Golden Bandit steals away in Canterbury Derby

Golden Bandit remained unbeaten on turf Wednesday night, when he drove to a 1 1/2-length win over One in Vermillion in the $100,000 Canterbury Derby during the Northern Stars Turf Festival at Canterbury Park. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to favorite Worthington.

The race was one of six stakes on the card, with five of them run on the grass. The races were worth a cumulative $450,000.

Golden Bandit ($6) was making his second start on turf and was content to race just off leader One in Vermillion, who took the field through fractions of 23.06 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.42 for the half-mile in the one-mile race run over firm ground. Golden Bandit moved to the leader on the final turn as the pair raced through six furlongs in 1:10.89, then took command into the stretch. One in Vermillion, a four-time stakes winner, dug back in and cut into the eventual winner’s four-length advantage in the stretch. Golden Bandit covered the distance in 1:34.41 under Adam Beschizza.

“We have a lot of respect for One in Vermillion,” winning trainer Coty Rosin said in a post-race simulcast interview. “We thought we’d run well. To win it was a cherry on top. But he’s a nice horse.”

Golden Bandit made his turf debut in June and was a five-length winner of a maiden special weight at Canterbury. Rosin said the fast and firm turf at Canterbury suits Golden Bandit, who is a son of Midnight Lute.

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“He seems to really get a hold of it well,” he said.

Rosin claimed Golden Bandit for himself for $12,500 in February. The horse’s breeders and original owners, Barry and Joni Butzow, now race the horse again and have done so since his June start at Canterbury. The couple earned $60,000 for Golden Bandit’s win Wednesday.

We Storm was scratched from the Canterbury Derby.

Triple for Geroux, Thomas

Jockey Florent Geroux and trainer Jonathan Thomas teamed for three stakes wins on the card Wednesday.

Regal Realm ($4.80) came four wide into the stretch and rolled home in front to capture the $75,000 Lady Canterbury for Geroux and Thomas. Midnight Current closed fast for second, beaten a length in the one-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

Regal Realm was content to stalk the pace set by Scent of Success, who took the field through an opening quarter in 23.53 seconds, a half-mile in 47.79, and six furlongs in 1:11.27. Regal Realm advanced on the final turn, came into the stretch four wide contending for the lead, and quickened. She covered the distance on firm ground in 1:34.35.

"I was very pleased with her," Geroux said. "She gave me a very nice kick."

Regal Realm is a daughter of Animal Kingdom who races for Augustin Stables. She was winning her third straight race and first stakes.

Geroux and Thomas won the first of the night’s stakes races with Fuerteventura ($3.80) in the $75,000 Brooks Fields. The horse stalked in third and was up for a nose win over Stagecoach Boys. It was a head back in third to Sonny Smack.

Following the race, the rider of Stagecoach Boys claimed foul against the winner alleging stretch interference, but the stewards made no change to the order of finish.

Fuerteventura ($3.80) covered the mile for 3-year-olds and up on firm turf in 1:33.21. The son of Summer Front races for his breeder, Brereton Jones, and Bob LaPenta.

Geroux and Thomas registered their third stakes on the card when High Front ($6) overcame a slow start to capture the $75,000 Dark Star. He won by two lengths over Plane Talk. High Front covered five furlongs on firm turf in 54.80 seconds. The son of Summer Front trailed early after breaking last of all, picked off rivals on the turn, came five wide into the stretch, and closed with good energy. He races for Augustin Stables.

* Cupids Crush ($18.60) led throughout for a one-length win over favorite Flashy Gem in the $75,000 Curtis Sampson Oaks. The winner covered a mile on firm turf in 1:34.35. Eduardo Gallardo was aboard the daughter of Cupid for Xtreme Racing Stables and trainer Mac Robertson.

* Sir Sterling ($3.80) was always prominent for a 3 1/4-length win over filly Thunders Rocknroll in the $50,000 MTA Stallion Auction Stakes. The winner covered 6 1/2 furlongs for eligible 3-year-olds in 1:17.01. Lindey Wade was aboard the son of Sam Lord’s Castle for breeder and owner Chad Kuehn and trainer Tony Rengstorf.

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