A Minnesota Legend in the Making and Future Legends for Sale

MINNESOTA OAKS AND DERBY

Saturday was a very full day at Canterbury Park.  The highlight of the raceday was Minnesota bred superstar Heliskier dominating his 3-year old peers in the Minnesota Derby.  I know I’ve only been in Minnesota for seven years now, but he is clearly the best Minn-bred I’ve ever seen.  Keewatin Ice, winner of the Oaks, was no slouch either, winning in professional fashion and giving Cam Casby an Oaks exacta with her other homebred, Talkin’ Bout, finishing second.

In the Derby, Sue’s Stormy tried to take command early and wire the field while Heliskier tucked in behind and let him set the early pace.  When Derek Bell asked him to go he angled to the outside and was simply gone.  Hand-ridden to the finish, Heliskier pulled away from Sue’s Stormy to win by 13 ¼ lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.  It was an absolutely astounding performance.  While it may be premature to call him the best Minnesota bred in history, he is certainly on his way.

Keewatin Ice was also an odds on favorite in the Oaks and was ridden perfectly by Juan Rivera to the victory.  She got out quickly and found herself briefly in an unaccustomed position on the front end before she was settled back heading down the backstretch.  Once she took command in the lane it was all over but the shouting and Keewatin Ice was back in the winner’s circle for the second stake in a row.

MTA SALE

The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association held its annual yearling sale last night after the races and the results, while not unexpected, were astounding.

The year over year comparison is particularly apt with 31 horses sold both years. In 2011 the average selling price was $6,403 versus last night’s average of $10,332.  Total proceeds of the 2011 sale were $198,500 (which was 135% of the 2010 total, by the way) while last night’s total was $320,300.  The sale topper was hip #6, a dark bay colt by Holy Bull out of the Ghazi mare, Run With Joy.  Consigned by Oak Tree Farm as agent for Raymond and Karen Wheeler, the colt was sold to Barry and Joni Butzow for $56,000.

The economics of the game are improved, certainly, and a healthy sale is indicative of that.  I don’t think that there was going to be any question that the sale was going to be a good one.  If you take the reduced numbers of foals in this crop along with the increase in purses thanks to the Mystic Lake Purse Enhancement Fund, it all pointed to some expensive yearling purchases.  Those of you reading from New York, Kentucky, Florida and other locations that view our average as a bit small, it represents a staggering increase of 108% over the 2010 number.

With a smaller crop of foals that have hit the ground here this year and the purse enhancement money continuing onward for another 9 years, these yearlings may be a bargain compared to the 2013 sale horses.  The MTA will be bringing back the 2 year old in training sale so there may be some of these horses coming back into the ring next year as well.

I know I have several horses marked in the catalog to follow over the next few years.  It should be an interesting ride.

Minnesota Derby and Oaks Results

Minnesota Oaks

Chick Fight did NOT get off to the lead in this one despite breaking well. She was beat to the front on her inside by Katie Is Smart and there they went all the way around until the top of the stretch. Chick Fight found another gear and while Katie Is Smart tried hard, she was no match for Chick Fight stretching out to the mile and 70 yard distance to win by 3. Before becoming official Chick Fight had to survive an objection by Katie Is Smart jockey Jose Bettancourt for interference at the top of the stretch. While they were in close quarters and Chick Fight did angle in a bit, Katie Is Smart did not have to check up and as she moved deeper into the stretch she continued to drift outward on her own accord while holding the place spot. A well deserved win for Chick Fight, trainer Mac Robertson, jockey Dean Butler and owners Bleu Valley Farm (Deb & Jeff Hilger). She'll be a tough on come Minnesota Festival Day on the last day of the meet.


Top 3:

1. Chick Fight (Ted's pick)
2. Katie Is Smart
3. Five Nations


Minnesota Derby

Perfect Bull broke well and settled mid pack through the first turn and down the backside. As the field started it's turn for home, Dean Butler started to pick off horses one by won until he came face to face with pacesetter Jack and Max and upstart A Steel Trap trying to close into the lead. It was not to be as Bull powered by them both drawing off to win with Jack and Max holding strong for second and A Steel Trap winning a photo for 3rd from Nomorewineforeddie. Congratulations to trainer Bernell Rhone, jockey Dean Butler (a stakes sweep today!) and owner Red Dog Stables on a very nice win for Fizzy Pop's stablemate.

Top 3

1. Perfect Bull (Ted's pick)
2. Jack and Max (3rd choice)
3. A Steel Trap

I'd love to toot my own horn here going two for two, but neither was a particularly tough race to pick and, therefore, very chalky. But wins are wins!

Minnesota Derby and Oaks Previews

On Saturday the two biggest races of the year for Minnesota bred 3 year olds will be run at Canterbury Park: The $60,000 Minnesota Derby and the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks. Both are run over the main track at a mile and 70 yards and both have returning two year old Futurity/Debutante winners coming back to see if they can stake claim to being the state's top three year old in their respective divisions.

Interesting side note before previewing the Minnesota Derby:

In the summer of 2008 a colt was sent up from the Steve Assmussen barn in Texas to the Bernell Rhone barn at Canterbury Park. Bernell was excited to show my wife and me the young colt as we happened to be there visiting Fizzy Pop and Somerset Sam. Not much impresses Bernell, but it was apparent that this colt did. And no wonder! He was a beautiful bay who’s coat shined like dark, polished leather. He had a bit of attitude, which is nice for a race horse, and he was a Minnesota bred.

“He’s gorgeous! Your Minnesota Derby horse?”, I asked.

“I sure hope so,” he responded.

That colt is the morning line favorite today, Perfect Bull (Holy Bull-Perfect Moment-Dazzling Falls).

MINNESOTA DERBY

Purse: $60,000
Distance: 1 mile 70 Yards
Surface: Dirt
Restrictions: Minnesota Bred

As you can tell by the spread in the Morning Line, only Dixie Buck and Ice Rocket don’t figure in here.

Here is a rundown by post position, jockey, morning line.

Wovoka Ghost Dance (Nolan 6-1): Coming off his maiden breaking win in open company, albeit $25,000 claiming, he has show improvement since moving onto the turf. Unfortunately the Derby is run over the main track.

Jack and Max (Stevens 6-1): Last out was a state-bred allowance win at this distance, at this track and on this surface. A nice bump in the Beyer, but well below the best of the main threats.

A Steel Trap (Ferrer 6-1): A six furlong specialist since breaking his maiden in his initial voyage, this gelding has hit the board in each Canterbury start this season. Has been improving and comes off a third in the VS Meyers Stakes where he faltered in the stretch. Not a good sign when he has to stretch out, though Tammy Domenosky is hitting at an 18% clip when stretching out.

First Capitan (Eikelberry 8-1): Finished just behind A Steel Trap in the Meyers, this one has run exclusively in state bred company. Another one stretching out for the first time for a barn that has been doing OK with that this year.

Bizet (Bell 5-1): Hasn’t won since breaking his maiden over the slop at Gulfstream in march. Has started picking up checks since moving into state bred company lately, but still no wins against lesser – though a solid second in the VS Meyers last out. Been closing like he’d appreciate another couple of furlongs.

Dixie Buck (Jiminez 20-1): Has only run at this distance in three career starts. Broke his maiden in a state bred Maiden Claimer ($10,000) and then got drilled by 23 by Jack and Max last out.

Ice Rocket (Morales 20-1): Last year’s Northern Lights Futurity winner has not been able to build off of that form this season. Best effort has landed him in 6th, 9 ½ off of the win in a $25,000 CL nw3.

Perfect Bull (Butler 5-2): The Bull has four wins to his credit, all in open company. In fact, this is the first state bred race of his career. His most recent dirt form has been a win over older horses (including beating Fizzy Pop by 1 ½) in a $25,000 Optional Claiming (obviously fitting the allowance condition) race and a 4th in the Prairie Mile at Prairie Meadows. Duplication of either of those efforts should win this one for him.

Nomorewineforeddie (Williams 9-2): Eddie was the winner of the Meyers last out after three consecutive 2nds in state-bred allowances. Looks to be right on the pace, but stretching out for the first time.

The way I see this race among the contenders is that if Nomorewinforeddie can get the distance he has a solid chance of upsetting the favorite. That said, the pick here has to be Perfect Bull based upon his proven ability to get the distance, beat older horses and hold his own against open company including allowance wins at Tampa Bay, Remington and the above mentioned race here at Canterbury.

PICKS:

1. Perfect Bull
2. Nomorewineforeddie
3. Jack and Max

MINNESOTA OAKS

Purse: $60,000
Distance: 1 mile 70 yards
Surface: Dirt
Restrictions: Minnesota Bred Fillies

Five of the eight starters are back from the France Genter Stakes won easily by Chick Fight wire to wire. Two of the remaining starters are maidens and the last in line, Recording Contract, has had her best effort over the turf.

I suppose I could go on and give you a horse by horse breakdown and try to say something nice about them all, but if Chick Fight can get the distance, she’ll smoke these. She’s run in two Minnesota bred stakes races in her career and won the Genter this year and the Northern Lights Debutante last year by a combined total of 16 ¼ lengths. In fact, no Minn-bred has even headed her in her four state bred starts.

PICKS:

1. Chick Fight
2. Recording Contract
3. All Hallow’s Eve