Canterbury Park: Undefeated Heliskier heavy favorite in Minnesota Derby

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Heliskier, a perfect 5 for 5 in his career while winning three stakes and $108,192 by a combined total of 35 lengths, has not scared anyone out of Saturday’s $65,000 Minnesota Derby as eight other Minnesota-bred males will take him on in the mile and 70-yard contest.

Saturday’s card will also include the $65,000 Minnesota Oaks.

Owned by Margaret Colvin, bred by Robert Colvin, and trained by Mac Robertson, Heliskier has been odds-on in each of his races except for his career debut in August 2011. In his two most recent starts he has won the Victor S. Myers Stakes on June 23 by four lengths and the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association Laddie Stakes by six lengths on July 22. He was 1-20 in both of those races and, as usual, should be on or near the early Saturday.

Robertson has also entered Quote to Cash and Private Warrior.

Trainers Bernell Rhone and Tony Rengstorf have two entrants each in the Minnesota Derby.

Rhone trainees Bobbledoit and Tez Virat will attack Heliskier with slightly different strategies. Bobbledoit, already a winner around two turns, should be close to the early pace while Tez Virat will should be in a stalking position and try to pick up the pieces late.

Rengstorf’s duo, Sue’s Stormy and Thepointman, are both owned by Canterbury Park chairman Curtis Sampson, and will also try Heliskier early and late.

Sam Wayne and Speakfromyourheart, second to Heliskier in the MTA Laddie Stakes, complete the Derby field.

◗ In the Minnesota Oaks, nine Minnesota-bred fillies will square off over a mile and 70 yards.

The 7-5 morning-line favorite is Keewatin Ice, easy winner of the MTA Lassie Stakes last out. Several speedsters in the field could set up the race nicely for the late-charging Keewatin Ice.

Three of the front-runners, Go Go Jill, Jills Summer Raine, and Sputey’s Cabin, will be trying a route of ground for the first time.

Frances Genter winner Happy Hour Honey comes into the race off a tough eighth-place showing in an open 7 1/2-furlong optional claimer in her first race over the turf.

Talkin’ Bout, bred and owned by Keewatin Ice’s owner, Camelia Casby, enters the Oaks off a solid maiden win and a second in a statebred allowance where she missed catching Sputey’s Cabin by three-quarters of a length.