Jockey Alonso Quinonez had three mounts on Saturday at Canterbury Park and he made the most of it.
The public bet the $100,000 Minnesota Oaks, one of four stakes races Saturday at Canterbury Park restricted to horses bred in Minnesota, as though Cupids Crush was a lock, making her the prohibitive 1-9 favorite. The public was mistaken. Quinonez aboard Thunders Rocknroll had something else in mind, breaking alertly from the gate and never getting headed, winning by nine lengths.
Cupids Crush and Eduardo Gallardo tracked in second and attempted to draw alongside on the far turn of the one-mile and 70-yard race, but Thunders Rocknroll kicked away when asked by the rider. She paid $15.80 to win, providing Quinonez with the first of three stakes wins. Thunders Rocknroll was bred and is owned by Bob Lindgren. The 3-year-old filly, by Maclean's Music out of the Thunder Gulch mare Thunder and Honey, is trained by Bernell Rhone.
The next three stakes belonged to trainer Tim Padilla and owner Pete Mattson as She's My Warrior won the $65,000 Glitter Star Stakes with Quinonez, Thealligatorhunter with Constantino Roman won the $65,000 Wally's Choice, and Roses by Liam won the $100,000 Minnesota Derby with Quinonez. Each winner was trained by Padilla. He co-owns She's My Warrior and Thealligatorhunter with Mattson while Mattson owns the Derby winner outright.
Quinonez and She's My Warrior went gate to wire in the Glitter Star while being challenged throughout by It's Her Time who raced just off her hip. At the eighth pole, Quinonez took control, going on to win by a length. She's My Warrior, a 4-year-old daughter of Warrior's Reward out of Garden Gloves, by Stormy Atlantic, paid $13.60.
“We got two beautiful trips,” Quinonez said of his mounts in the Oaks and Glitter Star. “Both of my fillies run pretty much the same style. I was just able to save horse and come home.”
A speed duel between Jose Patio and favorite Sir Sterling set up the Minnesota Derby victory for Roses by Liam, who tracked the pace under a patient Quinonez. As the front-runners tired, Roses by Liam kicked on, drawing away to win by 3 3/4 lengths over Jose Patio in 1:42.53 for one mile and 70 yards. It's Bobs Business finished third, another three lengths back.
Also on Saturday's card, Thealligatorhunter, an Overanalyze half brother to She's My Warrior, landed a repeat victory in the Wally's Choice Stakes, going wire to wire and fending off a late charge by favorite Xavey Dave to score by a neck. Thealligatorhunter paid $6 to win.
“[Xavey Dave] has beaten us twice. The last two times. So I was plenty worried about him closing,” Mattson said.
The eight-race card handled $1,163,643.
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