L Conejo surged past favorite Jjs Sweet and Sassy to win the $29,000 North Star State Derby by a head Wednesday at Canterbury Park. The 3-year-old Minnesota bred quarter horse covered 400 yards in 20.083 seconds under jockey Fernando Fonseca-Soto. L Conejo is owned and trained by Haley Hobbs. He paid $6.20 to win.
“[L Conejo] has gotten more mature,” Fonseca-Soto said. “Last year he was not focused. I think he will keep getting better.”
L Conejo, pictured above, recorded his second career win while making his 11th career start. He made three starts at Remington Park this spring. “He’s been running 400 yards and been doing really good,” Hobbs said. “He’s super calm, easy to train, loves his job.”
The gate crew had their hands full loading Holy Dynasty into the starting gate before the 300-yard North Star State Futurity but once loaded, the 2-year-old Minnesota bred did not disappoint his owner and breeder Dan Kjorsvik. Jockey Alfredo Triana, Jr. guided Holy Dynasty to a 3/4 length win in the $29,000 race, passing favorite Sophey late and holding off a charge from Del Cartel, trained by Hobbs. Holy Dynasty, trained by Patrick Swan, paid $13.40 to win.
“The gate crew did a great job,” Kjorsvik said. “These horses are two-year-olds but a lot of them are pretty green. I can’t thank the gate crew enough for their professionalism. He’s got a big stride
and I think as he gets older, he’s going to keep developing.”
Handle on the nine-race card was $1,204,322. Racing at canterbury Park resumes Saturday at 5 p.m.
