Canterbury Park Featuring Minnesota Derby and Oaks Races on Saturday

The Minnesota Derby and Minnesota Oaks races at Canterbury Park carry $75,000 purses, the largest offered to Minnesota bred 3-year-olds since 1988. In that year, purses were $80,000, Canterbury Park announced in a news release. 

The Minnesota Derby is the seventh race and will have a field of eight. Ten fillies will compete in the Minnesota Oaks, the eighth race. Both races will occur on the main track at a distance of one mile and 70 yards.

The purse enhancement agreement between Canterbury Park and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has benefitted purses in the overnight races and the stakes schedule. Last year the Mystic Lake Purse Enhancement Fund contributed $25,000 to the $65,000 Derby and Oaks races. On Saturday, the fund will contribute $35,000 to each race.

The following is from Canterbury Park: 

The increase in purses has simultaneously caused an increase in breeding activity in the state. The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association earlier this year reported a 77% increase in registered broodmares. While the Minnesota Racing Commission has not yet released official statistics regarding the number of registered thoroughbred foals for 2013, MTA officials expect a nearly 100% increase compared to 2012.

In Saturday’s Oaks, Badge of Glory will attempt to become only the third filly to win the Northern Lights Debutante, the state’s premier 2-year-old filly race; the Frances Genter Stakes, an Oaks prep; and the Minnesota Oaks. Samdanya accomplished the feat in 1997-98 and Chick Fight in 2008-09. Two other fillies, Sentimental Charm and Her Sweet Saint, won the Debutante and Genter but failed to win the Oaks.

Badge of Glory, who will start from post position one, is trained by Bernell Rhone and will be ridden by Scott Stevens. She was bred and is owned by Cheryl Sprick and Richard Bremer of Lake City, MN. Sprick and Bremer have another home-bred in the Oaks, City Kid, who will be ridden by Martin Escobar.

Sugar Business, winner of the 2012 Northern Lights Futurity, figures to be the wagering favorite in the Derby. He will be ridden by Ry Eikleberry for trainer Tony Rengstorf and owner Curtis Sampson, who also has R U Joshin Me in the race.

Post time on Saturday is 1:30 pm. More information is available at www.canterburypark.com .

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