Eagle Storm to try going longer

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Canterbury Park closes its 67-day stand with a trio of stakes events that could very well determine who earns horse of the meet honors.

In the $50,000 Shakopee Stakes, Eagle Storm, a five-time winner at this meeting, will try to stretch his speed around two turns. Trained by Justin Evans, Eagle Storm was claimed for $25,000 in his second start at Canterbury this summer and rewarded owners Curt and Sharon Johnson with three more front-running victories, including his most recent triumph in the Claiming Crown Rapid Transit. Jesse Garcia has the riding assignment.

Prospective Kiss should merit strong consideration in the mile and 70-yard contest, as he not been worse than second in three stakes appearances at this meeting. Prospective Kiss won the Brooks Fields and missed by a nose in the Shot of Gold opening weekend and by the same margin in the John Bullit Stakes in his most recent outing.

Wayzata Bay looms as the favorite in this field of five runners, having won this event despite a troubled trip last year. Never worse than second in four stakes appearances this year, Wayzata Bay won the Grade 2 Cornhusker Handicap at Prairie Meadows in June and followed up that effort with a win in the Prairie Meadows Handicap last month.

Dean Kutz: Angel Smoke looks like the choice

Eight fillies and mares were entered in the $50,000 Dean Kutz Stakes and Angel Smoke should be favored after finishing a close second in the Lady Canterbury on the turf last month. Trainer Mac Robertson, who has been the man to beat in stakes events at Canterbury Park all season, is returning Angel Smoke to her preferred surface, dirt. A winner of two consecutive allowance events at the Oaklawn meeting, Angel Smoke will be partnered with leading rider Derek Bell.

Polynesian Kitty should be the second wagering choice in the Kutz, following her victory in the Winnipeg Sun Stakes at Assiniboia earlier this month.

Street Sign sparkled in her first try over the Canterbury main track, besting allowance foes by eight lengths, and should be a factor in the Kutz with a repeat of that effort.

* In the $30,000 Kenny Schoepf Stakes for Minnesota-breds, Robertson sends Bee O Bee Bob against Sir Tricky in a six-furlong contest.