Trainer Nate Quinonez and jockey Eduardo Gallardo won the first two stakes on Canterbury Park's Hall of Fame program Saturday evening at the Shakopee, Minn. track. Cupids Crush drew off to win the $50,000 Frances Genter Stakes by 11 3/4 lengths as the prohibitive favorite and in the next race Xavey Dave slipped through on the rail to win the $50,000 Ralph Strangis Stakes by one-half length. The Strangis field shrunk to three horses following the scratches of five entrants.
Nate Quinonez recorded the first two stakes victories of his career. He took over operation of the entirety of Mac Robertson's 70-horse stable after Robertson, who awaits adjudication, was provisionally suspended by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit following a positive test in a June 4 race for a substance banned for use in male horses but allowed in fillies and mares.
“We have a really good team of people at the barn,” Quinonez said. “I got an opportunity to be here right now and I can't do it without them and all the owners that support us every single day.”
Cupids Crush paid $2.40 to win and covered the six furlongs in 1:10.15. The 3-year-old filly is owned by Vicki and Mike McGowan's Xtreme Racing Stables, LLC. Checkcashingconnie, also trained by Quinonez, finished second while Ann Alee, who set the early pace, finished third.
Linda Bush owns Xavey Dave. He paid $5.40. Stagecoach Boys was second and Thealligatorhunter was third in the 7 1/2 furlong turf race.
Midnight Current beat stablemate Let's Skedaddle by a head in the $50,000 Minnesota Turf Distaff also at 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Both mares were bred and are owned by Bob Lothenbach's Lothenbach Stables, Inc and are trained by Joel Berndt. Leading jockey harry Hernandez was aboard the winner who paid $2.80 as the favorite.
The final race of the evening, the $50,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes, went to the favorite Sir Sterling who pulled away to win the six furlong race by 2 1/4 lengths over Roses by Liam in 1:10.26. The 3-year-old gelding is trained by Tony Rengstorf and is owned and was bred by Chad Kuehn. Lindey Wade was aboard the winner who paid $4.00.
Total handle for the nine-race card was $1,249,167. The four stakes were restricted to horses bred in Minnesota. Racing resumes Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CT.
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