Canterbury boosts purse for Shakopee Juvenile

Canterbury Park announced Friday it was raising the purse of the Sept. 16 Shakopee Juvenile from $60,000 to $75,000 and that Minnesota-breds in the race would be eligible for a $100,000 purse.

The six-furlong Shakopee Juvenile is somewhat noteworthy this year because it is expected to attract the very talented 2-year-old filly Amy’s Challenge. Amy’s Challenge beat males in her Aug. 6 career debut, a 16 1/2-length cakewalk victory in a six-furlong Canterbury maiden race that produced a 91 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest 2-year-old number in North America so far this year.

Amy’s Challenge has since worked twice, including a half-mile breeze in 47.80 seconds Wednesday. Trainer Mac Robertson said the Shakopee Juvenile could serve as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland next month.

Amy’s Challenge is not the only fast 3-year-old at Canterbury this summer. Soul of Discretion, a Discreetly Mine colt trained by Dan McFarlane, won an Aug. 25 five-furlong maiden race by 13 lengths, earning an 85 Beyer. The Minnesota-bred Mr. Jagermeister has gotten Beyers of 81 and 74 in two blowout wins at Canterbury.