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Mr. Jagermeister Sets Stakes Record, Becomes Richest Minnesota-Bred Of All Time

Mr. Jagermeister won the $50,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes on Wednesday night at Canterbury Park by 4 3/4 lengths, covering six furlongs in a stakes record 1:08.54. The 6-year old earned $30,000 and became the richest Minnesota-bred money earner in the history of racing with lifetime earnings of $645,434, surpassing sixth-place finisher Hot Shot Kid, who is the second-richest earner with $618,611. Mr. Jagermeister won the 10,000 Lakes in 2018. Hot Shot Kid won the stake in 2019 and 2020.

Mr. Jagermeister is trained by Valorie Lund who co-owns the horse with Leslie Cummings and Kristin Boice. He was ridden by Ruben Fuentes. Mr. Jagermeister paid $4.20 as the wagering favorite. Drop of Golden Sun, who set the first quarter-mile fraction, held on for second. Cinco Star was third.

The $50,000 Lady Slipper Stakes, also at six furlongs, went to Clickbait and jockey Cecily Evans. This was the first stake victory for Evans, whose riding career began in 2009. Evans let the 5-year-old mare sail to the lead on the backstretch and was never challenged from there, drawing off to win by 4 1/2 lengths in 1:09.77.

“She wanted to go. She pulled me to the front,” Evans said. “She's my favorite horse.”

Star of the North, the 2 to 1 second choice on the morning line, was scratched shortly after leaving the walking ring.

Clickbait, who paid $4.40, is trained by Mac Robertson and is owned by Hugh Robertson, John Mentz and Jeff Larson. Mentz also owns second-place finisher Ready to Runaway who is trained by Robertson. Rush Hour Traffic was third.

Total handle for the nine-race program was $ 2,418,727 bolstered by $653,521 wagered into the Pick 5 pool that had a carryover from the previous day of $91,333. The handle total is the ninth largest total daily handle in the history of Canterbury Park, and the second largest non-Claiming Crown handle total.

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Canterbury’s Opening Night Handles $1.8 Million; $91,333 Pick 5 Carryover Wednesday

Canterbury's 65-day racing season got underway Tuesday with a small, but very lively crowd capped at somewhere around 2,500. Total handle on the opening night card was $1,845,976.

The 50 cent Pick 5 was elusive to bettors who wagered $135,332 into the pool. With no winning tickets, the carryover into Wednesday evening is $91,333.

“People, the fans, seem so happy to be back,” trainer Valorie Lund said. “I had complete strangers wishing me luck.”

Masks are no longer required for the fully vaccinated, so smiling faces could be seen everywhere.

One of those smiling faces was owner Peter Mattson of Prior Lake, Minn. His Elusive Amelia won the first race, Astronaut Oscar the second and Owen's Pleasure the third.

Had he ever won three races in one night?

“Not that I recall,” said Mattson. “I haven't won three races in a month,” said the self-deprecating Mattson, who was third leading owner in 2020.

Mattson's horses were not done yet however. Minnesota Lucky finished off the board in the fifth but Thealligatorhunter, who Mattson co-owns with trainer Tim Padilla, won the eighth race by open lengths.

Jockey Alonso Quinonez was aboard three of the Mattson winners and Chad Lindsay another. Quincy Hamilton brought in the longest price of the night, taking Papa Rizzo gate to wire at 37 to 1 and paying $77.20.

Three riders new to the jockey colony this season, Lindey Wade , Ruben Fuentes and Luis Negron, had one win each.

The $1 Pick 6 also went un-hit. The carryover into Wednesday is $7,714.87. First post is 5PM CDT.

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Large Fields, Low Takeout Wagers Greet Horseplayers For Tuesday’s Canterbury Park Opening

Canterbury Park's 65-day Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse race meet, which begins Tuesday, May 18, attracted 248 entries in 27 races, not including 12 also-eligible entries, for the first three days of the season. With nine Thoroughbred races each on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the Shakopee, Minn., track, field size averages 9.2 horses per race.

Exceptional participation by trainers can be attributed to a population of more than 1,100 Thoroughbreds and a $1,000 bonus, paid directly to the owner of each starter. The horse population is expected to increase over the coming weeks while the bonus extends to all open overnight races during the month of May.

“I have a feeling this is going to be a great meet,” racing secretary Rob Junk said. “We have a lot of trainers returning, and some new stables as well. I expect they came to race.” Mac Robertson, leading trainer in 13 previous Canterbury Park meets, has entered 19 horses opening week. Canterbury mainstays Mike Biehler, Tony Rengstorf, Troy Bethke and Bernell Rhone have a strong presence as has been the case for more than 25 seasons. Robertino Diodoro, who last year had fewer horses than past meets, this summer intends to fill more than 50 stalls. Joel Berndt, 2020 leading trainer, also will have a full barn in Shakopee this summer.

Trainer Justin Evans, unseen at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack since 2008, returned with 25 horses. Dick Cappellucci and Bennie Woolley, Jr., winner of the 2009 Kentucky Derby with Mine That Bird, have stables at Canterbury for the first time.

Track officials announced in April that a $.50 Pick 5 wager with an industry-low 10 percent takeout would return to the 2021 the wagering menu. The industry-low takeout rate was introduced last year and the success of that wager led officials to introduce a traditional $1 Pick 6 also with an industry low 10 percent takeout.

In 2020, the Pick 5 averaged $79,500 in wagering handle per pool and totaled more than $4.1 million throughout the season. Both were substantial increases over 2019 when the wager attracted an average Jackpot Pick 5 Pool of $8,366 and season-total wagering of slightly more than $550,000.

Canterbury Park all-sources handle in 2020 amounted to $68.4 million, easily setting a Canterbury Park record by more than $20 million in total handle and an increase of 68 percent over the prior year, all while conducting 12 fewer days of racing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, average daily handle increased in 2020 by a staggering 110 percent when compared to the 2019 meet.

Twenty-one jockeys were listed on the overnight for May 18 not including last season's leading rider Ry Eikleberry who will serve a three-day suspension stemming from a riding foul occurring at the end of the 2020 season. Several accomplished riders have joined the colony including journeymen Lindey Wade, Ty Kennedy and multiple graded stakes winning rider Ruben Fuentes who most recently rode at Santa Anita.

Racing will be conducted Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. CT and select holidays and Sundays at 1 p.m. CT through Sept. 16. More information is available at canterburypark.com.

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Canterbury Park Ready To Welcome More Fans For Racing As 2021 Season Begins

Canterbury Park's 65-day horse racing season will begin Tuesday, May 18 with track officials having high hopes for a more traditional season of racing and promotional activities. Following a 2020 season that started later than usual and offered fewer race days with strict spectator capacity limits below 1,000 due to COVID-19, officials at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack were encouraged by Gov. Tim Walz' announcement last Thursday that lifts spectator capacity restrictions beginning Memorial Day weekend.

Canterbury will race on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5 PM as well as Sundays beginning May 30 at 1 PM through Sept. 16. In May, capacity will be 2,500 but will increase in June.

“We are thrilled to be racing and to have more fans in the stands,” Canterbury Park President Randy Sampson said. The announcement by Gov. Walz was welcomed but more sudden than most state entertainment venues like Canterbury had expected. Many are now facing the challenge of staffing to the levels needed to be successful. “Our priority is to provide the quality guest experience that we are known for,” Sampson said. “To do that we will start with 2,500 guests and increase capacity in a responsible and safe way as we onboard more employees. I expect to welcome in excess of 7,500 to 10,000 guests as the summer progresses.”

Canterbury's marketing department made the decision this spring to release its promotional schedule and sell admission tickets month by month as guidance from the state regarding capacity became clear. Events such as Corgi Dog races, Extreme Day, and a fireworks display, which complement a day at the horse races and attract thousands of fans, are now possible and will be added to the schedule throughout the summer.

“Many of our most popular race-day events were just not operationally and financially feasible without knowing how many guests would be allowed,” Vice President of Marketing John Groen said. “We can now schedule those events that bring so much enjoyment to our fans.”

Groen plans to push many of the events to the later months of summer.

The horse racing itself will be at full stride from the start if Tuesday's opening night entries are any indication. The nine-race program drew a total of 86 horses in the body of the races and an additional nine on the also- eligible list. Racing officials expect nearly 1,500 horses to be stabled in the barn area.

Wednesday's program features a pair of $50,000 sprint stakes for horses bred in Minnesota, the Lady Slipper and the 10,000 Lakes Stakes. Hot Shot Kid and Mr. Jagermeister, the all-time leaders in purse earnings by a Minnesota-bred thoroughbred, will meet again in the 10,000 Lakes. In 2020, Hot Shot Kid defeated Mr. Jagermeister by 1 1/2 lengths. Hot Shot Kid, trained by Mac Robertson, has earned $617,961 in a 35-race career, while Mr. Jagermeister, who has started 29 times, has earned $615,434. He is trained by Valorie Lund.

More information and a complete schedule can be found at canterburypark.com. Canterbury officials are recommending that guests purchase admission tickets online for a touchless experience. A discount is offered to encourage advance purchases at: tickets.canterburypark.com.

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