In mid-April it was reported here that Ry Eikleberry, last year’s leading rider, would not return to Shakopee to defend that title. He did leave wiggle room though: “Things can always change…….,” Ry said.
Apparently they have, as he is now expected to arrive here early in the week according to agent Chad Anderson, who had a sudden opening when jockey Alex Canchari notified him that he would no longer be coming to Canterbury and instead remaining at Prairie Meadows to ride. Here, not here, here, not here. More on both matters in a future post.
Hitting the lottery might be easier than predicting where a jockey will end up. Consult the overnight on Tuesday after opening night’s entries are taken.
The Horse Whisperer noticed the arrival of jockey Jenna Joubert, who is expected to ride this meet. Joubert notched her first career win at Canterbury in 2007 but has not ridden regularly at Canterbury since. The New Prague native has 251 wins and more than $4.8 million in purse earnings.
The feature race on May 15, the first of 70 race days, is the $60,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes. Bourbon County, owned by Rake Farms, is expected to enter. The following day will be the Lady Slipper Stakes with another Rake Farms runner, Sky and Sea, likely to be challenged by Polar Plunge.
