Ready to Runaway wins fourth consecutive Glitter Star Stakes
Love the Nest held off stablemate Cousvinnysacanuck to win the $100,000 Minnesota Derby by a nose on Saturday at Canterbury Park. Both are owned by Bob Lothenbach of Wayzata, Minn. and trained by Joel Berndt. Ry Eikleberry rode Love the Nest (pictured above on right) and Luis Fuentes was aboard the second-place finisher. The winner paid $5.20 as the wagering favorite.
Love the Nest tracked pacesetter Doctor Oscar throughout the race, taking charge coming out of the far turn of the 1 mile 70 yard derby. Cousvinnysacanuck raced through traffic from midpack and engaged Love the Nest as the wire neared but could not get by.
“We had the speed horse and the closer,” Lothenbach said, “so depending on how the race set up either way it would work.”
The $100,000 Minnesota Oaks went to It’s Her Time who pressed the front running She’s My Warrior early before driving past after a half mile on the way to a 3 1/2 length victory. Constantino Roman rode the winning filly for trainer Mac Robertson. She paid $19.00 to win. It’s Her Time was bred by Warren Bush of Iowa who died in June. His family owns the filly.
“To be able to come up here after dad passed this summer and getting a win…..nothing replaces getting your picture taken,” said son Chad Bush, “and hey, we got our picture taken, so thanks dad.”
Ready to Runaway took the lead from the gate in the $50,000 Glitter Star Stakes and maintained an advantage to the wire in the 1 1/16th mile main track race to win the stake for the fourth consecutive time. Stablemate Clickbait chased in second but could not pass the winner, fini
shing one-half length back and 1 1/2 lengths better than third-place runner Molly’s Angel. Ready to Runaway was ridden by Ry Eikleberry for owner John Mentz. She returned $4.40. The winner and the runner-up are both trained by Robertson. Clickbait is owned by Mentz along with Hugh Robertson and Jeff Larson.
“I thought Clickbait would get the lead and Ready to Runaway would sit off,” Mentz said, “but it worked out just the exact opposite. But Ready to Runaway runs well on the lead so when she was
there and the times were a little slow I thought she’d have enough to get around in time and she did. She’s been an incredible horse.” Since claiming the now 6-year-old mare in June of 2019, Ready to Runaway has won 13 of 23 starts for Mentz.
Thealligatorhunter raced gate to wire to wire in the $50,000 Wally’s Choice Stakes to win by two lengths over Bayou Benny. The winner is owned by Pete Mattson and trainer Tim Padilla. Alonso Quinonez was aboard Thealligatorhunter who paid $5.00 to win.
