The race meet at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Oklahoma begins Monday. The meet is 29 days, running Monday through Wednesday, March 22 through May 26. It will likely be the starting point of 2021 campaigns for several thoroughbreds that will race at Canterbury Park this spring and summer.
Canterbury mainstay Francisco Bravo has for a number of years used WRD to get ready for Shakopee, and in the process has won many races there with his Oklahoma bred contingent and open company horses. Mike Biehler will train at WRD and wife Lori Biehler, nee Keith, is a jockey. Karl Broberg and Robertino Diodoro will also enter at Will Rogers Downs.
Tony Rengstorf will see action with his stable including Minnesota bred Drop of Golden Sun who is entered Tuesday in race 3, a $27,500 allowance at six furlongs. The 6-year-old gelding draws the rail in a six-horse field and is 7/5 on the morning line. Alfredo Triana, Jr. is named to ride.
“He is not really a sprinter anymore,” Rengstorf said of Drop of Golden Sun who did his best work last year around two turns. That is not conceding defeat Tuesday however as Rengstorf expects a competitive effort, maybe even a win, that could lead to a stakes race on April 14.
Rengstorf has stalls at Oaklawn as well and will move horses around as needed. He opted for Will Rogers to start the year for Drop of Golden Sun although the horse has been working at Oaklawn.
“I’ll have a lot of horses [at Canterbury] this year but only one 2-year-old,” he said. The owners he has are anxious to find additional older horses for Shakopee. “My owners are looking to claim more.” That means shopping at Oaklawn as that meet winds to a conclusion in early May.
Drop of Golden Sun was voted 2020 Older Horse of the Canterbury Park Meet based on three wins from four starts including two statebred stakes, and a nostril defeat in another.
Find the Canterbury Park Racebook calendar here.
