Minnesota Bred Stakes Nominations Show Strength of Industry
Nominations to the main targets for those owners and trainers with young Minnesota bred thoroughbreds closed in early April. The Northern Lights Futurity drew with 59 nominated 2-year-old colts, and the Northern Lights Debutante, for Minnesota bred 2-year-old fillies, attracted 57 nominations. Many familiar names fill both lists with Sampson, Schenian, Almar, Astar, Sprick & […]
STARS SHINE UNDER SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
BY JIM WELLS They might start referring to this August experiment as Saturday Night Lights, and thereby turn it into something permanent for future meets. Then again, the jury is still out with most of the month still ahead. Nonetheless, Saturday night’s mix of stake races and enticing repasts from a variety of concessionaires who […]
Hold for More favored in $80,000 Minnesota Derby
Saturday evening racing at Canterbury Park features the Minnesota Derby and Minnesota Oaks, each with an $80,000 purse, and two $40,000 overnight stakes. Hold for More, a 3-year-old thoroughbred owned by Dale Schenian of South St. Paul, Minn. and bred in the state by Wood-Mere Farm, is expected to be the prohibitive favorite in the […]
Minnesota Derby Preview
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmAGeb0W5eI&w=560&h=315]
Angel’s Music Still Sings
Lil’ Apollo completed his preening for the camera and headed back to the barn as his owner stood in the winner’s circle and discussed what had just taken place. Lil’ Apollo, a bay gelding by Added Edge out of Lil’ Mo Rhythm, minutes earlier had left six rivals in a puff of dust with his […]
Badge of Glory Captures Rare Triple, Lil’ Apollo Wins Derby
There was an answer to the most asked question among the daily players, breeders, owners, trainers and anyone else with an interest in the race. YES. EASILY. The question, of course, concerned Badge of Glory, the most accomplished horse in the $75,000 Minnesota Oaks on Saturday. Could she stretch her talent to a mile and […]
Oaks & Derby on Tap
No other horse has raced this many times, won this many races or earned this much money. So, why is there any doubt whatsoever that Badge of Glory (pictured above left) will join an elite club by winning today’s $75,000 Minnesota Oaks? Simple. She has never run this far. Everything she has won has been […]
Oaks and Derby Showcase Superstars
The horses who won these races in years past are part of a pantheon of Minnesota colts and fillies whose names still resonate with the state’s long-time racing fans. Among the fillies there was Princess Elaine, Northbound Pride, Argenti and Glitter Star, the latter of which will join the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame on […]
Heliskier Headlines $65,000 Minnesota Derby
Heliskier, an undefeated Minnesota-bred 3-year-old gelding, headlines the $65,000 Minnesota Derby Saturday at Canterbury Park. Named Canterbury’s Champion Two-Year-Old in 2011, Heliskier won the $55,000 Northern Lights Futurity last year and this summer has dominated in all three starts including the $50,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes and the $35,000 MTA Stallion Laddie (video below). [youtube […]
Two of a Kind?
Heliskier has been dominant in all four career starts, sparking conversation about how good he might be compared to other Minnesota-breds in recent history. The name that immediately is mentioned in comparison is Crocrock (pictured above). While it would be premature to compare Heliskier at this point to the accomplishments of the great Crocrock, the […]
