Canterbury Park pick five play for Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026
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RACE 4: Seems like a reach to get too cute in the first leg of this 10 percent-takeout 50-cent pick five, as likely heavy favorite CUPIDS CRUSH just looks too good for her four rivals in the Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship. She’s been away since February, but she ran well over this course last year in her first start off a shorter break before going on to win this same race by almost 11 lengths. She not only has the best Beyers in the field, she also may hold a pace advantage. (1)
RACE 5: EYE ON RY won his maiden over this course almost exactly three years ago, and though he’s been idle since April he seems to land in a very good spot in this Blair’s Cove Minnesota Turf Championship. He has the ability to come from off the pace and make one run, and there are several confirmed speeds signed on. VICTORIOUS VANDA is clearly in very good form, with just that head loss last time separating him from a three-race win streak. He is another who should benefit from the expected race flow. (2)
RACE 6: DISTORTED PRO and STREET WARRIOR appear to hold the edge in this Minnesota Sprint Championship. Distorted Pro gets a slight nod due to his ability to rate, as Street Warrior is at his best when on the front end and there is other speed in here. However, either is capable with the right trip, and this pair’s figures are just better than their rivals have been posting. (2)
RACE 7: ROCKIN POWERHOUSE is a firster trying a stakes race in the Northern Lights Futurity, but he’s been working like he’s ready for trainer Michael Biehler, who is winning at 19 percent with his debut runners at Canterbury in dirt sprints over the past five years. He should offer some value in this wager as well. TWIN CITY BOY was most impressive in his debut score, drawing off late after setting the early pace on a contested lead. He is an obvious runner to use. MIGHTY SAMURAI has shown a bit of a rating gear, and that could prove important in this race if a quick, contested pace were to develop. MERIT BADGE was sharp in his maiden score last time, complete with a Beyer that fits very well with this group. (4)
RACE 8: THUNDERS ROCKNROLL is another runner in this sequence who just seems too good for these at a short price. She comes off an easy score in her latest, and though she meets better here she won the 2025 Minnesota Distaff Sprint with relative ease, one of her seven wins over this strip. She is versatile enough to race on the lead or come from off the pace, another big plus. (1)
THE PLAY: 1 / 5, 7 / 5, 6 / 1, 3, 4, 5 / 2 = $8 ticket
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