Hunter's Tiger Paw makes Minnesota Oaks her fourth straight

Hunter’s Tiger Paw won his second consecutive statebred stakes and fourth straight race overall in Saturday’s $60,000 Minnesota Oaks from Canterbury Park. It was her first career victory on a dirt surface after Hunter’s Tiger Paw raced five times on Polytrack and turf.

Ridden by Eddie Martin Jr., Hunter‘s Tiger Paw ($3.40) had no trouble getting to the front early in the Minnesota Oaks. She set moderate fractions of 23.43 and 47.11 seconds en route to completing a mile and 70 yards in 1:42.52, finishing one length in front of fast-closing 21-1 long shot Sasha‘s Fierce.

The Perry Wolff trained Yonstar rallied to finish third at odds of 16-1.Tickleyourfancy, the second betting choice 2-1, had nothing left in the tank at the top of the stretch and finished a distant fourth.

Owned by Kris and Joel Zamzow of Duluth, Minn., Hunter’s Tiger Paw is a 3-year-old filly by Military. She has earned $109,928. Trainer Cory Jensen has now won 6 of 14 starts at Canterbury’s meet.

Tsar Tops Dancer ($60), beaten 8 ½ lengths by Bet Your Boots when they met in the Victor Meyers Stakes on July 17, turned the tables while making the first route start of his career in the $60,000 Minnesota Derby.

Tsar Tops Dancer, ridden by Martin, finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Bet Your Boots, the 2-5 favorite. Bet Your Boots nosed out pacesetter Our Family Affair for second. The winning time for a mile and 70 yards was 1:43.77.

“I got to give all the credit to Eddie. He rode a great race,” said trainer Nevada Liftin “He got the horse to give everything he had. I didn’t know if he’d back up or keep digging in. He just kept running.”

Owned by TTD Partners, Tsar Tops Dancer, a 3-year-old by Top Win, has won 3 of 12 starts and $75,327.