Eagles Span and jockey Cody Smith encountered early trouble but rallied to win by a length in the $29,200 Gopher State Derby Sunday at Canterbury Park. The wagering favorite was bumped on both sides after leaving the starting gate of the 400 yard race and dropped back more than two lengths. Iowas Texan Tlp took advantage and quickly went to the lead. Eagles Span made up ground when a hole opened and powered past to win by one length.
“I’ve never seen a quarter horse get knocked around that bad and then go on to win,” said Tom Maher, co-owner of Eagles Span with his brother Bill.
Trainer Jason Olmstead was equally amazed. “You can’t win after that start,” he said.
“He didn’t break bad,” said Smith. “He just got bumped hard. Then it opened up and it worked out. I knew I was sitting on a lot of horse. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little worried.”
Eagles Span covered the distance in 20.242 seconds and paid $4.00 to win. Iowas Texan Tlp finished second and Mystical Styx was third.
The next start for Eagles Span will be the Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby trials June 25. “We will run in the Canterbury Derby,” Maher said. “We’re staying here. With the success we’ve had, why wouldn’t we?”
Eagles Span has now won six of 11 career starts with earnings of $171,253. Five of those wins came at Canterbury.
