Canterbury: Pair of statebred stakes

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Minnesota-bred 3-year olds are featured in the Minnesota Derby and Oaks, each contested at one mile and 70 yards for a purse of $50,000.

She's Scrumpy merits the favorite's role in the eight-horse Oaks. She won last season's Northern Lights Debutante and beat older statebred rivals in the Princess Elaine in her last start after that race was transferred from the turf to the main track. She's Scrumpy has raced around two turns in her last five starts, at Oaklawn, Prairie Meadows, and Canterbury. She's Scrumpy can handle any kind of pace scenario.

The runner She's Scrumpy may have to catch is Madam Speaker, a front-runner who won the Frances Genter Stakes three weeks ago.

A. Caterina has steadily improved in three starts at this meeting, including a closing second in the Genter, beaten a length.

Maywood's Jill is an upset possibility. She beat She's Scrumpy by daylight in their first meeting. Trainer Todd Hoffrogge has elected to make a rider switch to Les Knight after Maywood's Jill finished fifth in the Genter.

Five geldings make up the field for the derby, and One by Design may prove the favorite after having won the Victor Myers Jr. Stakes three weeks ago.

One by Design made his career debut at the end of May, and he won over two other derby starters, Ima Smarty Boy and Strategury, after setting all the pace. One by Design returned and finished third in an allowance in June, then captured the Myers Stakes in his third career outing.

One by Design has not raced around two turns, and his rivals Strategury and Ima Smarty Boy do possess route experience, which might give them an edge. Strategury bested a maiden field by daylight in his last start, which was at the derby distance.

Ima Smarty Boy has outfinished Strategury in several races but has yet to win his maiden. Ima Smarty Boy missed by a nose in last season's Northern Lights Futurity. Trainer Wilson Brown has made a rider switch to Seth Martinez for the derby.