It'sallinthechase eyes first grass win

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Over the past few years, the fields for the Canterbury Park Breeders' Cup Derby have not been big. But the race usually manages to attract a quality horse or two, such as last year's winner Fan Club's Mister, Del Mar Show (second, 2000), and Maysville Slew (first, 1999).

Just six 3-year-olds were entered for this year's $100,000 Canterbury Park Derby, a one-mile turf race, and two of them - It'sallinthechase and Teague - are stakes winners. None in the field has won a stakes on turf, however.

The favorite may be It'sallinthechase, who was one of 17 runners left in War Emblem's wake in the Kentucky Derby. Wilson Brown trains It'sallinthechase for Minnesota-based owner Darwin Olson, and It'sallinthechase raced here three times last year.

It'sallinthechase left Canterbury Park without a win last year, and went on to win his maiden at Remington Park. Last fall he finished second in the Grade 2 Arlington-Washington Futurity, 10th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Belmont Park, and then won the $75,000 Remington Park MEC Mile.

Winless in six starts this year, all stakes, It'sallinthechase has been working quickly here since his 16th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

It'sallinthechase finished sixth behind Private Emblem in his only start on turf, which came in the Black Gold Handicap at Fair Grounds in January. Seth Martinez is named to ride him Sunday.

Teague was claimed for $50,000 by Rick Engel for the Diamond G Ranch at Oaklawn in February, and enters the Canterbury Park Derby following three consecutive victories. Teague's most recent win came as the odds-on favorite in the Nebraska Derby at Fonner Park. Luis Quinonez, a five-time riding champ at Canterbury, rides Teague on Sunday.

Awol Soldier, trained by Kenneth Wirth, is the one runner in the derby with confirmed turf form, having won two of four starts and never finishing worse than third on the grass. Awol Soldier finished third, two lengths behind Classic Case and Red Masque, in the Bud Challenger Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The quality of that performance was underscored when Red Masque returned to win the Forerunner Stakes at Keeneland. Terry Thompson rides Awol Soldier.

Montana Rush, a pace-pressing second to Teague in the Nebraska Derby, returned with a fast-closing second in the six- furlong St. Paul Stakes here two weeks ago. Montana Rush is trained by Doug Oliver, and Leslie Mawing will be in the irons.

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