Castletown gets dirt, more distance in Dark Star

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Canterbury Park will play host to two $75,000 stakes events on Father’s Day. A field of 10 will contest the Dark Star at 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track, while 13 go in the Northbound Pride Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at one mile over the turf course.

In the Dark Star, Castletown will be going an additional 1 1/2 furlongs following his runner-up finish in the Honor the Hero Stakes on turf. Closing to within a half-length in the Honor the Hero, Castletown ran out of real estate after being carried wide through the far turn. His best running has come on dirt at longer distances, and the Dark Star will provide both.

The Mike Maker trainee Ghost Is Clear captured the Hansen starter handicap at Turfway Park last out by sitting just off the early pace and should be taking aim at the speedy Castletown when the field turns for home.

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Politicallycorrect will make his 2014 debut in the Dark Star. He closed out 2013 with three straight graded stakes appearances. The 5-year-old Politicallycorrect has been most successful between seven furlongs and a mile and will need the early pacesetters to come back to the field over the traditionally speed-favoring Canterbury oval to be successful.

The Northbound Pride Oaks looks to be a wide-open affair. Stellaris, cross-entered in the Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs on Saturday, will be the lukewarm 9-2 favorite if she runs in this spot. She has tried twice to make her turf debut in her lightly raced career but has been rained off at Fair Grounds and Arlington. Her last start, a sharp 7 3/4-length victory at Arlington in an optional $75,000 claiming race, makes her very dangerous in here.

Kiss to Remember made her only turf start a winning one in the Battle of New Orleans Stakes at Fair Grounds on Valentine’s Day. She will be stretching out to two turns in the Northbound Pride for trainer Tom Amoss and should provide some of the early pace.

If she can employ her tracking speed, Ice for the Lady could make some noise in her turf debut. Ice for the Lady dominated two optional $75,000 claiming races at Tampa Bay Downs before dueling hard and fading in an open allowance at Presque Isle Downs last out.