Gypsy Melody faces familiar foes in Lady Slipper

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Defending champ Gypsy Melody renews her rivalry with Sky and Sea, Polar Plunge, and Somerset Swinger in Saturday’s $60,000 Lady Slipper, a six-furlong sprint for Minnesota-bred fillies and mares at Canterbury Park.

Conditioned by last year’s top money-earning trainer at the meet, Mac Robertson, the well-established duo of Gypsy Melody and Somerset Swinger, with combined lifetime earnings of $250,653 here, meet again in the seasonal debut for both mares. Last May, Gypsy Melody rallied strongly for a 1 3/4-length victory in this race, and Somerset Swinger ran third.

Polar Plunge, although winless since 2013, has been in the thick of it in many of these Minnesota-bred events. The 7-year-old Polar Plunge chased home Sky and Sea when beaten a neck in last summer’s Minnesota Distaff Sprint.

Sky and Sea, the most accomplished among the quartet of 4-year-olds in Saturday’s eight-horse field, will aim to seize command from the outset under regular rider Dean Butler, who takes the call for his father-in-law, Bernell Rhone.

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Lady Slipper, race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Gypsy Melody(Last 3 Beyers: 76-65-78)

◗ Reliable closer reappears showing a pair of five-furlong breezes locally, including a good move in 1:00.80 on Wednesday.

Polar Plunge (Last 3 Beyers: 78-85-80)

◗ Gary Scherer trainee has the benefit of a muddy April 19 Hawthorne allowance sprint under her belt when closing ground into third.

◗ Jockey Denny Velazquez, aboard Polar Plunge for the second time, will try to eke out the improvement necessary to end her 11-race losing streak.

Somerset Swinger (Last 3 Beyers: 79-66-78)

◗ In order to keep her speedy rivals honest, she might have to put her tactical speed to use under first-time pilot Daniel Vergara.

◗ Tends to need a local start or two before showing her best.

Sky and Sea (Last 3 Beyers: 48-86-66)

◗ Brings an excellent 5-for-6 record here to the mix, and despite fading to ninth in an April 12 Tampa Bay Downs allowance sprint, she has a prep race under her belt.

◗ Could prove tough to reel in with an alert break.

Thunder and Honey (Last 3 Beyers: 67-68-44)

◗ The least accomplished of Robertson’s trio is eligible to improve in the first start of her 4-year-old campaign. Gradual improver shows her best foot late.