Sunday’s third race is not a stakes race but it sure feels like it. The four Minnesota breds, Mr. Jagermeister, Drop of Golden Sun, Dame Plata and Cinco Star, in the six-horse field are stakes winners and the Arizona bred Beat the Heat on the rail has a stakes win as well. The Kentucky bred Dynamic Ruler on the outside is the only one missing that credential. Purse money is $34,000 for open company with $10,000 additional for Minnesota breds.
Mr. Jagermeister, winner of the six furlong 10,000 Lakes Stakes May 19, stretches out to Sunday’s one mile distance. Sprinting is his ‘A’ game but “He has run past six furlongs two times on the main track at Canterbury,” trainer Valorie Lund said.
Both those efforts were wins, the Wally’ Choice Minnesota Classic Championship in 2018 at 1 1/16 miles and the 1 mile 70 yard Minnesota Derby before that.
“So am I worried?” she responded to a question about distance, “No, not at all.”
Ruben Fuentes was aboard on May 19 and worked Mr. Jagermeister four furlongs on May 31. “What did they clock him in?” Fuentes’ agent Pete Antonucci, who watched the workout, asked. The answer was a bullet in 46 and 2. “He does it so easy,” Antonucci said. “[Ruben] says he rates really well.”
Drop of Golden Sun finished second behind Mr. Jagermeister in the 10,000 Lakes after jumping
to an early lead. Last year he found his groove racing two turns winning both the Wally’s Choice and the Blair’s Cove. Those two figure to again dictate the early running.
“I may have stuck my foot in my mouth,” Tony Rengstorf, trainer and owner of Drop of Golden Sun, said. “I said I always wanted to run against Jag going long. I guess now I get what I asked for.”
Cinco Star, trained by Mac Robertson, has chased Mr. Jagermeister and Drop of Golden Sun on several occasions. His prep in the 10,000 Lakes should suit him well for the stretch out.
Dame Plata is trained by Francisco Bravo. He has won four of 11 at Canterbury and the one mile distance is right in his wheelhouse. He also raced in the 10,000 Lakes, took significant money, but did not fire, losing by 9 ½ lengths. His previous start, a sprint at Will Rogers Downs, was a smashing victory. “As he got older he got better going long,” Bravo said. Bravo has confidence in Dame Plata at this distance and has assigned Ry Eikleberry to ride. His pace tracking style should have him positioned to pounce if the speed comes back.
Racing on Sunday begins at 1 p.m. CT and post time for the third race, the start of the $1 Pick 6, is 2:10.
