Canterbury Park hosted the 33rd Minnesota Festival of Champions, a program of racing dedicated to racehorses bred in the state, on Saturday evening. Leading jockey Manuel Americano, in his first season at Canterbury, won three of the six stakes including a 14 1/2 length romp aboard Merit Badge (pictured above) in the $80,000 Northern Lights Futurity.
Rhyme Away with Americano aboard, won the $80,000 Northern Lights Debutante by 9 1/4 lengths for owner Carin Offerman and trainer Troy Bethke. Americano sent the 2-year-old filly to an effortless lead and never needed to ask for run as Rhyme Away increased her lead to the wire. She paid $2.10 to win. Minny for the Max was second 16 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Charlies Mint.
Americano also won the $55,000 Blair’s Cove Minnesota Turf Championship.
Jockey Julio Americano rode Cupids Crush to victory in the $55,000 Princess Elaine Minnesota Turf Distaff. The 6-year-old mare won the Princess Elaine for a third consecutive time. Sent to post as the prohibitive favorite in a four-horse field, Cupids Crush was never threatened during the 1 1/16th mile stake. Hernandez rode the winner for Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC and all-time leading Festival trainer Mac Robertson who now has 44 victories. Cupids Crush won by 5 1/4 lengths over Vintage Port. Flatter Me Billy finished third.
Americano’s second win came with Sushi Man in the $55,000 Blair’s Cove for owner and breeder One Bid Stable. Sushi Man went to the lead while favorite Frosty View, who was bumped early, stalked in third, eventually finishing fourth behind second-place Victorious Vanda and Found Jordan. Trained by Coty Rosin, Sushi Man paid $6.60.
Street Warrior used his superior speed to win the Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship by seven lengths covering six furlongs in 1:09.25. He is trained by Joel Berndt and was bred and is owned by Suzanne Stables. Street Warrior paid $2.40. It’s Bobs Business was second and Distorted Pro third.
Americano had the best horse in the Northern Lights Futurity. Merit Badge broke from the rail, tracked in second for a quarter mile and then simply pulled away to a 14 1/2 length win. The 2-year-old is trained by Anna Meah and owned and bred by Cheryl Sprick and Richard Bremer who were also the breeders of the Northern Lights Debutante winner.
The final race of the night, the $55,000 Bella Notte Distaff Sprint Championship, provided the biggest price of the six Festival races when Summer Winner, second choice in the wagering, defeated odds-on Thunders Rocknroll and paid $6.80. The 3-year-old filly was ridden by Luis Fuentes for trainer Tim Padilla who co-owns Summer Winner with Pete Mattson.
Padilla, Mattson and Fuentes teamed up with Nancy’s Shawl, $2.10, to win an allowance race to start the evening. Erika Marie won an undercard maiden turf sprint for trainer Robert Cline and owner Headwaters Racing VI with Kelsi Harr riding. She paid $16.80. Handle for the eight races was $1,199,986.
33rd Minnesota Festival of Champions – Saturday, Sept. 5
Race 2: $80,000 Northern Lights Debutante: Rhyme Away
Trainer: Troy Bethke, Jockey: Manuel Americano, Owner: Carin Offerman, Breeder: Richard Bremer & Cheryl Sprick
Race 4: $55,000 Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship: Cupids Crush
Trainer: Mac Robertson, Jockey: Julio Hernandez, Owner: Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC , Breeder: Mary and Eric Von Seggern, Barry Butzow
Race 5: $55,000 Blair’s Cove Minnesota Turf Championship: Sushi Man
Trainer: Coty Rosin, Jockey: Manuel Americano, Owner: One Bid Stable. Breeder: One Bid Stable
Race 6: $55,000 Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship: Street Warrior
Trainer: Joel Berndt, Jockey: Constantino Roman, Owner: Suzanne Stables, Breeder: Suzanne Stables
Race 7: $80,000 Northern Lights Futurity: Merit Badge
Trainer: Anna Meah, Jockey: Manuel Americano, Owner: Cheryl Sprick & Richard Bremer, Breeder: Richard Bremer & Cheryl Sprick
Race 8: $55,000 Bella Notte Distaff Sprint Championship: Summer Winner
Trainer: Tim Padilla, Jockey: Luis Fuentes, Owner: Pete Mattson & Tim Padilla Breeder: Tim Padilla & Pete Mattson