A filly whose pedigree needs no introduction, TAMARA (Bolt d'Oro) is the latest foal out of MGISW Beholder to make the races for Spendthrift Farm and trainer Richard Mandella. Beholder, now a graded-stakes producer with Teena Ella (War Front), saw her youngest foal by Curlin bring a sale-topping $4,000,000 at last week's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale. Out of blue hen Leslie's Lady, she is of course a half-sister to GISW Mendelssohn and leading general sire Into Mischief. Drawn on the rail, Tamara picks up veteran Mike Smith for her debut.

Further outside for Mandella, Flynn's Chance (Medaglia d'Oro) brought $675,000 as a yearling out of Keeneland September last year and is a full-sister to GSW Moonlight d'Oro. This is the family of champion 3-year-old filly Abel Tasman (Quality Road).

A filly making her second start for trainer John Sadler, Hope Road (Quality Road) dead-heated for second by just a half-length at Del Mar July 22. She is the first foal out of GISW Marley's Freedom (Blame). TJCIS PPS

1st-SAR, $136K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 1:10 p.m.

On the East Coast, Hunt Ball (Into Mischief) debuts for Godolphin and trainer Bill Mott. Out of the Tapit mare Dance Card, herself a Grade I winner, he is a half-brother to MGISW Cody's Wish (Curlin) and MGSW Endorsed (Medaglia d'Oro).

Act of Mutiny (Quality Road), a Will Farish homebred, is a half to GSW/GISP Eagle (Candy Ride {Arg}), MGSW and freshman sire Catalina Cruiser (Union Rags), and MGSW Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}).

Against the rail, Risk It (Gun Runner) debuts for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm and was a $500,000 Keeneland September yearling. TJCIS PPS

7th-ELP, $70K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, 4:00 p.m.

Making a belated debut for Shadwell Stables is Sahalat (Speightstown), a 4-year-old colt who brought $800,000 as a yearling back in 2020. He is a full-brother to MGISP Dawn the Destroyer. TJCIS PPS

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2nd-BEL, $100K, OC $62,500, 3yo/up, f, 7f, 3:36p.m.
Peter Brant's Good Sam (Good Samaritan) makes her seasonal debut for trainer Chad Brown at Belmont Thursday. A $310,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, the was the highest priced produce by the sire sold in 2021, when the WinStar stallion's yearling average was $36,190 with a median of $25,000 for 63 sold. A debut winner over flashy next out winner Seduction (Bernardini) sprinting in the slop at the Big A last October, the granddaughter of GISW Twist Afleet remained perfect with another confident score in Aqueduct's one-mile Tempted S. Nov. 6. TJCIS PPs

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The reductions were made public this week as the Minnesota track faced a Nov. 15 racing commission deadline to apply for next year's dates at the same time it is trying to extend or renegotiate an expiring agreement with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. Since 2012, that deal has provided purse funding in exchange for the track and horsemen not pursuing additional forms of gambling, and it expires Dec. 31.

The 54-date season would begin May 27, the latest start in Canterbury Park history, and end Sept. 16. The track would cut back by hosting just three-day race weeks for the bulk of the season, although parts of July and August would feature four days of racing.

Rachel Blount of the Minneapolis Star Tribune first broke the story, quoting Canterbury's chief executive officer, Randy Sampson.

“At this point, we need to plan for how we will manage the racing season if there isn't an extension,” Sampson told the Tribune. “We would all like to run more days, but I think this is a great compromise. I'm quite optimistic it will work out fine.”

Canterbury handled $97.6 million in 2022 over a 64-day season that paid an average of $245,000 in daily purses.

Mike Cronin, the executive director of the Minnesota Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, told the Tribune that horsemen are attempting to focus on the longer-term future.

“We knew we would have to make some compromises for next year, and Canterbury would have to make some compromises,” Cronin said.

“The hope is that we can navigate this together. All things considered, we're excited about next year, but our real focus has to be on 2024 and beyond.”

The potential lack of a funding agreement isn't the only issue. Racing in general in the Midwest will be shifting for 2023 in ways that could increase competition to Canterbury from other regional tracks.

Ellis Park in Kentucky is racing under new ownership, and although Ellis is scheduled to race essentially its same block of 24 dates next year over the same summer template, new owner Churchill Downs, Inc., is expected to put a renewed emphasis on racing there by strengthening the racing program.

In Illinois, Hawthorne Race Course will return a summer Thoroughbred season to greater Chicago after a one-year absence in the aftermath of the sudden and permanent closure of Arlington International Racecourse by racing Mar. 4-Sept. 4.

And in Nebraska, casino gaming and sports betting at tracks are in the pipeline for 2023, with Legacy Downs (formerly Lincoln Race Course) and Fonner Park both expanding their schedules.

Extensive renovations are also planned for Canterbury, so the later start to the season at least affords extra time to complete a new barn and a new dormitory, plus replace the track's lighting system.

Canterbury's proposed dates must be still approved by the Minnesota Racing Commission in December.

“A lot of tracks around the country are already running three days per week, so the horsemen are used to it,'” Sampson told the Tribune.

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For trainer Steve Asmussen, the key was riding Super Stock like Ricardo Santana did in the Arkansas Derby: getting into the race as part of the pace. That happened, and Super Stock hounded the early pace before taking command and drawing off to a 3 3/4-length victory over There Goes Harvard.

Asmussen got be North America's all-time winningest trainer by caring about every race. But Super Stock also holds a special attachment to the trainer. His parents, Keith and Marilyn, own the son of Florida Derby winner Dialed In in partnership with Nashville talent mogul Erv Woolsey, a long-time client.

“He ran a very good race, and it's great to see him back in the winner's circle,” Asmussen said by phone following Super Stock's first victory since the Arkansas Derby, after which he finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby. “Obviously he's a very special horse for the whole family. He makes a lot of people happy when he wins.

“The Lone Star race, the racetrack was absolute sea of water, drawn 13, just was never in the right spot,” he said of the Texas Derby. “And I did not like his trip in Iowa at all, and that was the change in tactics.”

Which was: “To ride him like he did in the Arkansas Derby.”

Ellis Park allowance winner Colonel Bowman broke for the early lead, setting legitimate fractions into the stretch. Super Stock stalked in second place throughout before taking over the lead and pulling away for the clear win over runner-up There Goes Harvard. The final time over the mile and a sixteenth was 1:48.89.

“He broke good, and I was happy when he was in the place I wanted him to be,” said Santana, in from Saratoga to ride Sunday at Ellis Park for Asmussen. “When I was sitting second to that other horse, I knew he would be running hard at the end.”

Jockey Joe Talamo was pleased with runner-up There Goes Harvard's effort.

“We had a really good trip,” he said. “I really thought I had the winner turning for home. Hats off to them (Super Stock and Ricardo Santana). They kept running. But my horse ran a really good race.”

It was another two lengths back to Indiana Derby runner-up Sermononthemount and jockey James Graham. Colonel Bowman tired to fourth in the field of six 3-year-olds.

“He ran good, I thought,” said Graham. “They were just quicker than him early. I was trying to be aggressive. I just wasn't quick enough to hold my spot. He tried to run them down. They went fast the first quarter, backed it up and then went again. I just couldn't get back on terms.”

Super Stock went off as the even-money favorite and paid $4 to win. The colt now has three wins in 12 starts, with two seconds and two thirds, while increasing his career earnings to $957,677.

“He's trying, he's trying,” Asmussen said of Super Stock nearing millionaire status.

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Everything about Carribean Caper has been impressive except her speed figures, which started high in her eight-length debut romp at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans but dropped substantially in both starts since.

“Those numbers are so weird,” said trainer Al Stall. “In our last race, she ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16 and just inhaled those horses after breaking bad. I don't know what all that's about. But anyway, whatever, we'll see. Hopefully numbers do lie.”

Stall took a conservative route with Carribean Caper, running her through her allowance conditions before jumping in a stakes. Colby Hernandez has been aboard throughout.

“She didn't do super well over the winter,” Stall said. “Her race was impressive, but man, she kept growing her coat out. We had to clip her and clip her. Her color wasn't good. After her Keeneland race, I wasn't really happy with her weight and her color. That's the only reason we backed off her.

“Then we were lucky though to find that race early at Ellis. Between Keeneland and Ellis, she really did well. She enjoyed the Kentucky spring, a lot of grazing, like a busman's holiday-type of thing. Didn't leave the barn but got a freshening. She did pick up a lot of weight and has continued to do well ever since. I'm happy with her appearance and all that stuff.”

Stall is hoping the Audubon Oaks catapults Carribean Caper to Churchill Downs' $275,000 Dogwood and Keeneland's Grade 2 Raven Run, all at seven-eighths of a mile and restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

“I'd love her to earn her way into the Dogwood or the Raven Run,” he said. “I'd be thrilled to death. We're just going to kind of keep chipping away and hopefully she runs well and we can say, 'Hey, let's think about a nice race at Churchill and an even better race at Keeneland.'”

Carribean Caper, a daughter of the prominent sire and sprint champion Speightstown, is the first foal of the Dixie Union mare Checkupfromzneckup. Her yearling daughter by Tapit sold for $990,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga sale Monday night.

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Asmussen has a leading contender for the $200,000 RUNHAPPY Ellis Park Derby in Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Super Stock. If that colt — owned by Asmussen's parents Keith and Marilyn and renowned Nashville talent promoter Erv Woolsey — runs to his Arkansas Derby performance — he's going to be very tough to beat. Of course, if he runs to his subsequent pair of fourth-place finishers in the Texas and Iowa Derby, then the 1 1/8-mile stakes is wide open. (Super Stock also finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby, but no horse has to apologize for finishing up the track in the Derby's cavalry charge.)

Darren Fleming, who oversees Asmussen's Ellis Park division, was around Super Stock at Oaklawn Park and in Texas.

“I think Super Stock will run well,” Fleming said. “He's gotten to stay here and train. He likes being where he's going to run. Hopefully that makes him run better. He's coming our way. The Derby took a lot out of him.”

Asmussen also has Costa Terra, a debut winner by a nose at Ellis, in the $125,000 RUNHAPPY Ellis Park Juvenile and Iowa Distaff winner Josie and Iowa Distaff third-place finisher Himiko in the Groupie Doll. Ricardo Santana Jr. comes in from Saratoga to ride every horse but Himiko, who will have Joe Talamo aboard.

Fleming said Costa Terra “has been training really well. I think he'll take the step forward good.”

Costa Terra could become the third stakes-winner from the first crop of horses sired by Asmussen's 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner. Costa Terra is owned by Ron Winchell, who campaigned Gun Runner with Three Chimneys Farm.

Josie makes her first start for Asmussen after being sold at Fasig-Tipton's July auction to KatieRich Farms for $300,000. She was previously trained by Brad Cox.

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“First and foremost, she's named my daughter, Sally,” said Johnsen, who before becoming a full-time horseman was a noted racetrack operator who ran and owned part-interest in Lone Star Park and Kentucky Downs until those tracks were sold. “That's most important. Secondly, she is our first graded-stakes winner.”

Now Sally's Curlin returns off a 3 1/2-month layoff in Ellis Park's $125,000 RUNHAPPY Groupie Doll, part of Sunday's blockbuster five-stakes card at the RUNHAPPY Meet at Ellis Park that includes the $200,000 RUNHAPPY Ellis Park Derby. Sally's Curlin has raced at Ellis Park once before, winning an entry-level allowance race at the Groupie Doll's mile distance in 2019.

“She worked like the wind Saturday,” Johnsen said by phone from Texas. “We were looking forward to a strong 5-year-old campaign from Sally. And then she just kind of lost her focus in the spring and we gave her some time off. She's coming back from that break, and the word is that she's training as good as ever.”

Said trainer Dale Romans: “It's all positive with Sally's Curlin. We gave her a little freshener, and she came back better than ever. Hopefully she jumps up and runs to her old form.”

Corey Lanerie has the mount.

Sally's Curlin — a $160,000 Keeneland yearling by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin — was among the first horses purchased by CJ Thoroughbreds when Johnsen and his son, C.J., launched the syndicate. The mare is owned in partnership with Left Turn Racing and Casner Racing.

Sally's Curlin required five starts to win, doing so the first time she ran in blinkers. Aggressively placed in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks off that victory, she beat one horse but rebounded to win at Ellis Park. That was immediately followed by a 9 1/4-length second-level allowance victory at Churchill Downs and the Grade 3 Chilukki Stakes that provided CJ Thoroughbreds its initial graded-stakes triumph. In fact, including her maiden win, Sally's Curlin is 4 for 4 at a mile on dirt.

Sally started her 4-year-old season with victory in Gulfstream Park's Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at seven-eighths of a mile in mid-March. Then COVID hit and she didn't race until July, finishing fifth in Keeneland's Grade 1 Madison then third in Churchill Downs' delayed Grade 1 Derby City Distaff, both with exceedingly tough fields. Five disappointing races later, including her last two starts on grass, and it was time for a break and chance at a reset.

“Her 4-year-old year got messed up by COVID-19 and the race cancellations,” Johnsen said. “We had so many high hopes after that Hurricane Bertie effort, when she ran a super-good speed figure and the race of her life. And then we just couldn't run her at her favorite tracks and favorite distances for a long time. It was very disappointing. Having said that, she is Grade 1 stakes-placed, and she ran a great race that day at Churchill…. I'm hoping the old Sally will show up.”

Of course, the last time Sally ran at Ellis, it launched that her three-race win streak. Johnsen promised before the Ellis victory that if she won, he would donate $500 to the Kentuckiana Friends of V foundation that raises money for cancer research and programs. Bob Valvano and Mike Pratt happened to be broadcasting their sports-talk show on Louisville's ESPN 680 that day as part of a KFOV fund-raiser.

It turns out that KFOV is having a golf fundraiser on Monday in Louisville. Johnsen knows a good-luck charm when he experiences one, saying, “If Sally wins the Groupie Doll, we'll donate $1,000. One of the best races of her career was at Ellis Park. We're hoping that setting will create some more success for her. She is the ultimate one-turn mile horse, and that's perfect for her.”

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The Grade 3 Indiana Derby had a heavy favorite in Churchill Downs' Matt Winn winner Fulsome. But the time-honored racing tenet is that you don't run away from one horse. Indeed, Sermononthemount finished second at 18-1 as Mr. Wireless rolled to victory in the 1 1/16-mile stakes. Fulsome finished a non-threatening third.

The 1 1/8-mile Ellis Park Derby would not appear to have a prohibitive favorite in its field of six 3-year-olds. While Super Stock won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, he also finished fourth in the Texas Derby and Iowa Derby following a 16th in the Kentucky Derby. Also entered: Indiana Derby fourth-place finisher Starrininmydreams, Ellis Park allowance winner Colonel Bowman, allowance runner-up (by a nose) There Goes Harvard and Ellis maiden-winner Hanks.

The Ellis Park Derby is part of a five-stakes Sunday card that also features the $125,000 RUNHAPPY Groupie Doll for fillies and mares, $125,000 RUNHAPPY Ellis Park Juvenile, $125,000 RUNHAPPY Ellis Park Debutante and $100,000 Audubon Oaks.

“He's a horse that wants some pace up front and be allowed to finish. And we really didn't get that in the Indiana Derby,” Amoss said. “He's also a horse, in my opinion, that would rather come around than go inside. He kind of likes to have one of those trips where he's not crowded in any shape or form, and he didn't get that either. But he still ran well. The Ellis Park Derby is a logical race for us because No. 1, it's right there. It's very attractive purse-wise, and I like the distance.”

The Indiana Derby “was a race on paper that I thought was worth rolling the dice,” he said. “I think that's kind of what's happening again… I see a field in the Ellis Park Derby with a lot of horses that are up and coming and improving, but certainly no horse in there that would scare another one out.”

James Graham has the return mount on Sermononthemount. Graham turned out to be prescient when he said this before the Indiana Derby: “He tries his butt off every time, so you have to take a little bit of a shot — and he's doing good. What if Fulsome has a bad day? And hopefully we have a good day. Give it a shot and see what happens.”

Mr. Wireless validated his Indiana Derby victory by taking last Saturday's Grade 3 West Virginia Derby.

“He showed he is legit by the results of the West Virginia Derby,” Amoss said. “So that's nice, too.”

Sermononthemount didn't run well on turf when claimed for $50,000 at the Fair Grounds in March. Two races later, Amoss put him in for a $30,000 claiming race as a confidence-builder, and off that win began tackling stakes company. The result was third in the Prairie Mile and then the Indiana second.

“The Ellis Park Derby will give him a chance to really show what he can do at more distance,” Amoss said. “He's an improving young horse.”

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