Canterbury Park: Humble Smarty targets repeat in Honor the Hero Turf Express

Defending champion Humble Smarty leads a field of 10 for the five-furlong Honor the Hero Turf Express on Memorial Day at Canterbury Park.

Humble Smarty, who set the track record of 56.10 seconds in last year’s off-the-turf Honor the Hero, is looking to score first of the bench after a five-month break. Humble Smarty has fired two bullet works at Prairie Meadows leading up to the race, and Prairie’s leading jockey Alex Birzer makes the trip north from Iowa to take the reins.

Fresh off a fourth-place showing in the Grade 3 Count Fleet Handicap at Oaklawn, the Mac Robertson-trained Silver Magnus comes to Canterbury in search of his first stakes win. Derek Bell should have Silver Magnus close to the early pace.

Trainer Lonnie Arterburn will be taking aim at Humble Smarty with the entry of Just Jebicah and Absolutelystriking. Just Jebicah, a very successful $16,000 claim who won the 2011 HBPA Sprint and was second in the 2011 Shot of Gold at Canterbury Park, has yet to win over the turf. Stablemate Absolutelystriking made a successful return to the races after a year and a half away from the track in a $25,000 claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Santo Gato was clearly out of his element in the Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. He finds himself in a more reasonable spot and should contend for the early lead with Bobby Walker Jr. aboard.

No Peace at All, the consistent Banner Cat, and allowance winners Broad Beach and Richmond complete the entries. Post time for the Honor the Hero Turf Express Stakes is 4:38 p.m. Central.