “Can you believe that we are about to see Paul Allen in the flesh and blood. He’s my absolute hero,’’ the fellow said, pumping his arms in exaltation.

As Allen began his race call, another fellow wondered: “How does he breathe when he’s calling a race?’’

To which another responded:
“He doesn’t have to breathe, because he breathes so awesomely.’’

What The @#$% Is On That Horse’s Head?

2011-08-05T13:45:00.000-05:00

Picture this: You’re at the track, two for two in your pick three, and you’re singled to a mortal lock on paper. Then that mortal lock comes out and he’s wearing more headgear than its jockey. Blinkers, Shadow Rolls, Nosebands, Earplugs – all terms we hear a lot at the track. Sometimes, it gets a little complicated matching the name to whatever the @#$% it is…..

• Blinkers – Blinkers can be used for a variety of reasons, but more often than not a trainer uses these to get a horse’s attention and/or get it to show more early speed. Depending on the size of the cup, they can also be used with horses that bear out/drift to their left or right to deter such behavior. In some instances, horses wear blinkers throughout the saddling process and during their warm-up and have them removed on the gate to prevent the horse from getting nervous or distracted. Blinkers come in a variety of colors & patterns, but many cups on blinkers are white or black.

• Shadow Roll – This is the fleece pad that rests over a horse’s nose on its bridle. Some animals are skittish of the Grandstand’s shadow on the racetrack, and this piece of equipment is used to prevent a horse from jumping while running. Shadow Rolls can be very minimal or quite large depending on the need, as some horses are more fractious of shadows than others. Dayjur is a great example of a horse who could have used a shadow roll with a $1,000,000 purse on the line…..(link to video is http://youtu.be/s7bh8T3kr88 if you can get it in there)

• Figure-Eight Noseband – Another item that can be used for a variety of reasons, the Figure-Eight is a commonly seen bridle on racehorses. This type of noseband can give jockeys more control on horses that fight and open their mouths to escape restraint, or can be used on horses who have trouble breathing. If not properly applied it can cause more harm than good, though this is rare. A shadow roll can sometimes been seen attached to a figure eight.

• Australian “Cheeker” Bridle – This type of equipment is actually an attachment to a normal bridle’s headpiece, but isn’t exactly a noseband. A cheeker is a face-piece that attaches to the bridle at a horse’s forehead, and splits just above the nose to go around each side of the horse’s mouth/bit. Typically these are used as an aid for controlling strong horses and preventing a horse from getting their tongue over the bit while racing. In essence, the jockey keeps control over the horse by keeping the bit in its appropriate position. The most famous example in America of a horse that commonly wore a cheeker is Seattle Slew.

• Tongue Tie – Pretty self-explanatory. A small piece of cloth or bandage is used to physically tie a horse’s tongue to its bottom jaw. This too prevents a horse from sliding his tongue over the bit and helps a rider in controlling his mount. Tongue ties do not serve any other purpose but can interfere with a horse’s performance if tied too tight.

• Earplugs – Less commonly used, earplugs are more common in California/New York/Anywhere where crowd noise is likely to distract a horse. Some horses wear earplugs only during pre-race happenings such as saddling and the post parade. “Earmuffs” have also been used to block out crowd noise, such as those worn by Gate Dancer in the Inaugural Breeders Cup Classic.

OLESIAK TO THE RESCUE AND THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

2011-08-04T22:24:00.000-05:00

By JIM WELLS

Post time for race three was seconds away Thursday night when the No. 2 horse, Vaults Last Sister, acted up in the gate, unseating Juan Rivera who landed on his head.

The incident left Rivera groggy and unable to ride, but trainer Jeffery Lynn had no trouble finding a replacement rider. Jordan Olesiak, without a moment’s hesitation, volunteered for the assignment.

“I knew that Jeffery has some decent horses, and he didn’t bring this one all the way (from Chicago) if he didn’t think he had a chance,’’ said Olesiak.

As the horses lined up to re-enter the gate for the race, Jim Olson, an officer with the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Assn., recalled a similar incident a few years ago.

“I had a horse running that day, and he threw the rider into the bushes,’’ Olson recalled.

“Jordan replaced him and went out and won the race.’’

A fellow listening to Olson’s story took a look at the tote board, registered the fact that Vault’s Last Sister was 7-1 and then shook his head. Naw, he thought, history isn’t about to repeat itself here tonight. That’s a story reminiscent of one a friend of mine constantly tells about his wife.

“She never goes into a casino without winning a few hundred dollars,’’ he says two or three times a year after she has just returned from another $1,000 payday.

Olesiak climbed aboard his recently acquired mount for the 7 ½ furlong sprint on the grass and promptly engaged Seattle Game, ridden by Rusty Shaw, in a pace battle, sprinting to a six-length lead over Very Speightstown and Dean Butler.

Butler got his horse to respond coming out of the turn and closed ground quickly. As he approached Vaults Last Sister, who had pulled away from Seattle Game, Olesiak went to work on his mount and she responded for a three-length victory.

“We needed that,’’ said elated owner Rodney Miller.

Olesiak, you might recall, is a former rider, who turned trainer and then returned to riding. He is a Minnesota native, born and reared in Cloquet and currently a resident of Moose Lake, where he lives (when not riding in Nebraska or Iowa) with his significant other, Kathy, their 3 ½ year old son, James, and 11-month old twins, Blake and Lainey. “I’m back there every week,’’ he said.

Olesiak, 28, once rode full time at Canterbury and even trained here full time three years ago, operating a 60-horse stable that convinced him riding was considerably less work.

Olesiak, you might also recall, comes from a racing family. He is a fifth generation horseman. His brother Jesse is a veterinarian assistant at Canterbury, his brother Justin trains a 10-horse stable here and his brother Jacob is riding in Nebraska.

Jordan has dropped in to ride a horse or two in Shakopee off and on much of the summer.
“I’ll be back on Saturday to ride in that 3 ½ furlong affair,’’ he said.

An aside: The fellow to whom Jim Olson provided that hunch tip of sorts before the third race thought momentarily about slapping down a ten spot to win on the Olesiak horse, but then wandered off to watch the race without acting.

Naturally.

WINTER IS COMING

The pleasing weather conditions the past couple of days have not gone unnoticed by horse, trainer or rider at Canterbury.

“It’s another great evening,’’ trainer Larry Donlin said shortly before Thursday’s second race.

“There’s more of it coming, too. We’ve got some 70s just ahead of us.’’

That’s not all.

“The geese are all gathering up in the infield, too,’’ Donlin added. “That’s usually a good sign.’’

FEMALE RIDERS CONTINUE TO FIND WINNER’S CIRCLE
There wasn’t a lot of attention (actually none) given to the name of the winner of Thursday’s fourth race, although it does have a historical background that has become part of the myth and story of Mexico.

The winner was a four-year-old daughter of Forest Danger, ridden by Anne Von Rosen, named La Malinche.

La Malinche has become part of the historical saga of Mexico and is regarded as the embodiment of treachery. La Malinche was the name given to an Indian mistress of Cortez, who betrayed her own people.

That was not on Anne Von Rosen’s mind as she rode into the winner’s circle aboard the filly Thursday night.

She was more apt to have been thinking, “well, now, that’s win No. 13 of the meet.’’

Even that thought did not last long. It changed by the fifth race.

Von Rosen, riding Mr. Rancho Vista, and Lori Keith, riding Warren’s Jack V., engaged in duel to the wire with Von Rosen claiming win No. 14.

Keith, currently fourth in the standings, was gunning for her 21st win of the meet.That had to wait until the seventh race when she rode Jump To The Rescue to a convincing win.

A PASSIONATE VOICE FOR HORSE RACING

2011-08-03T20:52:00.003-05:00

By JIM WELLS

She’d check the morning newspaper for the entries, handicap according to her own lights at the time and then record the Canterbury Report on the VCR to watch the next morning or after school that day.

That was during her middle school days, the seventh and eighth grades. She’d watch the big races on television, the Kentucky Derby, the Breeders’ Cup races. And she’d dream a bit.
At age 16, she made her move and got a job at Canterbury Park, working in the ticket office and ushering people to their tables in the clubhouse.

Meet Angela Hermann, Canterbury’s paddock analyst this year, who fell in love with horse racing as a mere girl and then nurtured it into a fiery passion as a young woman.

“I got a job at Canterbury as soon as I could drive and it sucked me right in. I never had a chance,’’ Hermann said.

The “it,’’ of course, is that overwhelming, all encompassing, addictive activity called horse racing.
If you’ve watched Hermann’s act in the paddock this season, you can almost sense her passion, her absolute fascination and devotion to analyzing, talking about and selling a race and its participants to that day’s crowd.

If anything, she tries to deliver too much information in too short a time, dedicated as she is to disseminating everything possible from her growing library on the sport, its riders and trainers, the local stables and horses and anything else she knows and considers important to the man or woman about to lay down a couple of bucks on the upcoming race.

Nonetheless, there is no doubt that this attractive, articulate addition to Canterbury’s handicapping landscape is talented and knowledgeable. There is an old saying in prizefighting about such an individual: We’ve got a bona fide contender here.

Hermann landed in the paddock this summer after long-time analyst Kevin Gorg got expanded television duties discussing the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Wild.

The road to the paddock took Hermann through a variety of hallways, rooms and cubbyholes at Canterbury. When she worked in the ticket booth, she’d watch the races between busy spells and take notes.

When she worked in group sales as a greeter, introducing visiting groups to the track and helping them with their bets, she’d watch the races and take notes. Don’t tell anybody, but occasionally she’d put down a bet herself through a friend _someone who wouldn’t rat on her. She worked the information booth and group sales at the same time during one stint, then began assisting with contests.

On her 18th birthday, she made her first legal bet on a horse named Blue’s Effort _ “I think that was the name,’’ she said – to place. “My first race and I won,’’ she added.

During the summers of 2008 and 2009, Hermann took a hiatus from Canterbury to handle the paddock duties at the Lincoln and Columbus meets in Nebraska.

At that point, her parents began to understand that horse racing was not a mere activity _ say, like golf _ for their daughter.

“It kind of caught them by surprise,’’ Angela said. “I think they thought that it was something that would fade out and that I’d go to college.’’

Well, in fact, she does, but she’s the teacher, conducting classes in the Canterbury College, teaching people how to play the game.

Nonetheless, Hermann says her family gives her unconditional support and helps keep her grounded “I could not do it without my mom and my stepdad,’’ she said.

A native of Apple Valley, Hermann landed her first job at Canterbury during the summer break between her junior and senior years in high school. Now, many of the people she considered the stars of the show at one time _ jockeys, trainers etc. _ are her colleagues.

The toughest part of her job this summer has been giving every horse a look and not dismissing a runner who might turn into a winner despite first appearances. “I’ve been letting some longshots slip past me,’’ she explained.. “You can’t overlook anybody in any race this year. That’s helping me grow in handicapping. But I can deal with a little bit of humility in the short term to get better in the long term.’’

Hermann believes that everyone can improve at whatever they do, regardless of the level they’ve already reached, high as it might be.

She, herself, has made considerable strides in public speaking since her first attempt at it as a sophomore and junior in high school when she did the morning announcements.

“I got kicked off the job,’’ she said, “for being too quiet and shy.’’

Not a problem any more. Not by any means.

WEEKLY TRAINER, GROOM AWARDS

A native Minnesota raised not far from Canterbury Park is the newest trainer of the week. Christine Riddle, in her third season of training on her own, was raised in Eden Prairie and began riding as a youngster. Later, she showed quarter horses and did some jumping.

Riddle has saddled 15 horses this meet and has three winners. After saddling winners on back-to-back days last week, Riddle said: “We needed that. It will help boost morale.’’

Seferino Martinez, meanwhile, has been selected the track’s groom of the week. Martinez works for the Ed Ross Hardy barn and is described as “an outstanding worker with a great work ethic, honest, punctual and willing to take on any new assignment. He has a great attitude, according to his employer, and works well with the younger grooms in the bard.

Everything Was In Pink

2011-07-31T19:22:00.002-05:00

by JIM WELLS

Canterbury Park was dressed in pink on Sunday, pink saddle cloths, pink hats, shirts and caps, pink starting gate.

It was Fillies Race for Hope Day, a recognition and benefit for breast cancer. An outrider even colored the white portions of his paint horse a bright pink.

Despite the impact of negative economic forces the past few years, on this particular day it could safely be said that Minnesota’s only thoroughbred/quarter horse race track was truly in the pink.

The nine-race card drew a crowd of 9,368 fans, matched only fillies and mares and included the track’s premiere races for the ladies, the Princess Elaine, Hoist Her Flag and Lady Canterbury stakes.

There was a hat contest for the women and visiting female queens of all sorts: Miss California International, Lindsay Becker of Apple Valley, a journalism student at USC; Miss Minn. Perfect Teen, Gianna Capuzzi of Mahtomedi, and Miss Minn Pefect Jr.; Teen, Sydney Phillips of Elk River.

Horsemen’s bookkeepers Tiffany Leggett and Kelly Thorne along with photographer Beth Seib spent an hour and a half Sunday morning decorating the starting gate for the day’s activities.
Even many of the cowboys at Canterbury were in pink. A pink lady drink was also available. A lone isolated objection was heard at day’s end from a fellow descending the escalator: “This is way too much pink for my tastes,’’ he said.

The winner of the $50,000 Princess Elaine was Mac Robertson trained Sheso Dazzling, a four-year-old filly by Dazzling Falls from Wa Sarah who won her third straight race, with a late move under Derek Bell to get there in front of Tickleyourfancy by a neck with Tez Savitri ¾ length further back.

The winner was bred and is owned by Eric and Mary Von Seggern and Kurt and Melanie Kindschuh of Wisner, Neb. The race was the first on the turf for the winner, which presented the only question for her owners. “We didn’t know if she’d like the grass, but she had 30 days off and Mac had her ready,’’ Eric said.

Eric once worked for Kelly Von Hemel and Mary for Clayton Gray. They met at Canterbury Downs, marrying in 1993. “If you’re putting this in the blog, make sure to thank (the late) Bun Colvin, too,’’ said Eric. “He helped me in so many different ways.’’

The $75,000 Lady Canterbury was, much as expected, a one-horse race, with A She’s Adorable, ridden by Irish rider James Graham, an easy winner against her nine opponents.
Graham was at Canterbury Park in 2006 for the Claiming Crown, winning the Juvenile, a memorable day. “That was my fourth stakes win in the U.S.,’’ he said.

Well, he got another on Sunday. “She’s coming back to herself now,’’ he said of A She’s Adorable. She responded out there today.’’

And how. Under what amounted to a hand ride, A She’s Adorable drew off to a 5 ¾ length win in 1:36 and 2/5, with Silent Candy next and Avenue Sister, another Robertson horse, in third.
The winner is owned by Phillip Maas of Wayzata and trained by Michael Stidham.
Bell and Robertson teamed up for their second stakes win on the card with Mindy Sue, owned by Joseph Novogratz of Eden Prairie, in the $35,000 Hoist Her Flag Stakes.

“I thought she was going to quit on me at the 3/16ths pole,’’ said Bell. “But I got her outside and she rebroke.’’

Mindy Sue, the 7-5, favorite rambled home ¾ of a length in front of Hidden Gold, 1 ½ in front of Bella Notte.

Despite the wilting heat, none of the horses were reported with problems, and the jockeys apparently withstood the elements as well, although they bore signs of the heat and the special day.

The faces of concessionaires, valets, outriders and many of the riders were a bright pink from plying their trade on a brutally warm afternoon with a temperature of 90-plus and humidity levels of 83 to 84 percent.

Paddock handicapper Angela Hermann, dressed in a dazzling fuchsia dress, succumbed to the heat before the seventh race, fainting in the paddock.

She was in the press box after the races, recovering from the ordeal.

Condensation dripped from cooling vents, water pipes and air conditioning conduits in the grandstand, bringing to a mind a recent sign on the side of the Aguave Restaurant in downtown Hudson: Can you believe that gorillas live in this stuff.

Lisa Johnson, Equibase’s eagle eye chart caller, has complained in recent weeks about the conditions in the pressbox, which she found a wee bit chilly. “It’s like a darn meat locker in here,’’ she’d say.

With the onslaught of heat and humidity, Lisa was not heard to utter a single derogatory word about the conditions the past two days. Her only complaint on Sunday was that with all pink saddle towels it was darn near impossible at times to distinguish one horse from the next.
Unless, of course, the horse was named A She’s Adorable, the class of Sunday’s card.

RIDER OK, NOT SO WITH GEAR

Quarter horse rider Clyde Smith hit the ground in Saturday’s final race after his horse ducked out and then bounced off another horse, unseating Smith with a thud.

Smith was taken to a hospital but was reported in his room on the backside by 3 a.m. It was a costly incident just the same.

Paramedics removed his boots ($200), his pants ($65), his leggings ($30) and the owner silks ($150) by cutting them from his body.

Only his helmet was left unscathed. When asked why the clothing had to be removed as it was, paramedics reportedly said they feared he was having a seizure. Wouldn’t removing his helmet have been the answer in that case, they were asked… without response.

WEEKEND QUOTES, INTERJECTIONS AND OUTRIGHT DENIALS
Perhaps the best line of the past few days came from rider Doug Frink after his track-record win aboard Jess A Runner, who looked shot out of a cannon.

“I thought my gate was the only one that opened,’’he said.

Three-three-old Kadyn, daughter of Jason Olmstead and Amber Blair, was camped out in the bookkeeper’s office, where she has what she calls a house under the front desk.

She has watched the Rapunzel movie more than once, including the bit where the heroine of the story whacks an unwanted visitor with a frying pan.

“Would you do that , too?” she was asked.

“I’d try to,’’ the three-year-old said.

Women of Canterbury on Center Stage

2011-07-30T17:02:00.002-05:00

by JIM WELLS

The jockey's lounge has undergone a facelift this season, a 'Title Nine' transformation of sorts that has caught the attention of fan and horseman alike. For the first time in years, there is not one, not two, but five female riders in the room, an unusual number not only at Canterbury Park.

"You won't find that many at most tracks,'' said Jerry Simmons, who has run a number of other jockeys' rooms over the years in addition to Canterbury's.

What that means locally is that Lori Keith has plenty of company this year after occupying the women's portion of the lounge by herself for much of 2010.

"I had the whole big room to myself,'' she said. "It's pretty big, probably nine lockers in there...and the showers.

''Brittany Arterburn was here until the first week of August last season, but rode sparingly, so Keith was alone in the room on many if not most days. At any given time this year, Keith shares that space with as many as four other riders _ Arterburn, Jennifer Schmidt, Patricia Trimble and Anne Von Rosen. They are the Women of Canterbury and are highly visible in the jockey colony this summer, an appropriate addition especially on Sunday as the track kicks off its first Fillies Race for Hope, a fund-raising day for breast cancer awareness and assistance.

The track will take on a pink milieu _ pink shirts, hats, banners, even horseshoes _ for nine races, filled by only fillies and mares.

And Canterbury's female riders will be visible, too. Three of them, Keith, Von Rosen and Schmidt, have mounts on the card.

Keith has become an established rider in Shakopee, now in her fourth and very best season. She rides winters in Phoenix and summers here and has caught fire since the reopening after the shutdown. She was fourth in the riding standings before Saturday's card with 17 wins. All of the women, in fact, were in the top 10. Von Rosen had 11 wins, Arterburn eight and Schmidt led the quarter horse standings with nine wins. Arterburn had won six of 10 races on the grass, a phenomenal percentage.

You will find different opinions on the subject, but female riders still find it difficult to get mounts at many tracks.

"That's why I switched to quarter horses,'' said Schmidt. "I seem to get more quarter horse mounts, although I do like riding the thoroughbreds."

Opportunity sometimes depends on the track.

"It's opened up a bunch,'' said Trimble. "It depends on where you are. It's good in Minnesota. You just need an agent here. They ride the agents more than the riders.''

The Women of Canterbury are cutting their own swath this summer.

Two of them traveled a long distance to pursue, or acquire, their careers. Von Rosen is a native of Germany who was educated three years in England and wound up working for an equine hospital in Kentucky. She later worked for trainer Vic Hanson in Fort Pierre, S.D., learning the trade. She had a bang-up meet in Phoenix last winter and is holding her own in Shakopee as well.

Keith, of course, is from England and grew up not far from Epsom Downs. She was a show jumper as a girl. "I traveled all over with my pony.'' Her roots are English, but she has come to prefer the U.S.

"I wouldn't want to be anyplace but here,'' she said. And, why not, with the success she is having in Shakopee this summer.

England can be even more difficult for a female rider. "They don't have established meets there as they do here,'' said Von Rosen. "There are fewer races. You have to do a lot of traveling. It's tough, especially for a woman.''

Schmidt was at Remington Park for a fund-raiser similar to Sunday's last year. "It was a tough enough to wear pink day,'' she said. "But we didn't have all fillies on the card like we do here.''

The concept isn't foreign to Trimble, either, who was part of an all-female race card in Indiana at one time.

"There were 12 of us, all female riders,'' she said. "It was a blast.''

Sunday's card is highlighted by the $75,000 Lady Canterbury, the track's signature race, and also includes the $50,000 Princess Elaine and the $35,000 Hoist Her Flag, races named for prominent fillies in Canterbury annals.

Keith has seven mounts on the card, Von Rosen has two and Schmidt has two after picking up one in the seventh race. Kathy Craig, who rode at Canterbury Downs in the 1980s and still gallops horses locally, was named on Natural Pearl in Sunday's seventh race for trainer Miguel Silva but took off. Silva replaced her with Schmidt.

A silent auction is part of Sunday's benefit, which will include a hat contest for women, a silent wall of pink horseshoes, each representing a donation to the fund, and fillies and mares anywhere you care to look.And, of course, the doughty Women of Canterbury.

JOURNEY TO THE WINNER’S CIRCLE
Quarter horse breeder Paul Knapper made a trip to Canterbury Park on Saturday to watch the two-year-olds and was rewarded for the effort.

He got to witness the passing of the generations first hand in race five, a maiden event for Minnesota-bred horses at five furlongs.

Patricia Trimble guided Uno Mos Bluff, a chestnut gelding by Sam Lord’s Castle from Sister Fox (a Pine Bluff mare), to the winner’s circle in his first start.

Knapper cared for the winner’s dam at one time, when it was still owned by Mark Allister.
The mare began to get some age on her and Allister wound up giving her to Robert Huver, who bred her to Sam’s Lord Castle.

“She died while foaling,’’ said Knapper.

Saturday, Uno Mas Bluff won one for mom.

Trainer Amber Blair was happy. Her husband, former rider Jason Olmstead, was happy. We can assume Huver, who wasn’t present, was, too, once he heard the news.

It’s a good bet no one was any happier than 3-year-old Kadyn Olmstead, Jason and Amber’s daughter, who was hanging out with horsemen’s bookkeeper Tiffany Leggett on Saturday.
Kadyn watched the race in Tiffany’s office and was waiting at the door moments after it concluded.

“She knew what happened,’’ her dad said. “She was at the door waiting to get picked up and have her picture taken.’’

Jason was handling the young ones, Kadyn and one-year-old Ryder, while Amber handled the horses Saturday.

There is more to the story of Uno Mas Bluff.

“He was a no bid at the yearling sale last year,’’ said Jason. “Then he goes out and wins in his first out.’’

Such is the stuff that horse racing stories are made of.

The Best Tips Are Not Always Obvious

2011-07-29T22:32:00.001-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

The ice cream cone was the biggest and best you’d ever had. The horses were enormous, the crowd electric and everybody was impressed with your grandparents.

Years later, as you consider that day, it is clear where your interest in horse racing originated, where the seed was planted. Granted, it took a great deal of nurturing in the time since, but you never wavered. Horse racing was for you, just as it is for most of your family. You are part of that magic that others know only as Almar Farms. You are a grandson of Al and Marlys Goebel, and that’s where it started.

Bo Bryant is the grandson and the new kid on the block in Canterbury Park’s tip sheet lineup this summer. “The first race I remember was in 1995,’’ he said. “In Moderation broke that track record for 3 ½ furlongs that day as a two-year-old. I was five. Everybody seemed to know my grandparents.’’

Now 21, Bryant got the bug that afternoon. He loved the races, the horses, the excitement, the ice cream cone, whole ball of wax.

“I came out to the races with my grandparents every time they went after that,’’ he said. “It was about a 40-minute drive out, 40 minutes back. I asked them everything I could think of about racing during those trips.’’

As he matured, the questions multiplied and trips to the track weren’t enough to accommodate the wide range of subjects he wanted to discuss.

So, he’d call his grandfather on the phone and they’d talk.

“I probably learned 90 percent of what I know from my grandfather,’’ Bryant said. “I learned the rest from my grandmother.’’

Bryant sells his tip sheet _ Bo Noz _ on Thursdays and Fridays, the days that Hall of Fame tout Jake Mauer takes off.

The young apprentice frequently talks the trade with Mauer.

“I’ll come up with an idea and throw it at him,’’ Bryant said. “Five seconds or less and he’ll have an answer, tell me what he thinks about it.’’

Perhaps the best advice given Bryant by the old master is not much different than a veteran ballplayer might give a rookie.

“He told me to consider the whole season, not just a day here or there,’’ Bryant said. “That helps me not get too upset when I have a bad day or too excited when I have a real good one.’’

Bryant’s parents, Mike and Kara, have only minimal interest in the sport. “My mom wasn’t into it,’’ he said. “My dad comes out a couple of times a year.’’

Bryant’s brother, Bart, two years younger, was along that day in 1995, too, but has not taken quite the same interest in the game. Nonetheless, Bo will give him a call whenever he needs a specific kind of information.

“Bart knows bloodlines and can go three or four back on a horse,’’ Bo said. “He has a phenomenal memory. I’ll call him when I need that perspective on a horse.’’

Bo still has long conversations with his grandfather about the sport. “I wouldn’t call them arguments. They’re more like debates,’’ he said. “I still learn a lot about the breeding and ownership end of the business from him.’’

Bo’s best day this meet?

“I was 7-for-10 once and 6-for-10.’’
His worst?

“I was 1-for-10, but I had seven seconds.’’

It is the 1-for-10 days that Bryant is learning to keep in perspective. “You have to remember that sometimes the difference between winning and losing is a head bob or maybe a neck or a length. It helps to keep that in mind.’’

Perhaps the most important lesson Bryant learned from his grandparents, members of Canterbury Park’s Hall of Fame as breeders, has to do with deportment.

“They’re very low key,’’ he said. “They never gloat. We all know everything they’ve done.’’

AND THE BEAT GOES ON

Brittany Arterburn was the subject of extended discussion on Thursday after arriving at Canterbury Park, riding one race on the turf for her parents, winning that race, and then heading home.

She has done that repeatedly this meet and is 6-for-10 on the grass. She changed the script for Friday night’s card.

Arterburn had one mount on the card, her parents’ horse, Doc Hubbard, in the second race. Once again, she won, and then headed home.

One difference.

The race was on the dirt.

Arterburn Class on The Grass

2011-07-28T23:25:00.003-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Simply put, Brittany Arterburn’s summer is quickly becoming one of “Splendor on the Grass.’’
Her workdays are often short but productive.

Or as Jerry Simmons, the jockey room custodian, put it: “Ride one, win one, go home.’’
Arterburn had just entered the jockeys’ room after riding Left It In Vegas to a solid win on the turf in the second race, her only mount on Thursday’s card. She has done that more than once this season and more often than not it’s after a race on the turf, on one of her parents’ horses.
Arterburn has won seven races this meet, six of them on the grass where she is an astounding 6-for-10. She rides almost exclusively for her parents’ barn, on horses she works and even sometimes shoes.

It’s truly a family operation .

The Arterburns left Florida this winter, headed for Shakopee with 14 horses. “We ended up with a lot of turf horses,’’ Brittany said. “We thought of Canterbury right away because of the great course here.’’

Lonnie Arterburn, meanwhile, has sent out 19 horses and has seven wins, three seconds and two thirds.

Brittany Arterburn recently married Scott Rhone, a farrier who makes the rounds of the Canterbury stable area on a daily basis. She has picked up tips from him and her father on the fine points of shoeing a horse.

“I might do the front half of a horse one day and finish him up the next,’’ she said, admitting that it can be a grueling business.

The subject of shoeing horses quickly caught fire. ‘I did one horse in my life,’’ said Simmons. “That was all I wanted.’’

“Hey, we’ve got a young valet here who’s studying the trade.’’

“I’ve been studying the last six weeks under Les Harper,’’ said Antony Steele, the valet in question. “It think it’s a good trade. You have to know what you’re doing though. It’s sometimes like a puzzle, figuring out a horse’s foot and fitting the shoe.’’

Simmons agreed.

“Oh, you have to clip those toes just right,’’ he said. ‘It might take a certain angle to correct the foot.’’

Horses don’t always appreciate the effort, either.

“One got me the other day,’’ said Steele. “He began pushing on me while I had a foot so I pushed back. He got me in the left heel and right here (upper leg).’’

Arterburn’s win was part of an evening when the girls ruled…well, sort of.

Anne Von Rosen got the card under way with her 11th win of the meet, on Stamp of Approval in race one for trainer Mike Chambers, who had two wins on the card.

Lori Keith has been on a roll since the reopening after the state shutdown. She brought in Dixie Buck at 20-1 in race four, ran second on Marina Nolan (no relation to Paul) in race five, and won on Hula King for Chambers in race seven.

The two wins were Keith’s 16th and 17th of the meet and lifted her into fourth place in the standings, behind Dean Butler, Derek Bell and Ry Eikleberry.

“She’s a good little rider,’’ said Chambers. “She had a good meet in Phoenix. She can ride, and she’s smart. Real Smart.’’

A LONG RIDE TO SARATOGA SPRINGS

The second place horse in the race won by Left It In Vegas was Oak Flat, trained by Valorie Lund, who was headed back to the barn in short order to finish packing for a trip to New York.
Lund left Thursday night with the big horse in her barn, Atta Boy Roy, his companion pony and the horse’s groom for Saratoga Race Course.

Atta Boy Roy will run in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes on Aug. 7. Lund and her assistant had a long hike ahead of them after leaving Shakopee late Thursday.

She expected to make the first stop between Toledo and Cleveland in the early hours Friday and arrive at their destination late Friday or early Saturday.

Roy and Ellie Schaefer, the horses’ owners, will fly to Saratoga Springs from their home in Port Orchard, Wash., for the race.

Jesus Castanon, who rode Shakleford to a Preakness Stakes victory, will ride Atta Boy Roy for Lund.

If they win?

“There will be a big party at the barn,’’ she said.

The barn in Shakopee, of course.

A WINNING HOMECOMING

Patrick Canchari grew up in Shakopee. He graduated from Shakopee High School in 2009. But he had never ridden a winner in Shakopee.

Until Thursday night.

Canchari, whose father, Luis, rode at Canterbury in the early days, was on Woodyville for owner/trainer Loren Brocka in the sixth race. There was a contingent of Patrick’s high school classmates waiting for him outside the winner’s circle when he dismounted.

There was also a trainer waiting to see if Canchari would return to Canterbury next Wednesday to ride for him.

Yes, Canchari said, he would make the trip from Prairie Meadows, where he is located now.
Canchari began riding on Feb. 11 and has 14 wins in his brief career. He left Shakopee after Thursday’s race in quite a hurry. He had the cook in the jockey’s room prepare him food to go for his return trip to Iowa.

Helping Each Other Into Canterbury's Hall of Fame

2011-07-28T08:58:00.001-05:00

by Angela Hermann

Canterbury welcomes its 2011 Hall of Fame inductees next week. The Minnesota racing fan that has not heard of Mac Robertson, Derek Bell or Sir Tricky is a rarity. Although all of our new Hall-of-Famers have won their share of races (and them some), these three as a team packed quite a punch. Let’s take a look back at their success together:

· 2008 Blair’s Cove Stakes - Leading an uncoupled three horse entry from the Robertson barn, Sir Tricky avenged his defeat in the 2007 edition of the Blair’s Cove by defeating rival Torpedo Man. Sitting just off the pace under D-Bell, the gelding waited patiently and took over when asked, defeating stablemate Joni’s Justice by a neck at 5-2. This was Sir Tricky’s second turf stakes win, but his first strike with his fellow Hall of Famer.

· 2008 Minnesota Sprint Championship Stakes – Showcasing his versatility, ‘Tricky shortened up and switched surfaces for his second stakes victory of 2008, closing from short range to track down future stablemate Captain Canaveral. The public was not fooled twice, sending him off favored for a paltry $3.80 payoff. Though he would not return to defend his title in 2009, Mac & Derek retained the Sprint with a win by speedy three year old Bizet.

· 2008 Kenny Schoepf Stakes – Closing day in 2008 was another winning afternoon for Sir Tricky, as he and fellow Robertson trainee Bee O Bee Bob took on five foes in the Kenny Schoepf. Setting the stage for a few years down the road, Derek Bell and Dean Butler closed together to put away a talented field in 1:10 and 2/5. To no one’s surprise, a dollar exacta returned a whopping $5.60. Their one-two finish as the first and second choices (respectively) put the icing on the cake of another championship season for Mac.

· 2009 10,000 Lakes Stakes – Though all three went on to future success, their final hurrah together came in Sir Tricky’s second 10,000 Lakes triumph. Though he finished fourth in 2008, the gallant old gelding turned in a strong rally in his 2009 debut to win by two widening lengths. This ended up being his only victory of the season, but certainly not his swan song in Minnesota stakes racing. What happened next? Well, Sir Tricky did what any 10,000 Lakes winner would do – Become the following year’s Champion Turf Horse.

Congratulations to this trio, and to all of our 2011 inductees. Hats off to you gentlemen!

Canterbury Park Reschedules Promotional Events

2011-07-27T15:00:00.002-05:00

Canterbury Park officials have released a revised promotional schedule for the remainder of the live meet following a 20-day state government shutdown which cost the racetrack 12 days of live racing and its customers a number of popular events. The revised schedule includes six added race dates, the previously canceled Extreme Race Day, a championship weiner dog race and free hotdogs.

The added days of racing will be: Wednesday, Aug. 3, Thursday, Sept. 1 and 8 and Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sept. 9 – 11. Post times for the added dates are 7:00 pm on weeknights, 1:30 on Saturday, and 11:00 am on Sunday, Sept. 11, the final day of the 2011 meet.

Extreme Race Day, rescheduled for Aug. 6, features exhibition races by camels and ostriches and also includes several horse races with unusual conditions, run at distances unique to the day. Free pony rides, face painting, and a petting zoo will also be offered.

Labor Day, Sept. 5, will now feature free Hormel hot dogs and a weiner dog race. Both events had previously been planned for Independence Day.

Also rescheduled is Canterbury’s Cigar Smoker, now on Saturday, Aug. 20.

“Adding racing days was important to the horsemen spending their summer in Minnesota,” Senior Marketing Manager John Groen said. “Our fans really enjoy the camels and ostriches, so getting that back on the schedule was a priority as well.”

Events that will be held as originally scheduled include the Saturday, Aug. 13 Food Truck Festival, the Friday, Aug. 19 Canterbury Uncorked wine event, and the Minnesota Festival of Champions Sept. 4.

###

A DAY OF THOUGHT, REFLECTION AND TRACK RECORD

2011-07-24T18:43:00.003-05:00

By JIM WELLS

It was a day for thought, reflection and celebration Sunday, a day for memorializing old friends and welcoming some, too, a day for sadness, joy and stories.

Oh, the stories. Some were told in whispers, others in loud bursts of emotion. Not all of them will be repeated here.

There is no place like the racetrack environment for capturing the rhythms of life, the passings and arrivals, the defeats and triumphs.

On a happy note there was the return of Luis Quinonez, the Q as he is known, winner of 546 races and five consecutive riding titles in Shakopee. He was in town, for the first time since 2003, to ride Dale Schenian’s Rys Alley Cat in the Dean Kutz Derby, a race named for the late two-time riding champion and Hall of Fame rider.

There was also the scintillating effort of Jess A Runner, trained by Kenny Laymon and ridden by Doug Frink, a blowout, three-length winner of the $15,000 Great Lakes quarter horse stakes in a sizzling, track record time of :21.16.

On a more somber note, two long-time stalwarts in the racing world were memorialized with races named in their honor: Dr. Les Martens, the gentlemanly figure never without his cigarette and often in his green pants and pink polo, an owner of Hall of Fame horse Northbound Pride and a racing fan through and through, was remembered in race No. 3, The Les Martens Memorial. Dr. Martens died in January.

One race later, Robert “Bun” Colvin, a trainer on Canterbury’s backside since Day One, make that Race One, in track history was remembered. Colvin grew up on a horse and was still breaking babies at age 73. Try as he might, he could never leave racing, returning after retiring three times. Colvin died at home in South Dakota last December. Oh, that very first horse he saddled? Sultan’s Gold, who ran third to Faiz in the state’s first pari-mutuel race.

The winner of the Dean Kutz Derby was Wild Jacob, trying the turf for the first time. Owned by Stanley Mankin of Grand Island, Neb., Wild Jacob cruised home a length in front of Fairing and Juan Rivera, 3 in front of Cactus son.

Mankin recently retired from farming and went into training on his own. He has four horses in Shakopee, two of them 2-year-olds. He ran a horse here a few years ago by the name of Skunk Tail, who was still winning at age 13.

Incidentally, the figure eight on Quinonez’s horse (the noseband) broke in the gate, and Rhys Alley Cat was never a factor.

Then there was the Blair’s Cove Stakes, named for the 1988 Horse of the Year at Canterbury, won on Sunday by Tubby Time, ridden by the master of pace, Derek Bell. “He’s just a push button horse, a very nice horse,’’ said Bell after finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Mac’s Blackhawk and Paul Nolan, with Bizet in third.

Bell was concerned for an instant at the head of the lane that his horse was going to quit on him. “I whacked him a couple of times and he responded,’’ Bell said.

There was one more race in honor of a former Canterbury and Minnesota horseman and horse, the Bob Morehouse/Cash Caravan Stakes. Morehouse was a well-known quarter horse breeder and owner who had an impact on the fledgling industry in Minnesota.

Lien On Me was the upset winner in that race with Jennifer Schmidt up. Owned and bred by Tom Pouliot of Cocoran, Lien On Me finished a half length in front of It’s a Jazzin Time with Seis It Fast, the 2010 Canterbury Horse of the Year, next.

Lien On Me was bottle fed his first two weeks after his dam, Lenas Rare Lady, nearly died. Now three, he is long removed from those perilous days and had the competition running for their lives on Sunday.

So it went on Sunday, one story after another, some of victory, others of defeat and still others simply in memory.

There was one final vignette on Bun Colvin, who was at home in Ethan, S.D., last Dec. 4, his wife, Marlene, at his side. They were watching the races on TVG when Bun died suddenly, suffering an aortic aneurism.

Three weeks later, Sultan’s Gold died and was buried on the farm in a spot already dug and prepared by Bun in anticipation of just such an event, should it occur in the winter when the ground was frozen. Shortly after that, the family cat went, too, and Marlene searched high and low, finally locating a spot prepared for the feline as well.

Mark Erickson, Canterbury’s vice president of facilities, recalled a Colvin complaint about the hard surface of the racetrack in the late 1990s.

“He told me I didn’t know how hard it was because I didn’t have to ride a horse on it,’’ Erickson said.

So, Colvin invited Erickson to the backside one morning. “I’d only been on a horse once or twice in my lifetime,’’ Erickson said. Colvin outfitted the man from facilities on a horse and escorted him to the track.

All went well as they trotted out to the front of the grandstand until they turned around, in the direction the horses run. “That horse took off with me,’’ Erickson said. “Bun” was laughing, all the trainers on the viewing stand were laughing.’’

The trainer had made his point.

BUN COLVIN, A HORSEMAN'S HORSEMAN

2011-07-24T09:20:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Trivia lovers easily recall the English-bred horse who won the first race in Minnesota pari-mutuel history. Faiz was in headlines all over the state the next day, with trainer Martin Kenney running a close second.

It's tougher to recall the horse that got up for show money in that race. He was Sultan's Gold and he was trained by Robert "Bun" Colvin, a near permanent fixture in Canterbury's stable area the next 25 years.Colvin was a horseman's horseman from South Dakota, a man of his word and trustworthy with a handshake.

"I met him when I was 12 years old at Aksarben and I've been friends with him and his wife, Marlene, ever since,'' said trainer Mac Robertson. "He was a hard-working man, an honest man. Not many around like him.''

And Colvin was durable.

How many men do you know still galloping their horses, or breaking two-year-olds at age 73.

Bun Colvin did. "Most men that age are sitting in the stands,'' Robertson added.

A couple of years ago, Colvin was galloping a horse one morning at Canterbury when an outrider approached him. "Hey, old man, what are you doing out here,'' the fellow jested. "You should talk,'' Colvin responded. "I can see what you've got hanging over that saddle horn.''

As the years piled on, Colvin considered giving up breaking young horses. "I don't know if I can do it anymore,'' he told Marlene, his wife of nearly 57 years. "Then he'd start to get fit and I'd see him out in the pasture on a young horse,'' she said.

Colvin tried to retire two or three times, but couldn't make it stick.

"We tried fishing in 2000 (his first retirement),'' Marlene said. "He bought his brother's old boat, but didn't have much success catching fish. He ended up giving the boat away and went back to breaking colts. You should have seen him. It was amazing.''

Colvin started riding at age five at his father's hand. He loved horses and he loved racing. He'd sit in his favorite chair and read the Blood Horse, study blood lines or watch the races on TVG.

That's what he was doing, watching the races, last Dec. 4, a Saturday, with Marlene at his side, when he gasped and died on the spot of an aortic aneurism.

He was 74 years, one month and four days old.

Bun Colvin was 17 and Marlene was 16 when they married in 1954 in Mitchell, S.D. Eleven years later they purchased acreage near Mitchell and opened a breeding, training and racing operation.

"We were partners, best friends, the whole ball of wax,'' Marlene said. "We worked together seven days a week.''

Colvin prided himself on his strength, right up to the end. "He walked three or four miles, rode a colt the same distance. He was very healthy. Then this sudden thing hit him, sitting in his chair,'' Marlene said.

Trainer Randy Pfeifer was 17 or 18 years old when he met Colvin at Park Jefferson in South Dakota. "I'm 60 now,'' Pfeifer said. "Bun used to ride up to my barn about 4:30 each day on his bicycle. We'd talk. Sometimes he'd stay to dinner. I miss that.''

Pfeifer and Robertson had matching descriptions, nearly word for word, for Colvin: "He was a true horseman. He took awful good care of his horses right to the end.''

Stable superintendent Mark Stancato interacted with Colvin at various tracks. "From Aksarben to here, he was on every stall list wherever I was,'' Stancato said. "He had a terrific fondness for hugging women,'' Stancato added. "If you were a woman and Bun never hugged you, there was something awfully wrong with you.''

Stancato didn't discover what he liked best about the man until after his death. "I found out after he died that Bun was a good Democrat,'' Stancato said. "I was glad to hear that.''

Colvin never had the big horse, but had plenty he grew right fond of. There was Sugar Dust, Petro D Jay and, of course, Plana Dance, the only two-time winner of the Princess Elaine Stakes. Plana Dance won five stakes and 11 races for the Colvins. Now she is producing babies.

Marlene made reservations for 35 at the Canterbury Inn this weekend. "Mostly my sisters and their families,'' she said. They are in Shakopee for today's running of the Bun Colvin Memorial race. Among those in the gathering will be Dr. William Hemminger, an equine veterinarian from Kentucky.

Hemminger is Bun's nephew, his sister's son. "He came to live with us when he was 12,'' Marlene said. "I always felt bad. We hauled him all over the place, racing. But he says it helped him learn about the world.''

There is more to it than that. Hemminger had words of advice for his aunt Marlene when he talked to her recently.

"Have plenty of Kleenix in the winner's circle on Sunday,'' he told her.

IT’S POLAR PLUNGE, VICTORY SLED ON A SULTRY DAY

2011-07-23T18:25:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Saturday afternoon’s steamy, oppressive weather conditions were just the ticket for a filly named Polar Plunge and a colt named Victory Sled.

Clearly the tropical weather conditions were no hindrance for these horses with arctic-like appellations.

Polar Plunge is clearly a filly to keep an eye on. Her commanding six-length victory in the $35,000 Frances Genter Stakes for 3-year-old state-bred fillies established her as a horse to reckon with.

Victory Sled, on the other hand, got everything to go right for a 1 ¼ length victory over Samendra in the $35,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes.

You could pick up comments among horsemen and onlookers alike after the Genter Stakes.

“She’s the real deal.” “That’s a horse.”

“She’s a filly of the future,’’ said winning trainer Gary Scherer.

Owner Cam Casby was filled with uncertainty before the race. “We didn’t know what to expect,’’ she said. “We didn’t know if she was all the way back.’’

Polar Plunge, the 3-5 favorite Sunday, underwent ankle surgery in January. She won an allowance outing easily on June 19, but…

“That one didn’t count,’’ Casby said.

A daughter by Successful Appeal from Shakopee, Polar Plunge’s chief competition was Esprit de Bleu. Those two fillies were born a week or two apart at Bleu Valley Farm in May Township.

The dams to the two fillies raced against one another at one time, as well.

Shakopee won the Frances Genter, just ahead of Bleu’s Apparition in 2004. The two met three times in all. Bleu finished ahead of Shakopee in the Minnesota Oaks; it was the other way around in the Minnesota Distaff Sprint.

Jeff Hilger, who owns Esprit de Bleu with his wife, Deb., joined the winner’s circle continent after the race. “I told you a horse foaled at Bleu Valley Farm would win this race,’’ he cracked.

Casby was gleeful with Saturday’s result after her horse took command in the stretch to finish six lengths in front of Esprit de Bleu, who had ¾ length on Bert’slittlesister.

“We’ve been waiting for a horse like this a long time,’’ she said.

“She’s really, really nice,’’ said winning rider Dustin Dugas. “She’s doing everything right so far. She’s getting better and better.’’

And she’s three-for-three.

The winning time was 1:01 and 4/5.

The boys were on stage in the Victor S. Myers Stakes. Samendra was the 4-5 favorite, Black Tie Benny was second choice at 2-1 and Desert Alley was next at 5-1. But it was Victory Sled at 15-1 who took a trip to the winner’s circle, rallying with a stretch drive to finish 1 ¼ lengths in front of Samendra and another half length in front of Desert Alley.

Winning trainer Bruce Riecken had a succinct appraisal of the race after his horse broke from the No. 1 hole and took the rail to the winner’s circle.

“Good Post. Good ride. Saved ground. Fast fractions. Smart jockey,’’ Riecken said.
“Good horse,’’ added winning rider Derek Bell.

BIG WEEKEND FOR ALMAR FARMS
Al and Marlys Goebel were frequent visitors to Canterbury in years past, running their horses in the colors of Almar Farm and producing state-bred champions many times over the years.
The Gobels advancing years prevent them from attending the races these days, but their horses still leave an impression.

Friday night, For Instance, ridden by Anne Von Rosen, was a winner. The horse is owned and bred by the Goebels.

The Gobels’ daughter, Claudia, heads Almar Partners. Their horse, Speakfromyourheart, was also a winner on Friday.

“I brought the win pictures over to show my dad at 8:15 this morning,’’ Claudia said. “He smiled when he saw them, especially a winner he bred.’’

Claudia will have more to show her parents after Saturday’s card. Mesa Mirage, another Almar Farms owned and bred horse, won the fourth race.

There could be more today. Almar Partners’ First Captain is in the Blair’s Cove Stakes.
“We’re in real tough in that one,’’ Claudia said.

Stars Go Dark For Ms. Keith

2011-07-22T23:22:00.001-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

It must have been an alignment of the stars, a celestial clue to eclipse all clues.
Or as announcer Paul Allen put it, “the hunch bet of all time.’’

The grand subject of Friday night’s card was none other than jockey Lori Keith, who was not only celebrating her 29th birthday but acknowledging it with appearances in the winner’s circle.
Heading into race six, Keith had two wins in the bag for trainer Vic Hanson, who was hoping for another in the upcoming race.

There was no reason to think the stars were not sending a message as the facts of the matter fell into place just before post time.

Keith was gunning for a hat trick on her birthday. The horse she was riding was named The Third Guy, and the race was labeled “Laurie’s Birthday Dash’’ although for another birthday celebrant who spelled her name differently.

Think of it: It was all there.

Allen was right, the hunch bet of the century.

Hanson got his win in the race, only with Anne Von Rosen, who was riding For Instance for him. The Third Guy beat only two guys in the 12 horse field.

So much for hunch bets. Maybe the cloud cover obscured the starlight.

Nonetheless, Keith was having a royal 29th. She was aboard Pleasant Life for Hanson in the third race, a 71/2 furlong maiden event on the grass. “I thought maybe she’d place,’’ Keith said. “I didn’t think she’d win.’’

But Pleasant Life did just that, stretching out in front of J’Noodle in the final strides.
Keith made it two for the night in the fifth, aboard Speakfromyourheart. “I love that horse,’’ she said. “I thought he could win.’’

Keith also had mounts in the seventh and eighth races, to no avail.

As she considered the notion of a triple early in the evening, she was asked about her last hat trick.

“I had a quadruple just before I left Phoenix,’’ she said.

Getting an acknowledgment of her correct age was another matter. “I’m 21,’’ she said behind an emerging grin.

“Tell me, or I’ll make something up, just like News of the World,’’ she was told.

That was all it took for the English lass to give it up.

By the way, riding leader Dean Butler had a quadruple on Friday’s card.

HORSEMEN EXPRESS GRATITUDE
Horsemen clearly were pleased with the response from management during the shutdown that deprived them of 12 racing days.

The track remained open for workouts. Trainers were able to go about their daily chores as usual.

Horsemen were delighted with the response from CEO/President Randy Sampson and the Canterbury board of directors.

“We want Randy and the board to know how much we appreciate that,’’ said HBPA president Tom Metzen. “They went to exorbitant expense to keep the place open and allow us to train.
“We want them to know how pleased we are with what they have done for the industry during a very difficult time.’’

Management is now in talks with horsemen to rescue as many races as possible from the 12 race cards that were cancelled during the shutdown. “We won’t get all our days but we know we’ll get as many as we possibly can,’’ Metzen added.

“The rest of the country should know about this,’’ he added. “They’ve gone above and beyond the call of duty for us here.’’

STEVENS ON THE MEND
Each day he says the pain is a bit less and he thus infers that the healing process is under way. It didn’t start out that way, however.

Scott Stevens underwent surgery to repair his left shoulder on Tuesday and felt good enough to make a trip to Canterbury Park on Thursday night, although he was still in considerable pain.
“It’s a lot better today,’’ he said on Friday. “It was awfully painful.’’

Doctors were pleased with the results. “They seemed to think everything went well,’’ Stevens said.

Stevens’ right scapula was cracked and a bone on the top of his left shoulder was chipped in a gate accident in June.

The right shoulder has healed. Now he will begin that process on the other one after having five metal clips, two cables and two screws inserted to stabilize the shoulder.

Stevens originally wanted the surgery done even earlier, but is glad now it was postponed. “It’s probably a good thing that I waited,’’ he said. “I wouldn’t have been able to drive or anything right off the bat. ‘’

He would have been without even limited use of either arm had the surgery on the left shoulder taken place before his right shoulder healed.

“At least I know I’m on the upswing now,’’ he said.

Doctors predicted a recovery period of four to six months, although Stevens has already altered that prognosis in his mind. “I’m saying maybe three,’’ he said.

Pain or no pain, nothing could stop Stevens from attending the races on Thursday night.
“I couldn’t miss the second opening of the year,’’ he said.

Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

2011-07-22T13:54:00.001-05:00

The Canterbury Park Hall of Fame committee today announced the class of 2011. Honored in an Aug. 6 ceremony will be: thoroughbred breeders Jeff and Deb Hilger of Stillwater, thoroughbred trainer Mac Robertson, quarter horse trainer Ed Ross Hardy, jockey Derek Bell, and Minnesota-bred thoroughbred Sir Tricky. These inductees join a group of more than forty individuals and horses that comprise the best of Minnesota racing.

The Hilgers operate Bleu Valley Farm in May Township near Stillwater, MN, where they have bred several stakes winners. The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association named them Minnesota’s Outstanding Breeder four times. Hilger horses have won the Canterbury Horse of the Year award twice, in 2000 with Bleu Victoriate and in 2009 with Chick Fight. Jeff also has served as director and vice president of the Minnesota HBPA board.

Mac Robertson has been the leading thoroughbred trainer the past six seasons. He holds records for both single-season and all-time in-the-money percentages, all-time win percentage, and single-season earnings.

Ed Ross Hardy has been the leading American Quarter Horse trainer the past nine seasons and 10 times overall. He is the historical leader in both earnings and wins.

Derek Bell has won six riding titles at Canterbury, more than any other jockey. He is the single-season and all-time leader in earnings and also holds the single-season records for win and in-the-money percentages.

Sir Tricky was bred in Minnesota by William Hobbs and foaled in 2001. For the final five years of his career, which ended with a win in the 2010 Minnesota Turf Championship, Sir Tricky was trained by Robertson and owned by Barry and Joni Butzow of Eden Prairie, MN. By the sire Sir Cat, he won seven stakes at Canterbury Park including the 10,000 Lakes (twice), the Blair’s Cove and the Minnesota Sprint Championship. His earnings of $315,633 at Canterbury is second on the all-time list. He won 12 times at Canterbury.

The Canterbury Hall of Fame was founded in 1995 to recognize people and horses that have made important and lasting contributions to the racing industry within the state. The selection committee consists of representatives of local horsemen organizations, local media, and Canterbury Park.

Racing Resumes After Unwanted Hiatus

2011-07-21T23:37:00.001-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Racing returned to Canterbury Park Thursday night and so did something resembling humane humidity. To celebrate the occasion, management opened the gates and let 6,504 patrons file through without charge.

There were all sorts of returns of good will, handshakes and smiles from track employees and participants in the races, 10 in all.

Among the riders extremely pleased to be back in the saddle was Nik Goodwin, who broke his right collarbone and a rib on the upper right in an accident on June 5. Goodwin spent the entire shutdown finishing his convalescence.

The state shutdown was officially over on the racetrack, and management is conferring with horsemen in an attempt to reschedule 12 racing cards lost since July 1.

Although there were indications that all of the races, including stakes, lost during the shutdown will take place through some sort of extension of the season combined with an extra day here or there, track president and CEO Randy Sampson said Thursday it was certain that at least six of the 12 days lost will be made up.

Meanwhile, racing fans were welcomed back with traditional Thursday night fare: $1 hot dogs, Pepsi and nachos with cheese.

Even more enticing were the payoffs from horses running for the first time in three weeks. Long shots ruled the day, none more enticingly than the winner of the sixth race, Alex’s Tomcat, trained by Red Rarick and ridden by Goodwin.

The gelded son of Iron Cat returned a hefty $70.80, $22.40, $5.60 across the board, the big return on a night of big returns.

How to explain it?

Lots of factors, Goodwin said.

“The horses are all fresh with a three-week layoff. We don’t know how hard some of them worked during that time. Plus there is a rhythm to training and entering horses that was interrupted. Everything is maybe out of rhythm right now.’’

Well, that was one explanation anyway for an evening of nice payoffs. It started with race No. 1 Champ Laila, trained by Bruce Riecken and ridden by Luis Robletto returned
Mogilny with Anne Von Rosen up returned $19.20 in the second race. In race three, In For A Song and Derek Bell returned $17.20, followed by Samantha’s Rule, with Von Rosen up, with a $30.40 payback.

In a stretch duel between Local Big Shot and Somerset Mariton, Juan Rivera got a much needed win aboard Big Shot, owned by Tom and Karen Metzen and Gary McCloud and trained by Mike Biehler.

“I was tired,’’ Rivera said, referring not only to his horse.

Rivera’s winner, by Thursday’s standards, returned a modest $8.40.
Finally, in race seven, a favorite came through. Missnorasdouble, under caught Speaker’s Action, 8-1, at the wire to return $3.80.

Race eight was not much different with 3-1 favorite Stillwater Storm nipping Heart’s Of Gold, 23-1, at the wire.

Not all was peachy with the return of racing, however. Some owners were still incensed at money invested in boarding and training with no chance of a return for 12 race days.
Riders took various approaches to the shutdown. Derek Bell spent the time riding at home in Indiana and at Prairie Meadows. Other riders stayed at Canterbury, working horses in the morning, earning zip and awaiting the return of racing.

Jockey Brittany Arterburn married farrier Scott Rhone, last Sunday night at the Wilds. The wedding and reception went without a hitch. The marriage? “Check back with me in 20 years,’’ Rhone cracked.

Bernell Rhone, father to the groom, admitted to a hangover. Grandchildren from North Dakota arrived with a concoction made from the notorious Everclear. “It was some sort of Kickapoo juice,’’ Rhone said. “Very pleasant tasting and easy to drink. Then, an hour later….’’
The real hangovers belonged to the riders, trainers, owners and track management still recovering from the stress and anxiety of three weeks without work.

Canterbury to Resume All Operations Thursday

2011-07-20T15:26:00.000-05:00

Canterbury Park will resume card casino, simulcast and live racing operations on Thursday, following the end to a 20-day state government shutdown which closed state regulatory agencies on July 1, causing all gaming operations at Canterbury to cease. A state budget was passed by the Minnesota legislature early this morning during a special session and signed by Gov. Dayton, allowing state agency employees to return to work as early as Thursday.

Canterbury Park’s card casino will reopen at 10:00 AM Thursday; Simulcast racing operations at 11:00 AM and live racing will begin at 7:00 PM.

Business at Canterbury Park came to a halt July 1 with the state shutdown and subsequent closure of the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC), the state regulatory body that oversees gaming operations. More than 1,000 Canterbury employees have been on unpaid leave since that date. The MRC is fully-funded by the industry and receives no money from the general fund.

“We are relieved that this shutdown has come to an end. It has caused undue hardship for far too many,” Canterbury President Randy Sampson said. “I look forward to welcoming back our employees, loyal customers, and horsemen, who will once again be able to compete for purses.”

Racino legislation, which would have permitted slot machines at the state’s two race tracks, was not addressed in the special session.

“It is very disappointing that racino legislation was not part of this budget resolution,” Sampson said. “Racinos are proven job creators, proven revenue streams, and would also allow Minnesota’s racing industry, which already employees several thousand, to remain competitive and viable. We remain committed and will continue to work to see that racino legislation is passed for Minnesota.”

Studies have indicated that racinos would generate an estimated $125 million annually while creating thousands of jobs in the racing, hospitality, and equine industries. Polls have consistently shown that more than 70% of Minnesotans favor racino legislation. Twelve other states and more than 40 race tracks throughout North America have benefitted from similar legislation.

JM

Track workers Petition For Their Jobs

2011-07-13T17:14:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS
　
Jockeys, stable hands, concession workers, grain suppliers, horsemen and their families spread out on the grandstand apron Wednesday afternoon, most of them unemployed.

In the barns on the backside, 1,300 unemployed horses whinnied, chewed on straw, pranced in their stalls and waited to return to work as well.

More than 1,000 people who work in the racing industry were on hand for a press conference and rally called by state legislators from the area, Sen. Claire Robling of Jordan and Rep. Mike Beard of Shakopee, who expressed their support for the racing industry and pledged to help in reopening Canterbury Park.

Meanwhile, unemployed workers at Canterbury and in horse businesses associated with racing pitched their messages on signs just about anywhere one cared to look.

Need More Taxes. Try a Racino.
I Want My Job Back.
The Government Shutdown is Killing Horse Racing.
Turn Our Lights Back On.
Get Us Back On Track. Pass a Racino.
Of the numerous signs, one drew repeated comment:
Quit Horsin' Around.

The track supplied lunch, hot dogs, chips and cold drinks, to the horsemen who gathered for the occasion. Track president and CEO Randy Sampson addressed the workers before the press conference, thanked them for their ongoing patience and support and urged them to stay positive, while updating them on current negotiations to reopen Canterbury.

Robling expressed her support for a Racino, considered necessary for the state horse industry and Canterbury to grow, for them to compete with states that already have those advantages.
"That would be a big win for racing and a big win for the state,'' she said. "The polls show (consistently) that 70 percent of the state supports a Racino. Twelve other states have Racinos and we know that they've been successful. We need to look to our neighbors (for successful ideas).''
　
Beard acknowledged that horsemen and their stables, that breeding farms, that Canterbury itself are examples of Minnesota small businesses that need support. He urged Governor Dayton to call the legislature back to work so that they could do something about resolving the work stoppage that has affected Canterbury, the Minnesota horse industry and the state.

Mayor John Schmitt of Shakopee talked about the billion dollar entertainment industry in the area, mentioning Valley Fair, Canterbury Park and, to a scattering of boos, Mystic Lake. "I knew I'd get you with that one,'' he said.

"We need the doors open (at Canterbury),'' Schmitt said. "We need the ponies back on the track.''

Jeff Hilger, a prominent breeder from rural Stillwater, talked about the horse industry and Canterbury as "truly a family. We stick together,'' he said. "You all should be very proud of the way you have handled a very troubling situation.''

Jockey Paul Nolan delivered perhaps the most heartfelt words on the ongoing situation. Many trainers and horsemen travel to Canterbury annually from Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nebraska, the Dakotas.

"I probably came the farthest,'' said Nolan. "I moved here from England. I made Minnesota my home. I am a Minnesota resident. I love it here.''

Nolan also spoke for many of his colleagues, who are at Canterbury summer after summer, lured here by a well-kept backside, superb track conditions and Canterbury management.
"Every jockey I know loves this place,'' Nolan said. "We love Minnesota, the people here, the track, the crowds for the races. But we have only 62 days of racing. We need every one of them.''
Trainer Mac Robertson commented after the press conference.
"It's sad,'' he said. "But what can we do. We're powerless.''

For 60 minutes Wednesday afternoon, it didn't seem that way. One sign sized up the general attitude:
Do your Job. Put us Back to Work.

A Day in the Life of Paul Allen

2011-07-06T12:06:00.004-05:00

Fox 9's Dawn Mitchell calls a race at Canterbury Park
Follow Dawn Mitchell of Twitter at twitter.com/dawnmitchellat9

A Day in the Life of Paul Allen at Canterbury Park: MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

A Racino Will Solve All This

2011-07-04T15:33:00.003-05:00

BY JIM WELLS　

Here's a suggestion for the Minnesota Legislature:
You can atone for years of neglect, abuse and ongoing ignorance of the Minnesota horse racing industry and its attendant benefits to the state with one simple act:

A Racino.

The latest example of the outright abuse of an industry _ touching all corners of the state and the interior, too _ is the shutdown of Canterbury Park.
Breeders, veterinarians, farriers, trainers, owners, riders, exercise boys and girls, hotwalkers, tack suppliers, farmers, graineries, truck drivers and Minnesota horse racing fans are all affected.

Horse racing _ approved overwhelmingly by the citizenry of Minnesota in 1983 _ arrived in 1985 and was not yet on its financial feet when Minnesota lawmakers opened the door to multiple forms of competition that all but wiped out the industry by 1992. Canterbury Downs, then only seven years old, went dark. Weeds began to sprout from the blacktop and other surfaces surrounding the track. Only the vision, commitment and steadfast devotion of the Sampson family revived racing and the associated breeding industry from near certain death in the state. Yet this industry is still only a faction of what it could be with appropriate action from Minnesota lawmakers. There is no better time for that action than now.

Racing needs an infusion of cash. Minnesota needs an infusion of cash. A Racino could satisfy both.

Minnesotans voted in racing by a commanding margin, 60-34 percent, still support it in record turnouts during the racing season _ and with their voices. In one poll after another, seventy percent or more of the state is in favor of a Racino at Canterbury. Few lawmakers pay attention.
The topic of a much-needed racino, whose existence becomes more necessary with each passing year, was a small part of the discussion on Monday, a footnote to other subjects during the annual HBPA general membership meeting at Canterbury.

Once again, more immediate goals _ those of survival _ took precedence over the racing's long-term plans and hopes of growth.

The four Twin Cities network television affiliates were present, interviewing trainers, jockeys and others associated with racing for their views on the recent shutdown that denied Canterbury Park its most prosperous weekend of the summer and threatens the rest of the meet.

Horsemen are optimists by nature. They could not last in a business built on uncertainty if they were not. Yet, they are realists when it comes to a dollar.

"I have no plans on leaving here,'' said trainer Larry Donlin Monday. "But at some point my owners might demand it.''

Donlin can still collect his day fees for stabling, feeding and training a racehorse. The owners of those horses need races and purses to make the investment worthwhile.

Jockey Scott Stevens, sidelined with injuries to both shoulders, had another viewpoint. Annually since 1969, Stevens has spent his winters at Turf Paradise in Phoenix and his summers at Canterbury. He keeps a trailer in Shakopee for his summer living accomodations, but now is considering what before was unthinkable. "I might have to move it out of here,'' he said. "If this shutdown continues, horsemen are going to leave with their horses and they aren't coming back.''

This year?

"Not ever,'' Stevens added.

Farfetched?
Not under this scenario: "It costs a fortune to ship horses all the way from Phoenix to Shakopee,'' Stevens added. "A lot of trainers won't take the chance any more if this shutdown doesn't end.''

Taking a shot in a race against a better-bred horse is one thing. Taking a shot that a racetrack might close through no fault of its own is quite another.

Stevens is awaiting surgery here later this month on one of this two injured shoulders. He is not riding at present but loves this sport and stays involved, healthy or injured. He is a Canterbury Park Hall of Fame rider who will not leave Shakopee easily. But he, too, is a realist.

Many horsemen eschew tracks offering better purse money for Canterbury, simply because of the clean, well-kept backside, grandstand amenities and unmatched attention from management they receive in Shakopee. Even that might not be enough soon, because of the ever-widening disparity between the money available in Minnesota versus that offered at other tracks with casino operations.

"Pretty soon it will cost more to ship horses here and back (to Phoenix) than a person can earn during a summer,'' trainer Doug Oliver said recently.

Monday, track president and CEO Randy Sampson updated horsemen and their stable help during the HBPA meeting on recent developments with the shutdown.

He had little to offer but hope. The hope that an appeal to the courts will permit a resumption of racing, with luck this week.

The HBPA and track offered horsemen and their stable help a free lunch of pizza, hot dogs and drinks after Monday's meeting. HBPA president Tom Metzen told them that his organization and the track will present them with free meal tickets for the next couple of days.

In addition, Metzen said that horses entered in races eliminated by the shutdown will get anywhere from $500 to $2,000 the next time they race in Shakopee to compensate for those lost opportunities. The track also plans to run most stakes races lost during the shutdown at another point in the meet.

In the meantime, the state's horse industry and its leading venue, Canterbury Park, are closed for business, struggling for survival once again.

But that's nothing new in Minnesota. It's time for a change. It's time for a Racino.
As Stevens put it Tuesday:"I hope I didn't break both of my shoulders for nothing.''

Canterbury forced to cancel Saturday race program

2011-07-01T17:37:00.000-05:00

Canterbury Park has cancelled racing for Saturday, July 2 as a result of the ongoing state shutdown and no ruling from Ramsey County Judge Kathleen Gearin.

Canterbury Park, along with Running Aces Harness Park, appeared today in Ramsey County Court in hopes of obtaining a ruling that would allow the Minnesota Racing Commission (MRC), the regulatory body that oversees both Minnesota racetracks, to operate. Judge Gearin has yet to issue a ruling following the hearing. The MRC is entirely funded by the racing industry, receives no money from the general fund, and has already received reimbursement for expected July expenses.

“Our horsemen need time to prepare their horses to race and the uncertainty of when the judge might rule has forced us to cancel a second day of racing at Canterbury Park,” track president Randy Sampson said.

A decision on the July 3 and 4 racing programs will be made tomorrow.

News and Notes

2011-06-30T23:56:00.000-05:00

QUARTER HORSE STAKES LAST RACES BEFORE SHUTDOWN

BY JIM WELLS

Insanity.
Ludicrous.
Asinine.
There was no shortage of opinions at Canterbury Park Thursday night as 8,585 patrons wolfed down hot dogs, swigged cold beers and pushed their dollars through the windows for, maybe, the final time for God only knows how long.
The track was prepared to shut down at midnight. “And we’ll open up at noon,’’ said trainer Jerry Livingston, voicing an opinion shared by others, as much out of hope as certainty.
Meanwhile, patrons wrestled with the notion that nobody in the state’s courts or lawmaking bodies seems to understand how the real world works, that they are preoccupied with keeping their jobs or pushing ideology ahead of representing the people who put them in power.
“Next time, I’m going to vote against everyone I voted for last time,’’ said Bill Walker of Minneapolis. “Simply out of spite.’’
Although there were more reasoned approaches to the topic at hand _ the shutdown of the racetrack _ fans were outraged that a private business could be closed along with state agencies.
“Canterbury has escrowed all the money necessary to fund the oversight required by the state, but because of a bunch of red tape and legal mumble jumble, the track is going to close,’’ Walker added. “No wonder Americans are fed up with the government. If the country’s system is broken, it starts in places like Minnesota.’’
And so it went, among fans, horsemen and horse owners, throughout the evening, which began earlier than usual, 6:30 p.m., and lasted later than usual, 11:30 p.m.
Not all was somber Thursday, not by any means.
Take Terry and Mary Louis Pursel, who made the 470 mile trip from Leavenworth, Kan., to watch their filly, Cruzin The Wagon, run in the Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Northland Futurity, worth $64,000.
It will be a nice ride home after the Pyc Paint Your Wagon filly beat eight rivals and is now 4-for-4. The Pursels never had a horse win two straight let alone four straight. They never before had a futurity winner, either, after getting into the game when the Woodlands opened in Kansas City in 1990.
“It would have been a long ride home,’’ Terry said.
But not now, not after Cruzin swept past the finish first in :17.75.
“She didn’t get away real good but she picked it up. She’s got a lot of heart,’’ said trainer Brent Clay. The winner was ridden by Stormy Smith.
The last race of the card, the last race before the shutdown, the $25,050 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby, went to I Am That Hero in :20.1, giving Smith and Clay a sweep of the stakes.
“It worked out,’’ said Clay. “And Stormy’s my son-in-law so I have to throw one his way.’’ And the owners of the winner? Brent and Karen Clay. It worked out just fine.
The winner returned $6.40, finishing in front of Icecarver.
The two stakes were moved from Sunday to Thursday, just in case.
It this case, it was a wise move.

STEVENS TO UNDERGO SURGERY
Scott Stevens will miss the remainder of the meet at Canterbury Park and the opening of the meet at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, he learned this week.
The Canterbury Park Hall of Fame rider will undergo surgery July 19 on his left shoulder, injured when a horse flipped over on him during a gate work earlier in July. A piece of bone was broken off the top of his left shoulder, and the right scapula behind and below that shoulder was also broken. That shoulder is healing well.
Stevens said that the recovery period is four to six months, which means he might be sidelined longer than he was last year after suffering life-threatening injuries in a spill at Canterbury.
“That was 4 ½ months. This might be longer, ‘’ he said.
Stevens injured a knee three years ago that required surgery and kept him out of action for eight months.
Although he knew surgery was a distinct possibility this time, too, and wasn’t surprised, Stevens was hopeful he could avoid the procedure and return to the saddle sooner.
“You know I can move around just fine and then I’ll make a certain move and it will almost bring me to my knees,’’ he said.
Stevens said that surgery might be performed earlier if a scheduling opportunity opens. The procedure he will undergo is designed to tighten up the muscle and bone that help support and stabilize the shoulder.
He hopes to have arthroscopic surgery but that approach won’t be possible if doctors need to insert a plate in the shoulder.
The surgery _ called the Bankart Procedure _ will be performed at the Tria Orthopedic Center in Edina. “I feel very confident in the doctor there,’’ Stevens said. “He comes highly recommended. They treat the Twins players there.’’
Now they will get a jockey.

IT’S NOT THE HORSE’S FAULT
Patriate wanted to run on opening day at Yavapai Downs in Arizona
this year. One problem. The track didn’t open. No money.
Patriate wanted to run, and was entered, in the seventh race on Friday’s card. One problem. The state shutdown included Canterbury Park.
What’s a horse to do.
This six-year-old gelded son of Muqtarib showed up in Bob Johnson’s barn about 10 days ago and has a bullet work over the Shakopee track, on June 25.
Other than that, Johnson doesn’t know much about the horse, other than it belongs to someone he knows pretty well.
Linda Parker. His mother-in-law.
“He’s a stout horse, not very big, but a good lookin’ horse,’’ Johnson said. “I just hope he doesn’t get that “dreaded horse’’ reputation now for shutting down racetracks.’’
Patriate has won eight times with 10 seconds and three thirds from 33 career starts, the last 10 at Turf Paradise.
He’s a California-bred waiting for a chance to run somewhere, Arizona, Minnesota; he just wants the chance.
Meanwhile, his trainer was trying to adjust to the onslaught of heat and humidity that hit the Twin Cities on Thursday.
“I’m not likin’ it,’’ he said. “It’s way too hot for a guy from South Dakota.’’
Meanwhile, a horse named Patriate would have fit in nicely on the Fourth of July.

TRAINER, GROOM OF THE WEEK
Dave Van Winkle has been running a public stable for 20 years, alternating between his home in Phoenix, where he races at Turf Paradise, and at Canterbury Park summers. He won training titles at Canterbury in 1995, 2002 and 2003 and is enshrined in the track’s Hall of Fame.
Van Winkle was honored on Thursday as the track’s Trainer of the Week.
Named the track’s Groom of the Week was Mario Soto Vejar, who has worked for Francisco Bravo the last four years.
Bravo describes Soto Vejar in glowing terms. “His dedication to his horses is unmatched by anyone I’ve ever known,’’ said Bravo. “He is a very honest man.’’
Soto Vejar is a soccer fan and plays the game as well. He also enjoys cooking.

Examining the Minnesota Oaks Contenders

2011-06-29T16:43:00.001-05:00

By Angela Hermann

As July approaches, stakes season arrives for our young Minnesota-breds. We’ve given the boys their due, but now it’s time to look at the girls. Not many of these fillies have tried a route of ground at this point. July will present more opportunities for us to gauge these ladies’ distance abilities, but for now let’s examine the cream of the 2008 crop at this point:

Polar Plunge – Cam Casby’s homebred out of her stakes winning mare Shakopee is two for two in her career. Her maiden win came at the Fairgrounds in Louisiana, in a wire-to-wire effort at six furlongs at odds of 23-1. After a short rest ‘Polar proved that win to be no fluke, as she took down allowance foes very impressively while rating just a touch off the pace. She is a dynamite combination of looks, pedigree & talent – A very live Gary Scherer trainee for all of our summer stakes.

Smarty Prance – Though the barn does not have many runners at Canterbury, this filly proved her mettle in start number two in Shakopee. Smarty Prance took it to five rivals from the start in breaking her maiden, but has shown tractability to sit off runners if necessary. This granddaughter of Manila has the blood to run all day. Should the sprints not suit her, the Minnesota Oaks may be a perfect fit for the Richard filly.

Esprit De Bleu – Our 2010 Northern Lights Debutante Champion has not recaptured her championship form from last year, but has faced difficult fields in her first two tries of 2011. Mac Robertson debuted this filly in the slop this year, but a return to dry dirt may revive the speedy little chestnut.

It’s Tamareno – This is an unraced filly working out at Arlington Park. We’re throwing this one in based on the strength of her pedigree for a distance and some of the workouts she’s posted in Chicago. Tammy Domenosky, now based at Arlington, trains this filly for Renaissance Stables. There’s no guarantee for this filly to make it up here, but the daughter of Victory Gallop would be a welcome surprise.

Terice – Another newcomer on the scene just broke her maiden, and did it with style. Taking on a full field Father’s Day, Terice had the race won from the start, drawing off impressively. There is some blood to go a distance on this pedigree as well. Mike Kirby’s filly could be any kind, but at this point we do know the talent is there.

Sajani – The only filly that’s proven her affinity for a route of ground thus far is this Kissoon Thoroughbreds bred/owned bay. While the others listed here have earned their merits sprinting, Sajani tried a distance of ground in her second outing and relished the trip. Though she set soft fractions, Sajani exploded away to an impressive four length victory. There are some big hooves to fill for Sajani! Many female members of this family have done well or won in Statebred Stakes short and long – It’ll be interesting to see how she rises to the occasion.

Our Minnesotan three year old fillies are coming up as a strong bunch – it looks like they’ll take us on an exciting ride this summer. Is there anyone I missed? Feel free to comment below if you have any sophomores you feel will make an impact on our MN-Bred filly stakes scene.

It's All About The Weiners

2011-06-29T15:02:00.005-05:00

By Kate Ulrich

Twenty-two more short-legged, wet-nosed canines strutted onto the track on Sunday, June 26th for Weiner Dog Heats 3 & 4. The top 3 finishers from each heat will return on the 4th of July for the championship race.

Although there were only a total of about 8 dogs that decided to leave the gate (sorry intern Steven…) the ones that did run, brought their A-game.

Let’s meet the weiner winners from Sunday – here are you championship qualifiers:

I’m not really sure what the appeal toilet paper brings to a dog’s salivating mouth…but this pooch is often found snagging himself some delicious white squares. As your favorite at 9-5, Ozzie dominated his opponents. Whether it be his experience (he won the finals in 2009 and second in 2010) or the toilet paper, Ozzie is going to be a tough one to beat.

Ela Von Dauschund showed up her stable mate, Brat (heat 4), by finishing 2nd in heat 3. Ela is only a 9 pound weiner dog, but she sure had a lot of speed in her. Her owners tell us that after a nice run she enjoys soaking up the rays – her and Spud (one of last week’s qualifiers) were spotted at a local Shakopee beach on Wednesday. Hopefully all that Vitamin D has her revved up and ready to go on the 4th.

Everyone was wondering about this dog during Sunday’s qualifiers – to settle the dispute, he is a full weiner! Tommy weighs in at 24 pounds, but that did not slow him down one bit in Sunday’s races. All it took was a yummy treat to get this boy to run. We’ll see what the 4th brings for this cutie.

The longest shot on the board at 25-1 came in 1st place on Sunday. Philly, not to be confused with a female horse (filly), trained for the race during his daily mail runs. Philly must have been ready for his treat because he did not give the other dogs a chance. He shot out of the gate and had a beautiful run. This long shot could turn into a favorite on the 4th. Keep your eyes on this weiner.

There weren’t any small children for Ellie to chase out on the track on Sunday, but that didn’t stop her from using her stellar speed on the track. Hopefully the track conditions are in her favor for the championships, this weiner can run!

At only 11 pounds and 20 inches long, this dog was still able to devour her new toy when she got to the finish line. There must be something about the soft surface that makes her run, as she loves playing tennis ball on the beach. I wonder what her new toy will look like next week?

These six dogs will be competing for the title on Monday, July 4th out here at Canterbury Park. Live racing starts at 1:30pm.

Ozzie, Ela Von Dauschund, Tommy, Philly, Ellie and Pretzel go nose to nose with Huey, Taco, Patches, Daxter, Spud and Bosco. Don’t miss out!

Free hot dogs, a hot dog eating contest and Weiner Dog Championships…it’s sure to be a Weiner-ful 4th of July! See you then!

The Clock Continues To Tick

2011-06-26T18:18:00.001-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Contingency planning continued on Sunday, explained in many cases as “a just in case” approach to the upcoming week when the fate of racing for the summer will be determined, by the courts, legislature or possibly both.

The general outlook at Canterbury Park remains positive, although the stress of the ongoing, protracted debate is clearly taking a toll on those directly involved with the seemingly endless process.

Canterbury president Randy Sampson has been on his cell phone constantly in recent weeks _ even more so now with the Friday deadline imminent _ regardless of his location _ paddock, grandstand, hallway, winner’s circle.

How much do the countless communications take up of the day?

“A lot,’’ he said.

Clearly.

There have been a few defections or shipouts in anticipation of a negative outcome, but for the most part trainers and horsemen are standing pat, awaiting a decision.

“I can stay for a few days,’’ said trainer Bryan Porter. “I can keep some Minnesota-bred horses here but will have to ship out the others. You know, it cost me $2,500 to ship in here. It will be another $2,500 to leave‘’

Meanwhile, debate on the issues surrounding Minnesota racing continued unabated on nearly every level of the grandstand.

“It’s not just this shutdown,’’ said one player.

“How about taking an honest look at what’s going on with the casinos in Minnesota.’’

He then went on to argue about the lack of oversight given the reservation moneymakers.

“There was more oversight on the Vegas casinos when they were run by the mob,’’ he said.

“Even today, go anywhere in Vegas and you ‘ll see percentages of payouts posted _ aside from the progressive slots.’’

The argument for a Canterbury Racino gains additional weight with the state’s burgeoning need for cash to survive the financial crisis. With Racino currency, the state’s financial outlook would improve, as would racing in Shakopee, the state’s agriculture attached to horses and the equine industry itself.

“It’s a no brainer,’’ the patron said. “The state benefits, the industry benefits, racing benefits and the bettor benefits with larger payouts and some oversight.’’

Meanwhile, Canterbury continues to advocate its cause, imploring its patrons to “help us pass the Racino and stop the shutdown’’ in the daily programs. Included are telephone numbers for senate majority leader Amy Koch, house majority leader Kurt Zellers and Governor Mark Dayton.

Meanwhile, Sampson disseminated a letter Sunday to horsemen informing them of management’s outlook, its contingency plans and possible changes to the racing cards in the upcoming week.

One option is to run two cards on a single day, Friday’s card prior to Thursday’s, the last day of racing if a shutdown occurs.

Sampson said that he expects “the process will drag out until midweek and create a lot of stress and uncertainty for everyone.’’

As if it hasn’t already.

A STEAMY DAY AT THE TRACK
Sunday’s card _ perhaps the first of only two, or three this week _ went on as planned.
It began with Lori Keith, who continues to make her presence felt in Shakopee, riding Linovision for Miguel Silva as the winner of the race one.

Juan Rivera, looking fit after a recent bout with an intestinal disorder, brought in Tapinot for Mike Biehler in race two, giving Canterbury’s leading owners, Al and Bill Ulwelling, another winner.

Derek Bell was an easy winner aboard Victory Sled in race three for trainer Bruce Riecken. . That brought a shout from 12-year-old Rachel Riecken, who was part of the contingent gathered for the winning picture. Riecken’s horse, Trust N You, had run out of the money in race one.
“Hey, dad, ‘’ Rachel bellowed, “was I right. Didn’t I say the first horse was going to lose and the second would win.’’

“She gets a little excited,’’ Bruce said, “more so then her sister Maci, 14.’’

It was an agreeable finish for Bell, who made the tiring trek to Prairie Meadows after Saturday’s card for the Grade III, $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap and finished fourth, aboard Stachys from the Mike Biehler barn.

Bell was hopeful at the mile and 1/8 distance that the speed would back up, a must for his mount to overtake them. “The track was hard and fast and they didn’t back up,’’ he said.
None of that was necessary with Victory Sled, an easy winner, and Bell added another win, on Gold Brew in race seven.

Sunday’s big winner was Don’t Bluff, trained by Kyle Schindler, in race eight. Ridden Anne Von Rosen, Don’t Bluff paid $41.40, $17.20 and $7.60 across the board.

Two quarter horse races completed the card. Jennifer Schmidt was on Courtney Kansas, a clear winner in the ninth, but the Casey Black-trainee was disqualified from first and placed ninth for interference out of the gate. Meter Me A Lady, trained by Bob Johnson and ridden by Clyde Smith, moved up, into the winner’s circle.

Kate for a Corona, ridden by Rusty Shaw, completed the card, winning the 10th in :13.54.

Is Your Money Really, Truly Yours

2011-06-25T17:33:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

The Minnesota Legislature and the state’s court system are wrestling with one of the truly complicated riddles of all time.

Is Canterbury Park’s money really Canterbury Park’s money.

And should it be used for its intended purpose.

Meanwhile, the 1,133 employees of Canterbury and the thousands more who make their livings supplying grain, bailing straw, doctoring horses, breeding horses, foaling horses, selling horses and shoveling horse poop are making contingency plans if the powers that be can’t figure out the answer to a question most fourth graders know. The state’s horse industry will be out of work and can’t convince their mortgage holders to hang loose for a while.

Gee! Let’s see now. Canterbury Park escrows thousands of dollars in fees that pay expenses for the Minnesota Racing Commission and the stewards, the referees at the racetrack. But that money is no longer around. It has been swallowed up and digested by an animal known as the General Fund.

AND so the shutdown looms.

Be all of that as it may, Canterbury Park’s riders are optimistic…for the most part.

“Oh, I’ve already put me application in at Burger King,’’ said Paul Nolan.

“But what I can’t figure out is why nobody in this country gets riled up. Hey, Lori,’’ he yelled to fellow countrywoman Lori Keith. “If this happened in England we’d be rioting and protesting, wouldn’t we. Over here, you just sort of throw up your arms and say ‘OK.’ You don’t fight.’’

That allegation drew a hasty comment from the jockey room security official. Bill Chestnut.

“We don’t fight?’’ he queried. “Hey, let me tell you about 1776.’’

“I don’t think we’ll shut down,’’ said Anne Von Rosen. “If we do, I’ll just gallop in the morning. That will keep me going for a while.’’

Most jocks figured that if a shutdown occurs it will be for a couple of days, a week at most. So, what if a shutdown occurs and it lasts indefinitely?

“Oh, all summer,’’ said Keith. “Well, then, I guess I’d have to break down and be forced to join my parents in the South of France. They have a restaurant there. I guess I could waitress.’’

“Hey, I’ll go, too,’’ said Juan Rivera.

“We could use a bartender,’’ Keith responded.

And so it went throughout a dreary, lightly attended Saturday race card. Plans were being made and not being made. And everyone was going about his or her business, something they hope to be doing a week from now as well.

BELL SAYS ‘GOOD NIGHT’ EARLY

Derek Bell acknowledged his small visitor in the jockey’s lounge shortly before the sixth race Saturday.

“Hey, there, Hailey Bell,’’ he said, an instant before she jumped into his arms.

Hailey, 8, was there to say good night to her father, who headed to Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa., immediately after the seventh race.

“It’s a 3 ½ hour drive,’’ he said. “I’ll be back tonight but you’ll be in bed. It will be 3 in the morning.’’

Eight-year-old Hailey will enter the third grade in the fall, but right now she is wherever dad is, primarily at Canterbury Park this summer with occasional visits to Iowa for stakes events.
The two-day Iowa Festival of Racing ended Saturday night and Bell had the mount on the Mike Biehler-trained Stachys in the Grade III $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap at a mile and 1/8.
Stachys won the $60,000 Jim Rasmussen Memorial by 1 ¾ lengths earlier this spring at Prairie Meadows under Bell.

“There’s a very good horse in this one tonight,’’ Bell said. Indeed. Awesome Gem, the 3-1 morning line favorite has won $2.5 million-plus over his career. “But it’s a mile and 1/8. I like my chances in this one.’’

Awesome Gem won the Grade 3 Lone Star Park Handicap in his last out, a length in front of Flat Out and Santa Anita handicap winner Game On Dude. Awesome Gem has Robby Albarado on his back once more for the Cornhusker, which drew an 11-horse field that included Steve Asmussen-trained It Happened Again with Mike Smith up. Stachys was the 9-2 second choice in the morning line.

Headache is owned by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey and trained by Mike Maker, who thinks he has this erratic runner figured out.

A Journey Directed By The Stars

2011-06-24T22:44:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Sometimes fate intervenes and arranges the stars in a pattern never before seen. How else do you explain what happened in Friday night’s third race?

The winner was a horse named Latin Journey, who returned $32.20, not in itself all that earthshaking, until you consider that the trainer was a man named Luis Canchari, who hadn’t saddled a winner since 1999, and the rider was a man named Richard Aguilar, who had never before won a race in the United States.

Now, something unusual begins to take shape. The horse is Latin Journey. Both men connected with the first win of her career _ at age five nonetheless _ are from Peru. They made Latin journeys of their own to make this rendezvous with a mare named Latin Journey.

Canchari has dabbled in the training end of the thoroughbred business, off and on, since 1992 after one time riding at Canterbury _where he was known as Louie the Glove _ among other locations. The decisive win with Latin Journey on Friday came in a turf event at about a mile and 1/16th and was the seventh of Canchari’s uneven training career.

“It makes me very happy,’’ he said afterward.

The same was true for Aguilar, who has lived in Shakopee less than a month after arriving here from Lima. He likes this place called Minnesota. Just ask him.

“Me gusta mucho,’’ he said.

A FAST START OUT OF THE GATE

Lorenzo Estevane, a native of Dallas, Texas, started raceriding in January at 18 and has already visited tracks in Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas.

Now he can add Minnesota to that list.

Estevane jumped on a Greyhound bus Tuesday in Ruidoso, N.M., and spent the next 30 hours looking out the window at the passing countryside, sleeping, napping and doing whatever he could to pass the time.

He arrived in Minnesota on Wednesday and on Thursday morning got on _ he estimates_ about 15 horses that needed work.

Estevane was talking about his background in the jockey’s lounge Friday evening and mentioned that he grew up around horses, thanks to his father. “Yeah, his dad was a horse thief,’’ a bystander cracked.

Actually, Jorge Estevane owned horses, and Lorenzo, now 19, was fascinated from day one.
Estevane was at Ruidoso Downs and not making any money when his agent suggested that he give Canterbury Park a try. The agent, Don Stewart, knew a few people in Minnesota who might give the kid a break.

A break indeed.

Lorenzo was here only a few hours and he was working one horse after another out of the Kenny Laymon barn. Then, on Thursday night, Estevane replaced Oscar Delgado on a six-year-old mare named First Lady Miss and won the first race of his career.

He broke his maiden, in racetrack parlance.

“I really like Minnesota,’’ he said Friday night. “Everybody is friendly. The weather is nice.’’
And he’s making money.

TOO MUCH BIRTHDAY CAKE?

One day after his 32nd birthday, Juan Rivera had to take off his last three mounts on the card because of illness.

Despite the immediate assumption, Rivera was in fact ill and had been for a couple of days.
He celebrated on Thursday, so to speak, by riding the winner in the best race on the card, a thrilling 6 ½ furlong sprint for $3,500 claimers that ended in a three-way photo finish that required a magnifying glass to sort out.

Some folks in the dollar-night crowd thought that Rivera and Doc of the Bay won it. Others were certain that Lori Keith, who closed like a rocket on Marina Nolan, got there first.

Still others were convinced that Dean Butler and Shot of Silver nosed out the other two.
Rivera thought he was beaten on the outside.

Keith thought she was beaten on the inside.

The call went to Doc of the Bay and Rivera by…….

“About this much,’’ said Keith, holding two fingers a half inch apart.

News and Notes on a Thursday

2011-06-23T19:40:00.009-05:00

STEVENS AWAITS TEST RESULT

BY JIM WELLS　

Canterbury jockey Scott Stevens underwent an MRI on his left shoulder Thursday afternoon to determine if surgery is required.Both of Stevens' shoulders were injured when a horse flipped over on him during a gate exercise recently. The scapula on the right side was broken and a piece of bone was broken off the left shoulder.The left shoulder is of the most concern at this point. Stevens hoped to get a prognosis by Friday morning if not sooner but was told late Thursday that he will have to wait until Tuesday.

"They are worried about the extent of the damage to ligaments on the left side that were torn,'' he said. "They are concerned that the shoulder will pop in and out.

''Stevens was told that the recovery period is four to six weeks if surgery isn't necessary.

"That at least gives me a little bit of hope,'' he said.The Canterbury Hall of Fame rider has had his share of injuries and then some in the last few years. Last July 2 he was injured so badly in a spill at Canterbury that a helicopter was used to airlift him to a hospital. It wasn't certain at first that he would survive, yet only weeks later he was making appearances at the track during race cards. Still, many horsemen wondered if he would ride again.

The answer was "yes.'' He was back riding at Turf Paradise in Phoenix on Nov. 12 and finished fourth in the riding standings that meet with 77 winners. His winning percentage, better than 22 percent, was the highest of his career for a meet. Now is faced with the possibility of another protracted recovery, although he was still hoping Thursday afternoon to avoid surgery.　　

GOODWIN’S RETURN ON TRACK

When Nik Goodwin’s horse took a spill during the third race on June 5, the native Minnesotan suffered a broken rib and collarbone.

Thursday, Goodwin said he is on track to resume riding July 14. “They said it would be six to eight weeks,”he said, “so that would be just about right.”

　Goowin said he is still not certain what happened. “I don’t know if the horse crossed his front legs or what. But he was OK afterward.’’

A WHALE OF A FISH TALE

Members of the Canterbury Maritime Expedition, more commonly known as the annual trip to Lake Winnibigosh, returned from their weekend foray into well explored waters with a yarn or two, several edible portions of Minnesota's favorite fish and some tales destined to join the folk lore of such excursions.

News on the subject first reached the Sage of Canterbury on Thursday morning when one Richard Grunder _ an agent who represents jockeys _ presented a picture logged on his cell phone of a 25-inch walleye pulled from the waters of Lake Winny, as it's commonly known.

"The only people who haven't seen this picture yet,'' said the jockey agent, "are you and Oprah. It was the catch of the trip, although Josh over there (the assistant racing secretary with the surname Van Oort) purports to have had a fish in the boat that measured 25 1/2 inches.

''The jockey agent at this point added a qualifier to Mr. Van Oort's claim: "His fish was in the boat and a measuring stick quickly applied an instant before it rejoined the depths from whence it came. The rival there insists it measured 25 1/2 inches. I will let the details of the matter stand on their own.

''Many times this type of discussion is accompanied by portrayals of,say, Sugar Ray Leonard or Manny Pacquiao, but Thursday morning's engagement was conducted in the most civil fashion.

Other members of the expedition included Canterbury's secretary of racing, the estimable Doug Schoepf; Bernell Rhone, a trainer of horses, and Tom Metzen, the president of a fraternal order of horsemen.

"We have been taking this trip for the last 13 years,'' said the jockey agent, "and this is the first time I recall that someone has pulled an underhanded canard such as this. It is behavior you might expect only from a politican. In addition, any corroboration on the matter comes from the trainer of horses, who had a complete six-pack behind him at that point.''

"Indeed,'' replied the assistant secretary, "and who would understand the techniques of a politician better than an agent who represents jockeys.

''There was one point upon which the opposing sides agreed:The head of the horsemen's fraternal order landed the most fish.

"I don't think there is any doubt that the South St. Paul flash had the largest number of walleye in his cooler,'' the jockey agent said. "He pulled in a large number of fish between naps. "Why, he even managed to snare a fish or two during a couple of those naps. It was their tug on the line that roused him from his slumber.''

"I would agree with that assessment,'' said the assistant racing secretary. "Although the number of naps did exceed the number of fish in his possession.''

And so it went throughout the latter stages of the morning. The jockey agent would make a claim, only to have it refuted by the assistant secretary of racing.

The assistant secretary got in the final word, delivering it much as a prosecuting attorney might during his summation.

"Let us consider the timing of the jockey agent's complaint,'' the assistant secretary said. "It was not made until the fish in my possession had been released and could no longer be again measured. That is much like a jockey claiming a foul was committed in the ninth race seconds before the 10th race leaves the gate. I ask you, who will the public believe, the jockey agent or a man who is a licensed official.

''At that point, the Sage of Canterbury corrected his position in the chair he occupied, sat erectly, cleared his throat and nodded as if to say he had heard every word, inflection and nuance of the discussion.　

TRAINER AND GROOM OF THE WEEK　

Stanley Mankin farmed much of his life about 25 miles south of Grand Island, Neb., but there was something else he longed to do.

He wanted to train race horses full time.He got that wish two years ago when he retired.

"I wanted to do this my entire life,'' Mankin said.Mankin actually started training horses in 1992, but it wasn't until he gave up farming that he was able to devote himself exclusively.He has a four-horse stable at Canterbury. He's hopeful that two of them are runners and you'll find some folks who think he's right.

A week ago, Scott Stevens, injured earlier in the day, watched one of Mankin's horses blow away the field in a maiden race. "I lost that one (because of his injury). He's a darn good horse,'' said Stevens.

The horse was Corporate Charley, a first time starter.

"I think he is a pretty good horse,'' said Mankin, who doesn't want to set the bar too high just the same.

Mankin intended to run CC at Hot Springs last winter but "we had a lot of setbacks with him.''

Mankin got his first win of the meet with Corporate Charley and is this week's HBPA Trainer of the Week.

Mankin,68, also has a horse named Wild Jacob that he hopes will pay his way in the barn.

The groom of the week is Casey Kappus,29, who rubs horses in the Gary Scherer barn. She was born and raised in a horse racing family in Texas.

Wiener Photos ... Not that Weiner

2011-06-22T16:17:00.009-05:00

By Kate Ulrich

Canterbury Park may be known for their horse racing, but a fan favorite comes every year when the weiner dogs walk onto the track for the Dachshund Dash.

On Sunday, June 19th, twenty-two dogs braved the muddy track to run in two qualifying heats. The top three finishers in each race continue to the championship race on July 4th.

Many of the pups were too distracted to make it to the finish line, some even decided to stay in the starting gate and watch the others run the race – but not these six; they are the fastest (or most interested in treats) of them all.

This canine shot out of the gate but did not have enough speed left in him to keep his lead. Meet Bosco, the only dog in the race that can brag about his handsome tuxedo days. Yep, this dog wore a tux in his mom and dad’s wedding. We’ll see if his good looks can get him a win in the championships – if not, I hear Mr. Congeniality is up for grabs.

“Spud with a late surge,” Paul Allen called through the crowds. These 15.41 pounds of weiner were full of closing speed in the race. If the sun is out on the 4th, this canine could have some trouble focusing her attention away from her love for sun bathing – none-the-less, a sure contender in the end!

This 25 pound boy comes from a sheep and goat farm where he learned to run with the best of them. When asked what their trick was for getting Daxter to run, owner Amy replied, “Me, he loves me.” After a farming accident earlier this summer put 13 stitches and possibly a halt in his racing career, this hound fought back and was cleared to race in time for qualifiers. As Paul Allen said in his race call, this is “one strong weiner.”

The #7 dog in the 2nd heat was this little 13.1 pound dachshund named Patches. Patches prepared for the race by eating lots and lots of beef jerky – I wonder what the trick will be for the championships? Steak?

In second place – Taco, our smallest qualifying weiner, weighing in at 10 pounds. Intrigued by the large, squeaky toy seen in the photo, Taco was a quick little bullet out on the track, just falling short of his winning opponent. Racing is this dogs life – he better spice it up a bit to finish on top come championships.

And last, but certainly not least, Huey, the winner of the second heat. After winning the race, his owner, Paul, raised the little guy over his head triumphantly…and for good reason. “Oh, Huey is a fast weiner,” Paul Allen announced. And that he was. His speed and eagerness in the gate will certainly make this weiner a big time contender in the Weiner Dog Championships.

It’s not too often you find such fierce competition between such little animals, but these dogs came to win.

Missed the races or just can’t wait to see more? Heats 3 and 4 are set to race with 22 more dogs next Sunday, June 26th. Bring your family and friends and join racing fans in cheering on these wieners!

You certainly will want to mark your calendars now because these six, along with the top six from next weekend, race for the big prize on July 4th – and who can pass up Weiner Dog Championships and FREE HORMEL HOT DOGS?!

Who will be your weiner winner?

Three-Year-Olds to Watch

2011-06-22T10:36:00.001-05:00

by Angela Hermann

Now that the national Triple Crown trail has come to an end, the three year old season in Shakopee is going full-scale. New faces greet us each week, some in stakes and some just breaking their maidens. These boys have short and long term goals in mind, but we’ll examine each prospect to see what the sophomores bring to the table:

· Samendra – This chestnut Bernell Rhone trainee took on allowance foes in his two outings this summer, one open and one against statebreds. The Minnesotans treated Samendra better than open company did, as the colt showed a new dimension in coming from off the pace to defeat Dancingwithbigron and Coconino Slim, among others. The Kissoon/Butzow owned & bred colt may not be looking for additional distance but really seems to have come into his best form at three. His class alone could make him a factor in a number of stakes races.

· Black Tie Benny – Samendra’s stable mate has been working like a machine for his seasonal debut, but has not made a start yet due to track conditions. Though entered in Samendra’s statebred allowance last weekend, he was a late scratch. This speedy son of City Place will most likely get a race in this weekend for owner/breeder Barbara Rehbein, so watch out for high speed and low odds!

· Ghost Skier – A Henry Hanson homebred, Ghost Skier proved that he put all the pieces together in his last start, breaking his maiden in impressive fashion. Ghost Skier has blazing early speed and used it from the ten hole to dash away to his first victory. Another prospect with some distance questions, but the mother’s side of his pedigree may add some necessary endurance to the equation.

· Desert Alley – The son of Flower Alley looks to renew his rivalry with Black Tie Benny as a three year old. Though his winter wasn’t so successful, Desert Alley found his stride when returned to his home in Shakopee, winning his second start of our season with authority. He has worked a “Bullet” half mile since that victory, and appears primed for another powerful effort. With his lineage, taking on a route of ground should not be a problem. It’s his tendency to not relax on the front end that may make him vulnerable….

· Nice to Meet Me – Two sons of Pioneering dead heated in a MN-Bred allowance this past weekend, but we focus on Nice to Meet Me due to the style he showed in the win. Mondovi (co-victor) got soft fractions on the front end, while Nice to Meet Me showed great versatility in coming from just off the pace and through a narrow opening inside of horses. Both horses showed tenacity in the stretch, take nothing away from Mondovi. We just get the feeling that Nice to Meet Me may have got the best of him with extra ground. Both were well clear of the field.

These Minnesotans have a few major goals in the near future: The Blair’s Cove Stakes on turf, the MTA Stallion Auction Stakes, and the Victor S. Myers, Jr. Stakes. These are just a few of the names that will contest these stakes, with several more talented runners soon to join the fray. Anyone catching your eye on the three-year-old scene? Feel free to comment!

Father's Day News and Notes

2011-06-19T18:16:00.006-05:00

HEZA WILD GUY, TOURMALINE WIN STAKES

BY JIM WELLS

Anyone looking for exemplary examples of fatherhood had to look elsewhere than the winner of the $35,000 Brooks Fields Stakes on Sunday.

Strength, perseverance? Oh, Heza Wild Guy qualified on both counts and then some.
Heart, a passion for the occupation?

He qualified there, too.

That’s where the similarity between Heza Wild Guy and numerous fathers on hand at Canterbury Park ended Sunday.

Heza Wild Guy, you see, is a gelding.

A 10-year-old gelding at that.

A crowd of 15,002, the largest of the season, was on hand to celebrate Father’s Day and Heza Wild Guy’s big win.

Making his 73rd career start, he was running against horses three, four and five years his junior.
“I just hope the old guy has some juice left in the battery,’’ said Jerry Pint, one of his two owners shortly before post time.

Heza Wild Guy was running against horses he could have fathered if other choices had been made early in his career, and he showed them how it’s done, going gate to wire under Martin Escobar.

Heza’s win gave trainer Bernell Rhone a sweep of the stakes on the card. One race earlier Tourmaline had won the $35,000 Northbound Pride Stakes, assuring Rhone of a nice fishing trip for the upcoming (according to trainer schedules) weekend.

Heza’s Wild Guy filled his papers with the win, his 30th, adding $21,000 and change to previous earnings of $624,868. “That makes him the all time Indiana bred in earnings, or just a few dollars short, maybe $1,000,’’ said Rhone.

Rhone indicated aht Heza Wild Guy’s next local outing is likely the John Bullit on Aug. 14.

Heza Wild Guy had control of the race Sunday from start to finish, completing the mile event that was moved from the grass to the dirt, 2 ¾ lengths in front of Que Paso, 4 ½ in front of Sommelier Smarty.

Will Carlson, Heza’s other owner, summed it up thusly:
“It’s all heart, you know that,’’ he said. “He does it just like other pro athletes, but he’s smart. He doesn’t get hurt.’’

Paddock analyst Angela Hermann summed up this effort succinctly:
“That horse ran his booty off,’’ she said.

Despite his age, Heza Wild Guy was sent off as the 2-1 favortie, with Sommelier Smarty second at $2.80 to $1 and Green Secret next at 5-1.

Sarah Nessan, the daughter of Brooks Fields, for whom the race is named, presented the winning trophy. “Wasn’t that fantastic,’’ she said. Adding a few moments later, “I’m going to cash my tickets.’’

NORTHBOUND PRIDE STAKES

Tourmaline was sent off the even-money favorite in a seven-horse field that included Artemus Kitten, second choice at 2-1, from the respected Mike Maker barn.

Under Dean Butler, the track’s leading rider, Tourmaline began moving up as the field hit the second turn, moved to the front midway through the turn and took command in the stretch drive, finishing 4 ½ lengths in front of Paris by Night, a 10-1 outsider.

Artemus Kitten was third, another 6 ¼ lengths behind the winner. Tourmaline was a $2,500 purchase at Keeneland by Mike Walker and Wayne Ukens. Walker was in the winner’s circle after Sunday’s race.

Rhone took over Tourmaline in Florida last winter. She previously had run out of the barn of Lon Wiggins at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans and ran well out of it in the Oaks there on Mar. 11.

“She’s a really nice filly,’’ said Walker, of Shawnee, Okla. “That race at the Fair Grounds was her first time at two turns.’’

She did much better this time.

SUNDAY HIGH NOTES
The big winner of the day could be found in the last race on the card. The Third Guy, owned by Janet Weber and trained by Vic Hanson, surprised the field of 11 foes and much of the crowd, winning under Lori Keith at 23-1.

A REAL COWBOY, YES SIR

The winner of the lid lifter to the card, a five-furlong dash for maidens, was first-time starter Cowboy Luke, owned by Larry Cronin, Pete Mattson and Deborah Ragsdale and ridden by Juan Rivera.

The son of Suave was purchased by Cronin for $5,000 at Keeneland.

Cronin named the horse for a great nephew, 3-year-old Luke Finken, who is seen at Canterbury on occasion in his western boots and hat.

“He wears them every day,’’ said Cronin.

Young Luke asked Cronin if he would give him a horseback ride some time. Cronin agreed and tried to satisfy the request with a mechanical horse. No way, young Luke demanded, he wanted to ride a real horse.

So, Cronin arranged for him to get on a pony on the backside one day. Luke decided he needed a whip and then wanted to go to the track to ride his steed.

Luke was confronted over his cowboy/horse passion by a classmate at pre-school one day.

“The kid told him he wasn’t a real cowboy. Luke said he was,’’ Cronin said.

When the classmate persisted, Luke did what any real cowboy would do under the circumstances.

He vomited.

Canterbury Founder a Man of Vision, Honor

2011-06-19T10:46:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

He was honored, humbled and touched with humility whenever someone expressed appreciation or thanked him for providing this unique addition to the Minnesota sports scene.

Brooks Fields brought horse racing to Minnesota in 1985 despite knowing little or nothing about thoroughbreds or quarter horses. Most Minnesotans, of course, knew little or nothing about them back then either.

Fields' vision and belief in the undertaking that would become Canterbury Downs came after a successful career in the grain business and in real estate. He undertook the challenge at an age when many men would have collected the royalties of a job well done and headed to the golf course or lake cabin.

Fields was 66 years of age when he took on the construction of a racetrack on acres of the yet undeveloped Shakopee landscape. "My mom thought he was nuts,'' said Sarah Nessan, their daughter.

Fields proceeded full bore with the project and on June 26, 1985, a gathering of 15,079 newcomers to this ancient sport welcomed pari-mutuel racing to Minnesota, nervously putting nearly $868,000 through the windows.

Canterbury Downs was officially part of the Minnesota sports landscape. "He loved it. He was so proud of it,'' Sarah said. "It was always so near and dear to his heart.''

What the early employees at Canterbury learned was that Fields did not recognize a class system in the building. "He treated everyone alike,'' Sarah recalled, "the valets, the jockeys, the people at the concession stands. He talked about everybody the same.''

Family members, friends and former colleagues will gather at Canterbury today to honor their friend, father, grandfather and husband in conjunction with the running of the $35,000 Brooks Fields Stakes. "We'll be well represented,'' said Sarah.

Fields had little knowledge of pari-mutuel racing when he undertook the project along with partners that included Santa Anita Race Track in California. His knowledge of horses was limited as well, although he was part of the last unit to go through horse cavalry school at Fort Riley, Kan.

Oh, and there were those trips to the Sonoran desert. "Growing up he was always taking us horseback riding in Arizona,'' Sarah recalled.

There was one another association with horses as well. "My father and mother went to London many years ago and bought some carousel horses,'' Sarah added.

"They came back with three ponies, two pokers and one big horse. The big one was at their place in Arizona. Every single grandchild was on that horse at one time or another.''

Fields was a people person and it is that legacy by which he is best recalled.

"People were his passion,'' Sarah added. "He loved people.''

They loved him back.

"He was truly humbled whenever anyone mentioned the track or thanked him for what he had done,'' she said.

Martha Fields died in 2001 and Fields later remarried, to a longtime friend of his and Martha's.

"He was so non-judgmental with people,'' said Lucy, his second wife. "He let people be themselves.''

Fields, of course, was known for his mind as well as his heart. "He was brilliant,'' Lucy said.

Smart enough to handle the rigors of Yale University and to learn the Chinese language well enough that he was used as an interpreter in China by the U.S. Army.
Fields died in June of 2008 at 89, a couple of weeks after attending the Brooks Fields Stakes. In his final days, it was Fields who expressed gratitude. "He felt blessed,'' Lucy said. "He said that he had had a wonderful life, had made more money than he could dream about, had two wonderful wives and wonderful children,'' Lucy said.

And friends wherever life took him.
Jockey agent Richard Grunder expressed his thanks to Fields at one time. Grunder shook his hand and said, "because of you I was able to raise my son, pay my bills and pay my mortgage.''

Fields inspired that kind of gratitude.

There was one other quality that stood above the rest, according to HBPA president Tom Metzen, who commented the day after Fields died.

"He was probably the most honorable man I ever met.''

Northland Trials...... and tribulations for one

2011-06-18T18:25:00.002-05:00

Eikleberry To Serve Seven-Day Suspension

Jockey Ry Eikleberry was a handed a seven-day suspension by the state stewards for his ride in race 4 Thursday night aboard Mesa Mirage which resulted in a disqualification. The suspension begins Monday.

Bella Notte Entered at Arlington

Bella Notte is entered on Sunday in the 4th race at Arlington Park. The classy MN bred mare is owned by Art and Gretchen Eaton and trained by Mac Robertson. James Graham has the mount.

Northlands Futurity Trials

Four 350-yard trials were held today for the Grade 3 Northlands Quarter Horse Futurity. The $63,950 final will be held July 2.
Trainer Amber Blair and jockey Tom Wellington won three of the four trials but only qualified two. Brent Clay qualified three. Charley Hunt one and Ed Ross Hardy four.
Trial results:
Qualifiers
Cruzin The Wagon Clay, Brent 17.662
Jess E James Blair, Amber 17.664
Miss Kara Clay, Brent 17.678
Fishing Time Clay, Brent 17.689
Painted Lies Blair, Amber 17.723
Mighty Quick Shake Hardy, Edward R. 17.738
Mr Corona Blue Hunt, Charley 17.771
Undercover Blue Hardy, Edward R. 17.777
Red Hot Zoomer Hardy, Edward R. 17.79
Howdedoit Hardy, Edward R. 17.81

NON QUALIFIERS
Ivory Celebration Johnson, Robert 17.84
Paint Or More Blair, Amber 17.908
Serenghetti Hardy, Edward R. 17.989
A Painted Doll Clay, Brent 17.994
Runaway With Cartel Hanson, Vic 18.12
Ima Zoomin Girl Hunt, Charley 18.208
Streak N Hot Haglund, Dale 18.215
Temptuous Covergirl Johnson, Robert 18.226
Baileys First Oak Blair, Amber 18.228
Checkin Her Out Hanson, Vic 18.243
Feature Me On TVG Johnson, Robert 18.288
One Kool Wagon Hanson, Vic 18.341
Lacees Blue Eyes Hanson, Vic 18.441
Wave Walkin Black, Casey 18.459
Shakem Skyy Hardy, Edward R. 18.553
Valiant Jessy Hunt, Charley 18.577
Reckless Intent Johnson, Robert 18.585
Shrewd Victory Clay, Brent 18.625
Permiscuous Johnson, Robert 18.77
Flamboyant Jess Johnson, Robert 18.9
Wendell Jackson Hanson, Vic 18.955
Feature Dreamgirl Hanson, Vic 19.229
Holy Black Bart Bethke, Troy 19.825
Br Hotrod Johnson, Robert 19.931
Fast Eddys Eyeyinyou Johnson, Robert SCRATCH

Northbound Pride A True Champion

2011-06-18T09:52:00.002-05:00

BY JIM WELLS

Northbound Pride was a true athlete, a horse so in tune with her occupation that as race time approached she began to anticipate the upcoming event and started preparing herself, filling her lungs with air and probably even envisioning the furlongs ahead.

"She would put on her game face,'' said Sherry Nolan. "She would tuck in her chin, her nostrils would flare and she would expand herself...she was a little bitty thing.''

Nolan – Sherry Honsvall at the time – was Northbound Pride's groom the magnificent summer of the filly's three-year-old season. Northbound Pride was chosen Canterbury Downs' three-year-old filly of the year after the 1989 meet, having won six of seven races, including three stakes, falling short of a perfect meet by inches. She was nosed out as Horse of the Meet by the remarkable Hoist Her Flag and is enshrined in the Canterbury Hall of Fame.

Nolan came to calling Northbound Pride "pootie,'' a diminutive not linked to anything in particular aside from genuine affection. "I don't know why,'' she recalled. "I guess she was just such a little "pooter.''

A native of Bloomington, Nolan had grown up with a love of racing, learned at the knee of her grandfather on visits to Winnipeg. "He was a huge horse racing fan,'' she said. "We would go down to the drug store, buy a Racing Form and then we'd be off on the bus to Assiniboia Downs.''

When Canterbury Downs opened in 1985 so did a racetrack program at Hennepin County Technical College. Sheri was working at the time in the payroll department of the Donaldsons Company department store and convinced her boss to let take morning classes and then return to the office to complete her work for the day.

"We learned how to hotwalk, bandage a horse's legs correctly, about conformation, how to spot lameness. I had a huge notebook filled with stuff. It was a wonderful class,'' Nolan said.

It prepared her to care for a horse like Northbound Pride when trainer Mike Tinker presented the opportunity that summer of 1989.

Nolan needed everything she learned and some inherent resolve and spunk as well.

"More than anything, I was struck by her indomitable spirit,'' Nolan said. And... that appetite. "She ate more than any horse in the barn, even the big boys. And she was so messy when she ate, I had to clean up her stall constantly.''
　
There were also those long spells between races, when Northbound Pride was beside herself, overcome with energy."Sometimes we'd be waiting four or five weeks between races,'' Nolan said. Pootie would let her handlers know that she was bursting inside. "She was so energetic. I'd come out of the stall after caring for her and I was sweating,'' Nolan added. "Mike Tinker would be laughing. Some days I'd come flying out of the stall. I'd say, 'for God's sake, work her. She's ready.' ''

Northbound Pride was nearly always ready... as her past performances illustrate. She won 11 times, was second nine times and third nine times from 38 starts with earnings of $213,983. She raced 22 times at Canterbury, seven times at Oaklawn Park, eight times at Arlington Park and once at Louisiana Downs. She ran in open company on every kind of surface available at the time, turf or dirt, dry or wet and at any distance from a short sprint to a route of ground.

She will be honored with the Northbound Pride Stakes on today's card.
　
A daughter of Proud Pocket from the Our Native mare Our Trelawny, Northbound Pride was bred by the late Dr. Vic Myers at his Northbound Farm near Stillwater. She was injured the autumn of her three-year-old season while training for a race in Kentucky, suffering a slab fracture that sidelined her the next 18 months. She was still competitive when she returned as a five-year-old but went into decline about the time Canterbury went dark and was retired to become a broodmare, without the success she had at the racetrack.

Northbound Pride was killed in a freak accident last July at Shamrock Valley Farm, where she spent the last few years of her life. Bob Dainty, who owns the farm with his wife, Lisa, still gets a lump in his throat when he recalls that fateful evening.
Northbound Pride and her companion mares began running during an intense thunderstorm and the daughter of Proud Pocket was pushed through a fence into unfamiliar pasture. She continued running in the dark of the storm and hit a tree headlong, dying instantly.

"She hit that tree like a locomotive,'' Dainty said. “She tore the bark right off it. It looked like it had been hit by a car.''

Dainty started digging a grave for the champion mare at 10 a.m., not completing the task until 9 p.m. "Those five companion mares stood in a row, side by side, the entire time and never left their spot, watching the entire process,'' Dainty said. "I know... I know it was out of reverence.''