Awesome Flower repeats in off-the-turf Lady Canterbury

SHAKOPEE, Mn. – The heavens opened up over Canterbury Park shortly after the third race, pushing a pair of one-mile $100,000 stakes, the Lady Canterbury and the Mystic Lake Mile, off the turf and onto the sloppy main track.

In the Lady Canterbury, history repeated itself as last year’s off-the-turf Lady Canterbury winner, Awesome Flower ($8), did it again, storming down the lane late and overtaking the favored Gold Medal Dancer to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I saw this mare last year,” jockey Fernando Torres said. “She went right on by me, so I knew what I was getting on. She’s an honest mare and tried real hard.”

In the 2013 edition of the race, the Michael Maker trainee tracked just off a moderate early pace to win but this year a fast early pace from Eden Prairie, pushed on by Seeking Treasure, set quick early fractions of 23.57 and 47.27 to set up Awesome Flower’s late rush, running the mile in 1:38.54.

Gold Medal Dancer held on for second while pacesetter Eden Prairie settled for third.

Az Ridge scores in Mytstic Lake Mile

The rain reduced the field of the Mystic Lake Mile, whittling the field from eight to five as the horses came onto the track. Heavily favored Broadway Empire appeared to have some trouble warming up on the track after acting up a bit in the paddock. Jockey Scott Stevens consulted with the track veterinarian and, after watching Broadway Empire warm up further, determined that he should be scratched, reducing the field to four.

Az Ridge ($16.80), at 7-1 the longest shot in the short field, rushed to the lead and took the field down the backstretch. Stachys made a strong move entering the far turn and got a head in front of the pacesetter, but Az Ridge, under jockey Ry Eikleberry, fought back gamely to retake the lead and then draw off to win by nearly 2 lengths.

“He does his best running on the lead,” said trainer Dan McFarlane. “When a horse tests him, he really digs in.”

The winner almost didn’t even run the race according to McFarlane. “I was thinking about scratching him, but it was such a short field I figured we’d leave him in and try and make some money.”

Az Ridge covered the mile in 1:37.32.