Hold for More splashes to 10,000 Lakes triumph

In his first 13 starts at Canterbury Park, the 5-year-old gelding Hold for More won seven times and finished second six times.

Start number 14 at Canterbury came May 6 in the Paul Bunyan Stakes, and Hold for More clunked home a flat sixth.

Was it the start of a new, unfortunate trend from Hold for More? No, it was not. Hold for More got right back to his winning ways Saturday at Canterbury, splashing to a 2 1/2-length victory in the $50,000 10,000 Lakes Stakes for Minnesota-bred sprinters.

Ridden by Orlando Mojica for trainer Francisco Bravo and owner Dale Schenian, Hold for More stalked the pace on the outside, made a strong move coming into the homestretch, seized the lead just before the stretch call and won going away. He ran six furlongs on a sloppy track in 1:11.19 and paid $11.80 to win.

Left in his wake was Bourbon County, who had won this race the last two years. A P is Loose finished third, while favored Smooth Chiraz dueled through fractions of 22.94 and 46.69 while along the inside before fading to last.

Hold for More is by Hold Me Back out of Miner’s Mirage, by Giant’s Causeway. Winning his eighth race at Canterbury, he ran his career mark to 17-9-6-0.

Honey’s Sox Appeal wires Lady Slipper

Honey’s Sox Appeal, well prepared by trainer Mac Robertson for her first start since Sept. 8, battled for the lead along the rail with favored Rockin the Bleu’s, put her pace rival away at the eighth pole, and went on to a 2 1/4-length win in the $50,000 Lady Slipper for Minnesota-bred female sprinters.

Honey’s Sox Appeal paid $4.20 to win as the favorite and was timed in 1:11.91 for six furlongs in the slop. It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to third-place Thunder and Honey.

Alex Canchari rode the winner for Robertson and owner Bob Lindgren. The 4-year-old filly by Successful Appeal and out of the Indian Charlie mare A J’s Honey never has finished worse than third; her record is now 5-3-1 from nine starts. Rockin the Bleu’s finished second in the Lady Slipper for the second year in a row.