Thealligatorhunter is one of the richest horses ever to race at Canterbury Park. The 8-year-old is back for another season, looking for his 15th career win in Shakopee and 17th in his career. He races Saturday in the $50,000, Minnesota-bred restricted, 10,000 Lakes Stakes, a 6 furlong sprint he won last year, dead heated for win in 2022 and finished second and third in the years in between.
“He is fit and ready,” trainer Tim Padilla said. “It’s a horserace. It will be a good betting race.”
Thealligatorhunter has run 29 times at Canterbury. He has won on both dirt and turf, going short and long. He sits fourth on the all-time money earners list at Canterbury with $467,154. His total career earnings are $544,695 from 46 starts.
“He’s about $100,000 away. He can do it,” Padilla said.
The exact figure is $88,089 and a win Saturday would put him $30,000 closer to list leader Hot Shot Kid. Thealligatorhunter is 9/2 on the morning line in the seven-horse field and will be ridden by Alonso Quinonez.
“Thealligatorhunter, if he runs his race, can always win,” trainer Joel Berndt said. Berndt would know as he has faced the veteran many times and will again Saturday with 9/5 morning line favorite Street Warrior. Constantino Roman has the mount.
Berndt kept it simple. “I like my horse,” he said.
Now five, Street Warrior fell victim to the speed and experience of the older Thealligatorhunter during his 3-year-old season, finishing a well-beaten third in the Minnesota Sprint Championship. Last year they met multiple times and Street Warrior got the better in each.
They however both lost last season in the Sprint Championship to Distorted Pro who is also entered in the 10,000 Lakes. Trained by leading trainer Mac Robertson and ridden by Eduardo Gallardo, Distorted Pro is unraced since an Oaklawn sprint in December. He has a bullet 5 furlong work on May 29 that may indicate readiness. The 6-year-old is 3 to 1 on the line.
Also Saturday is the distaff companion to the 10,000 Lakes, the $50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes. Thunders Rocknroll is the 3/5 favorite in the field of five. The 6-year-old mare won the Lady Slipper in 2024 and finished second last year. She will be ridden by top jockey Manuel Americano for trainer Patrick Swan. She is owned and bred by Bob Lindgren of Prior Lake.
First post on Saturday for the seven-race card is 5:10 p.m. CDT.