Saturday Stakes Selections for Canterbury Park

A quartet of black-type tilts for Minnesota-bred runners will take center stage on a big day of racing at Canterbury Park on Saturday.

Race 1 – Minnesota Oaks

A handful of three-year-old fillies will vie in a fun opener. It’s difficult to look past the Maclean Robertson-trained #2 Cupids Crush (4-5) to kick off the card despite her low odds. The Cupid filly rides in on a four-race win streak and proved good running long on the lawn two back, and she simply seems best of all in the field with regular pilot Eduardo Gallardo taking the reins. She will be prominent from the break.

 

Race 4 – Glitter Star S.

Six fillies and mares will go 1 1/16 miles in the main-track contest. The Tim Padilla-trained #2 She’s My Warrior (8-1) is the inside speed of the field and might get brave at a nice price if she is left alone for too long. The Warrior’s Reward four-year-old is no sure thing at the distance, but she has run well in three straight while bringing good form to the affair. The bay filly drilled a solid four panels leading up to the race and will be sent from the start by Alonso Quinonez.

Race 6 – Wally’s Choice S.

The 1 1/16-mile dirt event for the boys will have six go postward, and I’ll give the nod to #2 Bayou Benny (7-2), who was second in the race in 2022. The dark bay son of Benny the Bull has run a pair of good ones since joining the barn of Gary Scherer, and I like him stretching out against this cast while making a third run off the shelf. The five-year-old gelding has been first or second in 9 of his 11 tries on the course in preparation for this run and will stalk the pace early with Harry Hernandez in the stirrups.

Race 8 – Minnesota Derby

An octet of sophomores will vie in the finale, and I will search for value in the wide-open closing contest. #5 It’s Bobs Business (8-1) is winless from three outings this campaign after going 2-for-2 as a juvenile, but the bay is steadily improving and seems likely to continue to do so while making his route debut. The gelded son of Bolt d’Oro is not swift from the gate, but he owns a decent turn of foot and is bred for the distance, as well. The Joel Berndt pupil will be rallying late with Constantino Roman in the irons.