Canterbury: Ghostly Gate a consistent sort

A competitive field of 12 older fillies and mares is entered in the $40,000 Minnesota HBPA Mile, the featured event at Canterbury Park.

Ghostly Gate merits favoritism in the one-mile turf contest. Never worse than second in five tries over the Canterbury grass course, Ghostly Gate finished second, beaten only a nose, in last year's Lady Canterbury Stakes following a stretch-long duel with the winner, Rue des Reves. Given a six-month layoff over the winter, Ghostly Gate sparkled in her local bow, her third start of the year, drawing clear by better than three lengths in a turf allowance. Scott Stevens returns in the irons aboard Ghostly Gate, who is trained by Mac Robertson.

Phone the Diva is 6 for 8 over the Canterbury turf. Claimed for $15,000 by her current connections at this meeting in 2004, Phone the Diva finished third in the HBPA Mile that season. A winner on the turf in an optional claiming contest at Tampa this season, Phone the Diva finished seventh behind Ghostly Gate in her first start of this meeting but would be a major factor in the Mile should she revert to her previous form. Martin Escobar will substitute for the injured Derek Bell aboard Phone the Diva, who is trained by Vincent Reedy.

Glitter Star was named Minnesota's best 3-year-old filly for her victories in the Minnesota Oaks and Distaff Classic Championship last season and has validated that form in several performances this year. After being disqualified following a win in an optional claiming event at Tampa in March, Glitter Star returned on two weeks' rest to win again, then followed up that effort with a pace-pressing effort to finish sixth against Group 1 winner Latice in a Keeneland allowance. Dean Butler has the call on Glitter Star, who is trained by Richie Scherer.

Galactic Cat should not go overlooked in the HBPA Mile following her recent runner-up effort in the Hoist Her Flag Stakes.