Owner Pete Mattson, trainer Tim Padilla and jockey Alonso Quinonez teamed up to sweep Wednesday night's richest races at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. Thealligatorhunter, a prohibitive favorite, won the $100,000 Minnesota Derby and Molly's Angel, at 9-1 odds, won the $100,000 Minnesota Oaks, the premier races for 3-year-olds bred in the state.
Thealligatorhunter, who weaved left and right down the stretch but never made contact with Bayou Benny, prevailed by one length at the 1 mile and 70-yard distance. Mattson, Quinonez and Padilla waited anxiously for the decision, surviving a nail-biter of an inquiry as the stewards ruled that the Thealligatorhunter's antics did not change the order of finish. He paid $2.80.
In the Minnesota Oaks, Molly's Angel passed odds-on favorite Star of the North in the stretch, drawing off to win by 5 1/2 lengths, and paying $20.60, The Derby/Oaks sweep has never been accomplished by the same trainer, owner and jockey at Canterbury.
“We got em' all!” exclaimed Padilla following the Oaks.
Mattson of Prior Lake, who co-owns the Derby winner with Padilla, has 15 wins individually at the meet plus five additional in partnership. He sees a bright future for Thealligatorhunter “There's more to win. We think this horse can do a lot more so we're pretty excited about it,” he said.
Jockey Ruben Fuentes used a rail skimming ride aboard Zoe's Delight to win the $50,000 Wally's Choice Stakes for trainer Tony Rengstorf and owner Winchester Place Thoroughbred, LLC. The 5-year-old prevailed by 3/4 length over Cinco Star. He paid $20.20 to win.
Ready to Runaway raced unchallenged gate to wire in the $50,000 Glitter Star Stakes as the 1 to 5 favorite. This was the third consecutive win in the Glitter Star for the 5-year-old mare who has now won $427,735 in her 21-race career. She is owned by John Mentz of Lakeville and trained by Mac Robertson. Roimes Chirinos was aboard the winner who paid $2.40.
The post Mattson, Padilla And Quinonez Team Up For Minnesota Derby, Oaks Sweep appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
