Canterbury track report

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Canterbury Park fans had a chance to say farewell to a very good horse on Sunday when It's Truly Obvious paraded past the grandstand before the running of the Minnesota Classic Championship, a race he won in 1999.

It's Truly Obvious, nicknamed "Ziggy" by his breeders Art and Gretchen Eaton of Randolph, Minnesota, debuted at the newly re-opened Canterbury Park in 1995 as a 3-year-old. It's Truly Obvious raced on the Illinois, Louisiana, and Kentucky circuits while being claimed by seven different trainers. In 1998, he returned to Canterbury Park to race in the Minnesota Festival of Champions.

It's Truly Obvious was last claimed at Hawthorne Park in June 1999 by trainer Michelle Sinn who shipped him back to Canterbury. He rewarded new owner Ken Larson with a win in the Minnesota Classic Championship later that summer and returned the following spring to win the 10,000 Lakes Stakes. Three summers later, Sinn decided that it was time to find a good home for It's Truly Obvious. The opportunity to reunite It's Truly Obvious with his breeders and former owners presented itself.

"He is my all-time favorite horse," Gretchen Eaton said.

It's Truly Obvious (Mufti-Shammar by The Axe II) retired this week. A 10-year-old gelding, he raced for eight years, for eight different trainers at nine different racetracks. He made 96 career starts, won 20 races and earned $327,772.