Mr. Jagermeister won the $100,000 Chesapeake Stakes by 1 ¾ lengths Saturday evening at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Virginia. The 4-year-old Minnesota-bred colt was ridden by Leandro Goncalves and is trained by Valorie Lund. As the wagering favorite he paid $4.20.
Goncalves rode Mr. Jagermeister confidently on the inside, battling with Old Time Revival before pulling away in the stretch and holding off a late charge by Lewisfield. “He’s an awesome horse,” Goncalves said following the win.
Lund was hauling Mr. Jagermeister back to Canterbury Sunday, expecting to arrive in Shakopee in the wee hours of the morning.
“I’m very pleased,” Lund said. “[Mr. Jagermeister] was feisty this morning. He is feeling pretty happy with himself.”
Lund intends to run the 2018 Canterbury Horse of the Meet on Sept. 1 in the Minnesota Festival of Champions. “He will run in one of the two races, but I have not decided yet” she said, referring to the $100,000 Minnesota Sprint Championship or the $100,000 Minnesota Classic Championship, which the colt won last year.
Mr. Jagermeister had not raced since an allowance win at Oaklawn Park April 25. He had a setback that sidelined him this summer but when he returned to the track, he was training so well that Lund knew he needed a race before Festival. “I would have stayed home and run for less money,” she said, but the trainer could not find a race that filled.
Lund’s inclination now is to run in the sprint on Sept. 1 because of the training missed during the lay-off but has time to make that call. Possible foes that day include Hot Shot Kid, who last year won the sprint, or Mister Banjoman winner of the Minnesota Derby. Both are trained by Mac Robertson.
