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Mac Robertson Wins Two Stakes on Hall of Fame Night

Ready to Runaway wins MN Distaff; Cinco Star best in Strangis Stakes

The Ralph Strangis Stakes has been run five times at Canterbury Park and trainer Mac Robertson

Ready to Runaway

has won all five renditions. On Wednesday, Cinco Star strode through the mud to win the $50,000 race, run at one mile on the main track after rain forced it to be transferred from the turf. Roimes Chirinos was aboard the 6-year-old Minnesota bred for owner John Mentz. Cinco Star, 2 1/4 lengths the best, was the wagering favorite and returned $4.60. The result was fitting on a night when the Shakopee racetrack was honoring new members of its Hall of Fame, as Robertson, the all-time leading trainer in wins and purses at Canterbury, is a Hall of Fame member himself. The trainer, owner and jockey were not done for the evening. In the next race, they joined forces to win the $50,000 Minnesota Distaff, also transferred to the main track and run at one mile, with Ready to Runaway. “It seems like her confidence is building now,” Robertson said, “and I think she’ll run good until the end of the meet.”

The 5-year-old mare has now won 11 of 21 races lifetime and $427,735. She paid $5.80.

Star of the North

Earlier on the 12-race card, 3-year-old filly Star of the North raced gate to wire to win the $50,000 Frances Genter Stakes by an effortless 3 3/4 lengths. Trained by Francisco Bravo and owned by Michael Grossman, the Minnesota-bred improved her record to six wins from seven starts and $239,500 in earnings. Her six consecutive victories have all been by open lengths. “Someday someone is going to test her,” Bravo said. “We don’t know how good she is just yet.” Star of the North, ridden by Ry Eikleberry, covered six furlongs in 1:10.07 and paid $2.60. Bravo, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, explained after the race that he had recognized the talent in this filly after working her a half mile for the first time, talent that could someday lead Star of the North to the Hall herself. Bravo is known for developing young horses but was quick to point out that “the horse makes the trainer, the trainer doesn’t make the horse.”

The $50,000 Victor S. Myers went to Thealligatorhunter, a 3-year-old Minnesota-bred trained

Thealligatorhunter

by Tim Padilla who is the co-owner and breeder along with Pete Mattson. The colt has now won five of eight starts and $117,825. Alonso Quinonez rode the $3.20 winner in 1:10.95.

Jess Rocket Man won the inaugural $28,000 North Star State Quarter Horse Derby by 1 1/4 lengths for owners Lunderborg LLC and trainer Jason Olmstead. Leading rider Edwin Escobedo was aboard the 3-year-old Minnesota bred gelding. Jess Rocket Man broke on top in the six-horse derby and covered 400 yards over a muddy track in 19.779 seconds returning $2.80 as the wagering favorite.  Change N Gears was second and Living in the Past finished third.

Jess Rocket Man

Jess Rocket Man, out of the mare Paint Or More, is a full brother to stakes winners Dickey Bob and PYC Jess Bite Mydust who were also bred by Judy and Bruce Lunderborg of Weber, Minnesota.