Zero Tolerance Punishing Doing the Right Thing

(This piece is also published in our on-line publication, Midwest Paddock Report, as an editorial)

Legendary Minneapolis Star-Tribune sports writer Patrick Reusse penned a column today detailing the possible suspension of Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Mac Robertson by the state stewards and the Minnesota Racing Commission for a positive drug test. 

Before I get rolling I want to make a few things clear.  Mac Robertson and I are not friends.  We’re really not even acquaintances.  In the three years that I covered Canterbury for the Daily Racing Form, I would say that I maybe spoke to him twice – he’s not fond of publicity and I’m pretty sure he’s not fond of reporters either.

Robertson has also never trained for us.

Basically what I’m saying is that we’ve never had any kind of relationship that would make me a ‘Robertson apologist’ of any kind.

The horse, Purest Form, tested positive for 74 picograms of Methamphetamine.  This is 74 TRILLIONTH of a gram.  Given that two former employees were later proven to be meth users and the minuteness of the drug in the horse’s system, logic would dictate that one of these two people were in contact with the horse, or its feed, at some point, generating the horse’s exposure.

Logic, however, is never a factor in ‘zero tolerance’ policies. 

So much of society is a “gotcha” culture.  Goals have changed from level playing fields and one set of rules for all, to how can we catch someone doing anything and then crow about how tough we are on the alleged rulebreakers.   We can pat ourselves on the back and talk about how the industry is “doing the right thing”.  It really matters very little what is right or true, only that someone can take credit for ridding the sport of these miscreants.

These days no one wants to know the truth.  It’s only he accusation that matters - and gets noticed.  The “gotcha”.  Doing the right thing does not.  Exoneration does not. The truth does not.

Except the truth DOES matter.  An explanation should matter.  Robertson took this minute positive very seriously.  He subjected his staff to a random drug test to try and determine the cause of the contamination.  He took action when meth users were found in his employ.  Given the level in the horse and fact that two people around the horse were meth users, it is a certainty that environmental contamination is to blame.  The system worked, right?  Trainer with a sterling reputation finds that something went sideways. He then does the right thing and helps to police the sport he loves, protecting horses, riders and employees along the way.

Zero tolerance though, baby.  Get the chemists out of the sport. 

A suspension is coming.  A similar situation last year with lesser known trainer Luis Canchari garnered him a 90-day suspension and a $2,000 fine when his horse, Smart Masterpiece, was also found with trace amounts of meth in its system after a race.  The precedent has been set.  I don’t see where the Stewards have any wiggle room.

The Minnesota Racing Commission does though.  This suspension will certainly make its way before them and they will have the opportunity to inject common sense into the process and look at the big picture to determine what happened, why and the negligible effect it had on the horse and the race.  Let’s not punish a trainer for learning the truth and doing the right thing in an instance where there was no competitive advantage gained.

It is possible to be tough on drug cheats as well as do the right thing.

Back From "Vacation"

I’ve been horribly remiss in filling this spot the last month.  I have no legitimate excuses other than I’ve been remarkably busy between the day job, the horses and the Form job that when I have time of my own I find it hard to sit here and bang out 500 words.  It’s a crock, I know, but then again I can’t blow off the paid work so this suffers.  Here are some bullet points to catch everyone up in what’s going on:

TABBY LANE

Tabby tweaked an ankle in her last race.  Nothing serious, thank goodness, but enough to give her some time off.  It wasn’t all R&R for Tabs though, she swam several days a week to keep her fitness level up and she was still inundated with visitors as she is Ms. Social.  Her spot in the Rhone barn allows her to see everyone that comes in and out and soak up all the attention she can get.  She’s back working on the track and I hope that I’ll be previewing a race for her in a few weeks!

CANTERBURY

Story lines around half time are the purse agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and how it’s impacting field size (up a horse from the beginning of the meet) and stakes races (the inaugural Mystic Lake Derby this coming Saturday); Heliskier – an impact thoroughbred gelding that may be the best Minnesota bred ever; Tanner Riggs trying to run away with the jockey title; and Mike Biehler giving Mac Robertson all he can handle in the trainer’s race.

Extreme Day at Canterbury was a huge hit with over 16,000 fans converging to see the ostriches and camels, but the highlight was that day’s ninth race being called on helium by race caller extraordinaire Paul Allen.  You can catch the videos over at Canterbury Live.  The brain child of “Idea Man” Jeff Maday and delivered with an assist from track analyst Angela Hermann, the race is believed to be the first time a race has ever been called on helium.  Watching it from the booth was hilarious and Paul pulled it off with his customary aplomb.  While the animals were fun, the call was great!

There has been some fun wagering activity on Heliskier at Canterbury.  Well, not at Canterbury per se but via an ADW somewhere.  He was such a heavy favorite, the second choice in his last race, the MTA Stallion Auction Stakes, went off at over 300-1.  There were two bets of over $200,000 placed on hi in that race – one to win and one to show.  Why, you ask, would someone risk a win bet to win the same as a safer show bet? The only thing we can figure is that there must be some kind of rebate program wherever he/she is betting that is only available for win betting.  Still, the gelding won while breezing and earned a 86 Beyer for that workout.  I simply cannot wait and see what he can do when challenged.

E SVEIKATA

Who?  Yeah, that’s the next blog post.  I still haven’t introduced you all to the 2 year old filly entrusted to Kathleen O’Connell at Calder that one of our groups owns in partnership with breeders Gabe Puniska and Jenepher Hess.  She’s doing very well and you’ll learn more about this young Even the Score filly in a few days.

Hopefully my break is over and I’ll be back at it every few days or so.  With the $150,000 added Mystic Lake Derby this weekend, Fillies Race for Hope Day and the Lady Canterbury Stakes next weekend and Tabby returning to the races, there should be plenty of fun stories to address and I’ll try and stay roused enough to write ‘em!

Canterbury Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2011

Saturday evening, after the camels were put away, the ostriches rounded up and the extreme conditions in the condition book were filed away until the 2012 Extreme Day at Canterbury Park, another type of extreme celebration occurred at Longshots Bar overlooking the racetrack: a celebration of extreme talent.

Five honorees were inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame including one horse, two trainers, two breeders and a jockey.  Jim Wells, in Canterbury Park’s blog, relates a more detailed accounting of the accomplishments of the Class of 2011 that I will recount here.  If you have the opportunity to get the official program of the evening, Wells does a magnificent job recounting the careers of each of the honorees in more detail.

Stillwater breeders Deb and Jeff Hilger were the first to be honored on the warm summer evening.  The Hilgers own and operate Bleu Valley Farm and bred Minnesota Horses of the Year Bleu Victoriate and Chick Fight and other standouts.

Jack Walsh, in his introduction of the couple, related the story of how Jeff got into the business of racing and how that entry led him to Deb.  Hilger was quick to acknowledge the role racing played in his life as well.

“I wouldn’t have met Deb without racing and that’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

In the small world of Minnesota racing, the circle of the horse racing community is more like family than business.  “Honestly,” Hilger said.  “This is a family that I’m proud to be a part of.”

Deb Hilger, as she mentioned, always has the last word and in this case they were simple and touching, “We are very humbled and grateful to be included here.”

Sir Tricky, described as “the best claim ever brought to this racetrack” by presenter Andrew Offerman, was next to be inducted.  Claimed by Barry and Joni Butzow for $20,000 in April of 2006, Sir Tricky went on to earn over $300,000 in his racing career.  He won on turf and dirt as well as distances from 5 ½ furlongs to a mile and sixteenth.  There were very few, if any, more versatile horses to grace the track at Canterbury Park. 

“It’s difficult not to find a special place in your heart for him,” Joni Butzow said accepting the award on behalf of the gelding.  “He was the Wal-Mart greeter of the (Mac) Robertson barn and you couldn’t pass him without giving him some attention.  He could be difficult at times, but once on the track he was all business.”

Sir Tricky was retired at the end of last season after reeling off three straight wins including his career capper, his second Minnesota Turf Championship.  Sir Tricky is now teaching young children to ride at Birchberry Farm.

The Quarter Horse was not to be left out on this evening and the most successful Quarter Horse trainer to ever operate at Canterbury, Ed Ross Hardy, was inducted by Jeff Maday.  In addition to winning more races than any other Quarter Horse trainer, Hardy is in the midst of a remarkable run of nine straight Quarter Horse training titles and has won a record six Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derbies. 

Hardy was gracious and brief, thanking his owners, Canterbury officials and most especially, his wife.  “I wouldn’t be here without my wife,” he said.  “We’re a team.”

Track announcer Paul Allen took the microphone next to induct jockey Derek Bell.  Allen had some fun with Bell’s proclivity of avoiding interviews after races by attempting to interview a lawn jockey to illustrate the difficulty reporters – and track announcers – have had over the years to get Bell to say a few words.  As Allen said, Bell prefers that his talking be done on the racetrack and it’s hard to argue with the run of success he’s had there.

“Derek is always good in big moments,” Allen said. “And he is great in stakes races.”

The record bears that out.  While he’s been the leading rider at Canterbury six times, he has a record 22 Festival Day wins, a total of 50 stakes wins in Minnesota and on June 14, 2002, Bell won a record six races on a single card.  As an exclamation point to these accomplishments, Bell won three races on the card preceding his induction.

“I really don’t talk much,” Bell said.  “I let the owners talk about their horses.  I’m just the passenger.”

Bell provided what was the most poignant moment of the evening when, returning to the rostrum at the end of the night, publically thanked Randy Sampson for sticking by him after he, with six other riders, were banned by Tampa Bay Downs during an unspecified investigation.  After nearly two years, Bell received a letter from the investigating attorney that exonerated him, but the damage was already done.

“Those charges were bullshit,” Bell said, his voice full of emotion.  “And I want to thank Randy for believing in me during that time.  It really meant a lot to me.”

The final honoree of the evening was trainer Mac Robertson.  Owner Barry Butzow remarked inducting Mac that “If it was his (Mac’s) choice, it wouldn’t be an owner introducing him – it would be a horse!”, alluding to Robertson’s stated preference for equine company over human.  His record shows that it is a very successful bond.

Robertson holds so many records at Canterbury it would be probably easier to list which training records he doesn’t own.  For the past six seasons he has been the leading trainer at the Shakopee oval and he holds the track training records for: single-season and all-time in-the-money percentages; all-time win percentage; and single-season earnings.

Robertson, who along with Hardy illustrated the belief that horse trainers are men of few words, was brief in his remarks.  He thanked his owners and family and also singled out his mother for special recognition.

The night was warm and a humid, but the hospitality and the depth of feeling in the Minnesota racing family Saturday night was only warm. Congratulations to all the inductees, you’ve provided many of the greatest moments in Minnesota racing history.  Thank you for your contributions and we look forward to many more.

Canterbury Rallies to Try and Save the Season - and It's Future

(UPDATE, JULY 14, 1:36 PM CT - Judge Kathleen Gearin has ruled against Canterbury Park and Running Aces, saying that the funding mechanism for the MRC does require a legislative appropriation.  Racing has been cancelled for Friday and the weekend is in jeopardy as well.)

Two hundred and forty three people responded to the Facebook invitation for the press conference at Canterbury Park.  Nearly 2,000 showed up to hear political leaders speak out for the reopening of the racetrack and even a pitch for budget negotiators to include a racino in any budget agreement.

The homemade signs were great and some very creative.  One espoused the economic virtues of ramen noodles; another that mommy and daddy needed to get back to work; the entire crowd erupted when a horse was walked past the gathering near the winner’s circle with a “Let me run!” blanket draped over its back.

State Senator Claire Robling set the tone early when, addressing horsemen and Canterbury employees she stated that it was “hard for me to look at you because of what the shutdown has done to you.  I’m embarrassed.”

While she alone wasn’t responsible for the impasse, she is part of one half of the problem; guilt by association, if you will.  She did utter a phrase that I’ve been waiting to hear for weeks, “I’d like to see a compromise.”  Compromise, that former cornerstone of American governance, has given way to accusatory negotiations and rigid, dogmatic politicking.  Neither side is immune from responsibility in this disaster.

Robling, and her Minnesota House colleague Michael Beard co-authored a letter to the chief budget negotiators for both parties, that centered around getting Canterbury Park reopened as quickly as possible and working together to approve a racino bill during the coming special session.

The attention was coming at a critical juncture at the track for this season: trainers are coming to the economic realization that it’s time to race or move.  Earlier in the day, trainer Valerie Lund, who brought her stable up from Arizona for the summer, had this to say:

“I cannot afford to train these horses, employ grooms, pay feed, farrier and veterinarians without racing, to generate income for the stable. I do not wish to take my business elsewhere but I am finalizing plans to ship to Ellis Park in Kentucky on Thursday if Canterbury Park does not reopen for racing this week. Many other trainers are finalizing similar plans. If the track loses these large stables it will not have enough horses to run a meet once the government does eventually settle its budget.”

She’s not the only one.  This weekend is the tipping point.  I’ve already noticed more and more horses with their last races at Canterbury Park showing up in the entries and result charts of Prairie Meadows, Arlington Park and even Lincoln Park. 

Trainer Mac Robertson expressed his support for the track and its employees. “I feel worse for the track – the Sampsons and the employees; than I do for myself.  I can hold out for a while,” he said, “but owners want to race.”

Local horsemen like owner/breeder Jeff Hilger also took the stage.  “I am very proud of the horsemen I work with the way they are handling a very, very troublesome situation,” he said.  Hilger has stated during hearings at the capitol that without a racino he would be forced out of the horse business after building a business – and a lifestyle – for decades.  “Horse racing is not the Sport of Kings in Minnesota,” he added.

Perhaps most articulate and heartwarming was jockey Paul Nolan, a transplanted British jockey who chose to make Minnesota his home.  “I’m a jockey,” he said.  “But I am also a Minnesota resident.  I don’t want to ride in Iowa.  I don’t to ride in Illinois.  I want to ride here.”  But in a jockey’s world it’s no ride, no pay, so Nolan is going to have a choice to make sooner rather than later.

From my perspective, Tabby fits a race written for about a week or here at Canterbury: a $7500 starter allowance.  It’s a race we’ve been waiting to be written for weeks, but I dare not wait to point to it should she also be suited for a race at Prairie Meadows in the interim.  I KNOW the Prairie Meadows race is going to run, I don’t know if the politicians and judges in St. Paul will get their act together in enough time to run.  Additionally, all the horses that have had races cancelled out from under them automatically move to the front of the preference line.  I don’t deny the fairness of this; in fact, I agree with and understand it.  But it makes me wonder if we would even get into the race even if we did wait.  Until the new condition book is published at Prairie Meadows, I don’t know what they have to offer but if it ends up being a choice between the two, how do I take a chance on racing here?  If the races end up on the same day, or close to it, I could dual enter, but if they’re not?  I have to take the sure thing over the maybe.

The future of the meet, and perhaps of racing in Minnesota, is in the hands of one judge and a handful of legislators.  The University of Minnesota has pegged the industry as worth nearly a billion dollars to the state and at a time when money is at a premium, you’d think that would mean something. 

Whether or not the meet can survive the shutdown is up to the horse population, said track President and CEO Randy Sampson.  Sadly, if there is no decision from the judge or a resolution by the government shortly, Lund’s statement will prove prophetic.

Mayor John Schmitt of Shakopee summed up the feelings of many when he said, “I was here for day one; I do NOT want to be here for day zero!”

Minnesota Fesitval of Champions Day - Preview

Tomorrow is the 17th renewal of Minnesota Festival of Champions Day and it was originated to celebrate the best horses bred in Minnesota much along the lines of Maryland Millions or Cal Cup Day. Not all the races have been contested every year but each year it is looked to anxiously by Minnesota owners hoping to have their baby crowned a champion right here on the home turf in front of family and friends. It’s a bittersweet day, though, since it also marks the end of live racing for the year. Looking forward to live racing is what gets a lot of us through the long winters here and to have it be over so quickly amazes me every year.

I don’t know a lot about Quarter Horse racing except that they sure are fast! I’m not going to get into any detail on the two QH stakes except to give you my selections based upon very little!

Minnesota QH Futurity 350 Yards
$15,000

Selection: Seis It Fast

Minnesota QH Derby 400 Yards
$15,000

Selection: Six It Up

On to the thoroughbred races on the card now.

Minnesota Distaff Classic – 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt
$50,000

A disappointing five horse field heads into the starting gate. Interesting side note in the race, only two trainers are competing for top honors here: Mac Robertson and Gary Scherer.

1 Sheso Dazzling (Robertson/Martinez): Started the season with a dazzling MSW win, trouncing a field of 9 by over 15 lengths and barely breaking a sweat doing it. Her next start was at Prairie Meadows, looking for some of that slot money, where she finished a healthy 2nd in a $29,000 allowance. Back home again she nabbed a $19,000 state bred allowance before taking the last seven weeks off after moving from the Von Hemel barn over to Robertson’s care.

2 Nokomis (Scherer/Bell): It’s kind of hard to tell where she fits among Minn breds since she spent her life in Kentucky where she didn’t do much but is two for two here at Canterbury. I don’t think she’s near close to Chick Fight, but a step up from her last could get her on the board.

3 Chick Fight (Robertson/Butler): The 4-5 ML favorite is Chick Fight. She came back from her year off to lose a nose decision to Special Occasion in the Lady Slipper but won her three subsequent sprints over the main track. Where she has faltered has been trying longer or the turf course. She’ll be flying from the gate and most likely will still be in front at the wire. Class should win this for her, though I really don’t LOVE her over this distance.

4 Shasha’s Fierce (Scherer/Eikleberry): A nice racehorse who has really perked up since asked to go two turns, but I think she will be behind the top two. She was clearly second best in the Minnesota Oaks and if two turns is really her calling, then look out.

5 Chasin Mason (Robertson/Cardoso): While you like to think that every horse has a chance and that’s why the run the race, you can throw out Chasin Mason from the outside. The mare hasn’t won since October 2009 and has only competed at the $4000 and $5000 levels.

Selections:

Chick Fight
Sasha’s Fierce
Nokomis

Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship – 6 Furlongs, Dirt
$50,000

Another six horse field headed by the brilliant speedster Bella Notte.

1 Special Occasion (Padilla/Rivera): 11-1 winner of the Lady Slipper who clearly benefitted from the speed duel between super fillies Chick Fight and Bella Notte. Two seconds since then but one was a sound defeat at the hands of Chick Fight sprinting 6.5.

2 Her Sweet Saint (Hanson/Keith): 3-year old winner of the Frances Gentner but destroyed in the Minnesota Oaks it’s pretty clear that this one prefers sprinting.

3 Downerbythemeadow (Johnson/Arroyo): This is the lady that Special Occasion wants to see pushing Bella Notte on the lead. While she can do it for a few strides, there is no way she keeps up and she’ll do little damage to the favorite.

4 Becker County Miss (Johnson/Rincon): Beaten by Special Occasion by 12 lengths earlier this season while both were losing to Chick Fight. She certainly has some talent and hopes her stablemate can wear down the top choice, but it’s going to be a tough one.

5 Bella Notte (Robertson/Eikleberry): Bella Notte comes into this race having just dismantled a field of $62,000 Optional Claimers in Chicago and looks very sharp. She was able to hold sway in the Princess Elaine this year, but in her two losses she was pressured from the get go and she faded near the wire. In the Lady Slipper it allowed Special Occasion to sneak through and nip Chick Fight by a nose. Tough to see that happening again.

6 Shot of Silver (Rhone/Butler): Solid $10,000 claimer but could be out of her element in here.

So is there a lady in here that can push Bella Notte from the beginning and give Special Occasion the chance to get the upset again? The only other early speedster in the race is Downerbythemeadow and she just does not seem to have the class to stay with Bella Notte for very long. The exacta looks to be solid with Bella Notte over Special Occasion. Should she prevail, it would give Mac Robertson four Distaff Sprint titles in a row and the first back to back wins by a horse since Nidari in 2000-2001.

Selections

Bella Notte
Special Occasion
Becker County Miss

Minnesota Turf Championship – 1 Mile, Turf
$35,000

1 Sir Tricky (Robertson/Martinez): While not the class he once was (2008 Sprint Champion), in this short field he could be dangerous and is coming off of back to back wins in mid-level open claiming company.

2 Sarahs Son (Robertson/Bell): Robertson trainee is looking to be a back to back Turf Champion. He’s having another solid year winning the Blair’s Cove and finishing 2nd in his other three races. He’ll be closing hard to try and finish this field off.

3 Mack’s Blackhawk (Jensen/Goodwin): The pacesetter should be Mack’s Blackhawk a four year old gelding that finished third behind Sarahs Son in the Blair’s Cove and then took two in a row while posting a nice 80 Beyer while being bumped in his tune up for this one.

4 Minnesota Mafia (Scherer/Rivera): Mare Minnesota Mafia looks to be out of her element here. She’s coming off the turf for this one but does not look like the same mare since she threw her rider at Remington Park last fall.

5 Luvin George (Rarick/Eikleberry): Coming in off of his $25,000 Maiden Claiming win, though he’s improved considerably on the turf. I don’t think he’s improved THAT much.

6 Beau Named Sue (Miller/Olesiak): Numbers seem to fit and it was nice looking back over her PPs and recalling how she was beat by Fizzy Pop last summer. I don’t think he has the class to beat the top in here.

Selections

Sarahs Son
Mack’s Blackhawk
Sir Tricky

Northern Lights Debutante – 6 Furlongs, Dirt
$55,000

Too many with too few starts to break down the entire field of two year old fillies.

Co favorites going in are Congrats and Roses who is two for two in her brief career and Esprit de Bleu whose only race was an absolutely dominating debut win, smoking a MSW field of 9 by almost 11 lengths. She hasn’t been back since that June 17 win, but has been working steadily with a sharp 5 furlong gate work last week.

Everybody seems to want the lead from the open in this one – everyone except the Bernell Rhone trainee Sam’s Grindstone. She would really need to step it up here in order to win, but should Esprit de Bleu not have the class to hold off the entire field early, look for Sam to come late and try and steal this thing. That’s where the value bet is going to be and I’ll have a small wager and use her in the exotics.

Selections:

Sam’s Grindstone
Esprit de Bleu
Congrats and Roses

Minnesota Sprint Championship – Six Furlongs, Dirt
$50,000

1 Timber Hills (Rarick/Goodwin): Still a maiden after being DQ’d from victory in a $25,000 Maiden Claimer in June, this one will need to really step it up to break his maiden in here.

2 Coconino Slim (Porter/Shepherd): A bit of unknown, lost by a head in his debut but bounced back to win next out impressively, though these are his only two starts of his career. Whether he can step up in here without the seasoning that the others have is the question.

3 First Captain (Hanson/Keith): First Captain was a bit warmer earlier in the meet but seems to have tailed off more recently while tackling tougher than before. This group is even tough than those so I don’t see her breaking through here.

4 Bet Your Boots (Bethke/Rivera): Last year’s Minnesota Futurity winner has had a nice year with stakes wins in Nebraska, Manitoba and right here in Shakopee in the VS Meyers and a nice second place showing in the Minnesota Derby. He’s much more suited to this distance, though.

5 Nomorewineforeddie (Riecken/Butler): Comes in as the slight morning line favorite. Last out was a third place finish in a $35,000 Optional Claiming race but if you look to the right, it’s hard to see a more troubled trip line! Stumbled at the start,boxed in, blocked and then steadied. Wow.

6 Bizet (Padilla/Eikleberry): The defending champion finished behind Nomorewineforeddie in their last prep for this race – though neither won – while Bizet easily handled him, and everyone else, in the 10,000 Lakes earlier in the season with Bet Your Boots getting schooled by his elders in that one.

7 Mack’s Monarch (Huntington/Luark): Really the only horse in the race that consistently likes to try and wire the field – odd for a sprint race – but class is decidedly against him in here.

This race has produced several multiple winners over the years including Iwazza Bad Boy, Ryans Moment and Careless Navigator twice each and Crocrock who scored three times in a row and then nailed a fourth in five years. Bizet is back this year to try and stake claim as another back to back champion but it won’t be easy.

I think the three in the middle are the biggest threats to win this thing and there are things to like about each. With three and a half months of maturity in him and a move back to a sprint, I like Bet Your Boots in this one.

Selections

Bet Your Boots
Nomorewineforeddie
Bizet

Northern Lights Futurity – Six Furlings, Dirt
$55,000

With three maidens and every other horse in the race only having won once, this one is a bit of a more wide open affair than the others today. Only three of the horses in the race have another race in them after their maiden wins, two of those in a stakes and only ML favorite Mondavi is stakes placed.

Truly no one stands out in what is essentially a first level allowance race. There are a couple of impressive first out winners in here like Bernell Rhone’s Samendra and Mondovi. Another first time winner was Mr. Bubba Cat, but it’s hard to hang your hat on a three and a half furlong race. Especially since he hasn’t been back since that race in June and returns with Lasix.

In this one I’m going to go with Samendra. If he can improve off of that first out race he could have his way with this field.

Selections

Samendra
Mondovi
Dancingwithbigron

Minnesota Classic – 1 1/16 Miles, Dirt
$50,000

With defending champion, and my horse crush, Perfect Bull, out with an injury this season, the field of seven is not dominated by a single contender but does have some old warriors as well as a youngster trying to stake claim to the meets top three year old colt or gelding.

1 Suddenly Silver (Robertson/Eikleberry): Last year’s classic runner up draws the rail and the mantle of luke warm morning line favorite. In only four starts this season he is waiting for his first win. His efforts haven’t been poor at all, but neither have they been impressive placing in each race since losing in his debut in the 10,000 Lakes. He seems to have been pointed for this one though and with these connections that always means trouble for everyone else.

2 Cubfanbudman (Riecken/Butler): Beyers have been decent and a nice third place in open allowance company last out while encountering some trouble could signal that he is ready to take the next step.

3 Tsar Tops Dancer (LIftin/Rivera): Upset Minnesota Derby winner really came to life his first time around two turns winning at an amazing 29-1 while dueling for the lead much of the way. His speed figures tend to put him a step behind some of his older rivals, but if truly has woken up and smelled the coffee going longer, he could very well take another step forward today.

4 Wally’s Choice (Biehler/Bell): The “Old timer”, a nine year old gelding and two time winner of this race has had a less than marginal season, running six times but his best finish being a fourth. He may have seen better days, but he’s still a joy to watch run.

5 Crypto Edition (Robertson/Cardoso): I’d be very surprised if a $7500 claimer can step up and win this race.

6 Banker’s D Light (Van Winkle/Keith): Shipping home to run in this one, if I don’t think a $7500 claimer can win this race, I certainly don’t think that a horse that has run – and not won – for as low as $4000 can win it either.

7 Jack and Max (Robertson/Martinez): The third Robertson entry in the race. Allowance winner may try and wire this field, but it’ll be tough to do coming from the outside, especially if Suddenly Silver wants the lead today from the rail.

In a field with no real stand out, it’s hard to tell who to pick. I think that the way the race will unfold is that Suddenly Silver may end up having things his own way and could very well prevail on the front end. Last season was a short one for him, similar to this one where he was pointed right at this race but fell short against champion Perfect Bull. He’ll give you a game effort every time and the distance will be more to his liking than what he has run in the past.

Selections

Suddenly Silver
Tsar Tops Dancer
Jack and Max

I will be blogging live tomorrow from high atop Canterbury Park thanks to Jeff Maday and his staff at the track. I hope you’ll pop in from time to time on-line and join me as I provide live updates all day long from the track.

Princess Elaine & Shot of Gold Stakes Previews

Prior to today's featured race (well, maybe to just our happy crew) the Princess Elaine and Shot of Gold Stakes will be contested at Canterbury Park. The Princess Elaine is mile and a sixteenth contest over the turf for Minnesota bred fillies and mares while the Shot of Gold is an open stake for 3-year olds and upward going six furlongs over the main track. Both carry purses of $35,000.

Princess Elaine

This race provides the continuation of one of the summers more compelling story lines: the battle between Chick Fight and Bella Notte for supremacy at the top of the older distaff division at Canterbury. Both are Mac Robertson trainees and both will point to the same races all summer long. Their first hookup was in the Lady Slipper earlier this season where they burned each other out on the engine and allowed Special Occasion to sprint away to the victory.

1. Chick Fight (Robertson/Butler) - Both races this season were decided by a nose - one in her favor and one was not. Her win in a $20,000 Optional Claiming race evened the score against Special Occasion. This is her first trip over the turf and she's only been this long once, but that was tearing up the field in last year's Minnesota Distaff Classic.

2. Five Nations (Scherer/Martin) - A nice start to her season with a close second in her debut at Hawthorne and followed that up with a win here at Canterbury while stretching to a mile. Both starts were over the turf and at $25,000 Claiming.

3. Pretty as a Smile (Scherer/Goodwin) - Close up in many but doesn't show a win in her past performances. It will be tough for her to power past the top two in this one.

4. Bella Notte (Robertson/Bell) - She figures to step up after her seasonal debut which was a third in the Laddy Slipper. She has one turf start over this surface which was a third in last year's Princess Elaine. She led that one until the stretch and this may prove to be a bit a long for her.

5. Minnesota Mafia (Scherer/Rivera) - Since beating Bella Notte in last year's Princess Elaine, the defending champion had a second in the Minnesota Distaff Classic before lost her rider at Remington. Since then she's been a non-factor in two races. This is a tough spot for her seasonal debut.

6. Tickleyourfancy (Bravo/Nolan) - This lightly raced three year old may have bitten off more than she can chew in this one. While she's won two of three, she was drilled in the Lady Slipper by almost 16.

The top two choices are clearly head and shoulders above the rest of the field, but they look like they'll be battling up front for the lead and I'm not sure that both - or either - of them can survive it. Third choice, Minnesota Mafia loves the Canterbury turf course and you can be sure that Scherer will have her ready to fire first out. I think she can overcome Bella Notte but I think Chick Fight will be too strong.

1. Chick Fight
2. Minnesota Mafia
3. Bella Notte


Shot of Gold

Minnesota Sprint champion Bizet, winner of this year's 10,000 Lakes will take on six others in the Shot of Gold Stakes.

1. Devil's Game (Keller/Mello) - Prairie Meadows invader is going to have to improve mightily if he wants to take on the tops in here. A nice horse having a nice season, but will need more than has shown.

2. Humble Smartly (Creighton/Birzer) - Another PM horse who has had his way with local competition in Iowa, Arkansas and Oklahoma and came within a head of six wins in a row at these three racetracks with the only loss being in an Arkansas bred Stakes race. SA definite threat in here.

3. Heraldo (CHI) (Wolochuk/Martin) - Second sprinting over the turf for the first time in the Honor the Hero Turf Express here at Canterbury. May be a notch below what it's going to take to win in this one.

4. Trying Brian (Robertson/Butler) -Fourth in the Brooks Fields over a yielding turf course. The last time he raced over the main track was in a seven furlong $50,000 claimer at Churchill.

5. Celluloid Hero (Robertson/Bell) - Sprinting over the main track is his specialty and has lived at higher level claiming races in Chicago and Arkansas.

6. Bizet (Padilla/Eikleberry) - 10,000 Lakes champion came back flat in a $25,000 Optional Claiming race at Prairie Meadows. If he can recapture his last couple of races of 2009, he fits right in here nicely.

7. Miranda Diane (Seaton/Stevens) - Mare has been smoking at Will Rogers reeling off three straight wins including two stakes, albeit all against her own sex. Her Beyers show she belongs, but it's going to be tough getting it done from the outside.

Miranda Diane along with Devil's Game and Humble Smartly should all be wanting the lead early. While the two boys have the inside, the mare faces a tough task coming in from the 7 spot. The race should set up nicely for the Mac Robertson duo if they are classy enough to chase down Humble Smartly. Call this one a hunch bet.

1. Trying Brian
2. Humble Smartly
3. Celluloid Hero

Opening Day at Canterbury - Come to the Races, Buy a Horse

Tonight racing returns to Canterbury Park. This will kick off the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of racing at the Shakopee, MN oval. As always, track management is ready to make the most of the short live racing season we have up here in Minnesota once again making Canterbury a summertime destination entertainment experience.

The biggest change this year is free admission all season long. Right out of the gate you're walking in $5 to the good! Like last season, every day regular racing day will be themed:

Thursday Nights (starting in June) - Buck Night! $1 hot dogs, programs and other specials;

Friday Nights - Minnesota's Biggest Happy Hour! Drink specials and live music!

Saturdays - Silver Celebration. Saturdays will feature a look back at classic moments in Canterbury's history.

Sundays - Pepsi Family Day! Free pony rides, face paintings and other activities.

Just a few of the special events planned for the season include:

Memorial Day's year's supply of gas giveaway;

June 25's Canterbury Uncorked - an evening of unlimited food and fine wine for only $40;

An 80's celebration on June 25 on Hot Tub Time Machine night followed the next day by;

Silver Anniversary Celebration - $0.25 programs, $0.25 Pepsi and free commemorative posters, and;

The always popular July 3rd Fireworks spectacular.

Opening weekend also provides some great racing with two stakes slated for Saturday, the $35,000 Lady Slipper Stakes for Minnesota bred fillies and mares and the $35,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes for Minnesota bred Colts and Geldings. Each race provides each own challenges and both fields are very competitive.

Lady Slipper Stakes

This race makes me almost regret missing Opening Weekend (family conflict). The most compelling storyline of this year's race is the showdown between the Mac Robertson trained duo of 4-year old filly Chick Fight and 6-year old mare Bella Notte. Both a two of the most successful ladies that Minnesota has ever produced.

Last season, Bella Notte dominated the older ranks winning two of the three stakes she entered included last year's renewal of this event. She capped off her season with an absolutely dominating win in the Minnesota Distaff Sprint winning by 15 lengths and earning a lifetime best 100 Beyer. With earnings north of $146,000 and finishing in the money in eleven of thirteen lifetime starts (ten for ten at Canterbury), she's an absolute force.

No slouch herself, Chick fight started her 2009 Canterbury campaign getting beat by almost 12 lengths in a non-descript $25,000 Optional Claiming race. After two months off and a switch to jockey Dean Butler, Chick Fight ripped it up winning the Frances Genter, Minnesota Oaks and the Minnesota Distaff Classic in a row. Though her Beyers were not as impressive as her older stablemate and rival, her wins were dominating.

Throw in three other stakes winning or placed fillies and mares and you have yourself a very competitive Lady Slipper.

10,000 Lakes Stakes

The 10,000 Lakes marks the return to Canterbury of my horse crush Perfect Bull. Unlike his final races at Canterbury last season though, Bull won't be favored and will have his work cut out for him as he breaks from the disadvantageous 11 post in the six furlong sprint. Additionally, the field features several top notch sprinters including the 2009 Kenny Shoepf winner Nomorewineforeddie, the 2009 Minnesota Sprint Champion Bizet, 2009 Northern Lights Futurity champion Bet Your Boots, Canterbury legends and multiple stakes winners the 9-year olds Sir Tricky and Wally's Choice and last year's 10,000 Lakes runner up Trickyville Dew.

Upper Midwest Two-Year Old in Training Sale

I've mentioned on multiple occasions that ours is the only sport that you can attend one night, enjoy yourself and then buy your own franchise. Saturday night that all can come true! After the great stakes races, stick around for the Upper Midwest Two-Year Old in Training Sale sponsored by the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association. Some featured stallions this year include Silk Song, Ballado Chieftan, Macho Uno and Smarty Jones. These two year olds will be ready race this season at Canterbury and beyond so come on out and get into the game!

Robertson/Bell Combine for Sprint Championship

Mac Robertson and Derek Bell hit the trifecta winning their third Championship race together this afternoon nailing down the Minnesota Sprint Championship with Bizet. The lead group of Bizet, Nomorewineforeddie, L'Etoile du Nord and A Steel Trap all ran together until the top of the stretch when L'Etoile du Nord unseated rider Nik Goodwin (horse and rider were fine) in very close quarters, scattering the field and leaving Bizet and A Steel Trap to fight it out to the wire with Bizet getting the best of it.

Results (my pick) - jockey/trainer

1. Bizet (1) - Bell/Robertson
2. A Steel Trap (3) - Butler/Domenosky
3. Nomorewineforeddie (2) -Rieken/Eikleberry

Last Stakes on the Card - Minn Sprint Championship

We head into the last Stakes race of the season at Canterbury Park. It has been a very chalky afternoon which has allowed me to hit 4 of 6 trifectas, something I've never come close to before. Of course not one of them paid more than $20, but a win is a win. In this race I picked the morning line 5-1 Bizet (now 5/2 thanks to the Roberson/Bell success today). A huge win last out dropping back to a sprint where he hasn't missed the board here this season. He did lose to the ML choice Nomorewineforeddie in the Meyers in July. My fear is that L'Etoile Du Nord and Bizet get wrapped into a speed duel which will set up things perfectly for the favorite.

Bella Notte Dominates Distaff Sprint

Bella Notte toyed with stablemate Thanks for the Tip up until the turn for home and then turned it on to snke the field by a solid seven and going away. She ran exactly like a 1-5 shot is supposed to. The win gives trainer Mac Robertson his third winner on the day and Bell gets his second with the Sprint Championship remaining. Robertson has two going in the next and Bell is abord one of them.

Meet's Human Champions Honored

The leading owner, trainer and jockey are being honored between the 8th and 9th races today.

Owner: Jer-Mar Stables
Trainer: Mac Robertson
Jockey: Dean Butler

Congratulations to all the winners, but especially to Dean Butler, regular rider of our boy Fizzy Pop. Nicely done!

Attendance is up 8% this year according to Curtis Sampson, head of the Canterbury ownership group. In a tough economy it's a testament to the popularity of racing in Minnesota as well as the fantastic job that Canterbury Park does in bringing in the fans and keep them coming back.

Observations of a Rookie

It's been a great weekend at Canterbury Park. We had opening night on Friday and yesterday an even larger crowd turned out for day two of the meet and the Lady Slipper and 10,000 Lakes Stakes events. I showed up a bit later in the card to catch the two Stakes as well as the Upper Midwest 2-Year Olds in Training Sale being held after the races. About 20 horses were consigned to the sale, all but two of them two year olds. Most were Iowa and Minnesota breds, but there were a couple of Kentucky breds in the sale as well as a couple of Florida breds. The Florida breds were of particular interest to me since we race in Florida over the winter, but I was more interested as a casual observer rather than a buyer. If I told you all that trying to get Miss Belle Express to the racetrack and that whole experience didn't leave a bit of a scar, I'd be lying, so I'm going to stick with claiming horses for a while.

I approached this more as a casual observer rather than on any kind of reporting mission. There appeared to be over 30 buyers and with only 20 horses, things were looking up out of the gate. The first gal through the sale was Sunny Silver, an Iowa bred bay filly by Silver Ghost out of Colonial Currency. The gavel went down on her at $21,000. Looking back a few generations - and I have no idea how this all nicks together (in the vernacular of the trade) - she has Mr. Prospector, Pleasant Colony and Buckpasser in her family and I figure that has to be a pretty good thing. Again, how they all work together is beyond my scope.

WARNING SHAMELESS PLUG: Technically it's not shameless because it's not about me, but anyway... When I attend an auction with the intent to buy, I would go to Star of the North Bloodstock. Proprietor David M. Miller (below, left, working the pedigrees with auctioneer Lyle Booster) got me into the partnership business and has a nice eye for horses. The fact that he loves what he does makes him that much better at doing it. This goes back to my philosophy of knowing what you don't know and then either learning or hiring experts for assistance. David buys horses all over the country and travels to the Kentucky sales religiously, so you're not limited locally. When the economy swings a bit, I'd love to put together a bit of a more expensive group and go to Keeneland with David and try to nail down a nice black type runner - take the big shot, if you will. But I digress (and am NOW starting to get a bit shameless!)...

The horses went through the ring without a hitch thereafter. A few friends had their eye on some horses, most notably Allegretto (Posse - Di Graza Girl - Top Account) and Sasha's Fierce (Include - Pareepassoo - Distinctive Pro). Allegretto was sold privately before the sale and Sasha's Fierce was the sale topper at $25,500 (consigned by Wood-Mere Farm). Obviously they have good taste - if not the wallet to grab either of these two.

The quickest worked the day before in the Under Tack Show was Hip # 16, Sheso Dazzling (Dazzling Falls - Wa Sarah - Wa Bert) who went a furling in 10.94. This did not, however, translate into the highest selling price of the day but into a more modest $12,000.

This started a conversation at my table regarding the quick works of young horses leading up to a sale. The analogy I often use is if you push a two-year old to run hard and fast too early, isn't that similar to teaching an 11-year old how to throw a curve ball? A child that young is bound to suffer some damage by the torque created in the throwing motion. Isn't a 2-year old subject to damage if their joints are not fully capable of handling such work? The California Thoroughbred Breeder's Association has published several interesting reports on quick sale workers and the correlation to success on the racetrack.

My friend Janet brought up a really interesting point. It would be great to know who prepped the horse for sale. If you know the mindset of the trainer, you can get to know whether or not the young horse is getting ready at his own pace or if he is being pushed past his limits in order to get the best price. Bernell Rhone has always told me, it's not necessarily the speed of the work, but how they did it and how they came back from it. Another reason why hiring a bloodstock agent or other horse professional is a good idea - this is what they get paid to know.

As the sale moved briskly along, there was only one of the 18 that entered the ring that was no saled. Pretty good everyone at the table thought. Until we realized that there was at least one consignor buying back their stock. Not exactly a sale. I don't have the final numbers on the sale, but they should be posted on the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association's website shortly. I'll be interested to see just how many of the horses were bought back and how many were actually sold.

The steal of the sale - maybe. White Earth (Demidoff - Storm in Sight - Storm Bird). This filly had some issues at the under tack show and was unwilling to be worked for the preview. Folks that saw her performance said it didn't seem like an angry type of bucking, more like an "I don't feel like doing this" kind of bucking. I wasn't there to see it, so I can't comment but with grandsires Mr. Prospector and Storm Bird the $2700 may be a bargain (I don't know about the Secretariat cross, but it was fun seeing him in her pedigree!). She'll go into my stable watch and we'll see how she turns out.

In all, it was a fun experience. I have some horses to watch now going forward and though none will join Fizzy Pop in Bernell's barn, it broadened my horizons just a little bit more.

CANTERBURY STAKES ROUND UP

The Preakness Stakes and the promise of sunnier (though not much warmer) weather brought over 9,000 fans to the race track yesterday to witness the first stakes races of the season: the $35,000 Lady Slipper Stakes and the $35,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes. Perennial leading trainer Mac Robertson and perennial leading jockey Derek Bell joined forces to sweep both races.

In the Lady Slipper Robertson trainees Bella Notte and Thanks for the Tip took the field one-two for all six furlongs. Thanks for the Tip made it interesting in the stretch getting to within a head, but Bella Notte repelled the challenge to win by a length and three quarters.

Bell and Robertson teamed up again to nail down the 10,000 Lakes with 8-year old Canterbury favorite Sir Tricky. Captain Canaveral bolted to the early lead and the Tammy Domenosky trainee had the measure of the field until he started drifting slightly in the stretch under Paul Nolan. That was the opportunity the aging warrior needed and Sir Tricky pulled clear to win it by two.

Thoughts Bouncing Around My Head Today

I Am Woman will try and make it four for four in 2009 tonight as undoubtedly the odds-on favorite in the first race at Balmoral tonight. Post time is 6:30 CT and at that moment my boys and I will be driving on I-15 toward their mom's house in N. Las Vegas. If anyone out there catches the race, if you could drop me an e-mail with the result I'd appreciate it. TrackMaster harness results are no way near as timely as their Thoroughbred brethren are so until I get to the hotel, I will be resultless.

It was quite a day for Minnesota connected horses yesterday. David M. Miller outlines it best in his View From the Quarter Pole blog entry today. Best of luck to Mac Robertson and the Win Willy crew. That is going to be a fun horse to watch the next few weeks. I hope Canterbury can still be an attractive enough destination for Mac and other trainers every summer. David covers that a bit as well.

While Tampa Bay Derby pacesetter Perfect Bull didn't have it to hold Saturday against this ilk, be certain that the Bernell Rhone trained colt will be a factor in the Minnesota Derby. It was exciting to see a Minn-bred in with the big boys and even more so to see him up in front. I hope he came back well so we can enjoy him up here. I remember the day after he arrived in Shakopee from the Assmussen barn in Texas. My wife and I happened to be in the Rhone barn visiting Somerset Sam and Fizzy Pop that morning. Bernell was excited to show him to us and he lived up to his billing. He was a strapping black colt at two and just looked the part of a racehorse. I've been following him ever since and while not successful in the Tampa Bay Derby, I think he has a future in less ambitious stakes racing for a couple of years.

Val over at Foolish Pleasure asks an interesting question about trainer Scott Lake's bankruptcy. I don't know a lot about Lake's situation other than it happened, but boy can I see this spreading if things don't turn around economically soon. Owner's that can't pay their bills translate into trainers that don't get paid. A trainer can only confiscate so much stock or have it signed over to them by cash strapped owners before he or she has a glut of stock. This has the potential to be an ugly problem - I hope it never gets there.

Other Stable News and Notes

Our Miss Belle Express is back at the track this week. She started training over the surface again today and we'll see in a few days if that shin issue is behind us. It appears to be, but until she gets some real work over the racetrack, we won't know for sure. It looks like Fizzy Pop will move up a bit in class next out as the only $25,000 claiming race in this book was run on Friday. There are, however, three $32,000 claiming races a mile or more upcoming with two on the turf. I think he can handle the potential foes OK it's just too bad that the purse money for the $20K, $32K and $50K claimers are all the same. Regardless, we're happy to be running and Fizzy's a fighter. What's nice is that as a Florida bred he is eligible for the bonus win money - if we can just get him under the wire first before he travels north!