Lothenbach all over Hall of Fame card at Canterbury
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Bob Lothenbach’s influence on the Minnesota racing and breeding program can be found all over the entries for Saturday night’s Hall of Fame card at Canterbury Park, particularly in the $50,000 Minnesota Turf Distaff, in which he has defending winner Midnight Current, Let’s Skedaddle, and main-track-only runner Charlie’s Penny.
In all, Lothenbach is the breeder, owner, or both, of 10 horses on the card that features four stakes worth a cumulative $200,000. Each of the races is restricted to horses bred in Minnesota. There will be reduced takeout on select wagers.
Midnight Current was made Canterbury’s horse of the year last season for winning all five of her starts at the meet. She is returning to the Minnesota-bred ranks after running second by a length in last month’s $75,000 Lady Canterbury.
“She got inside and saved the ground and when she got going, it was just a little bit too late,” trainer Joel Berndt said. “She’s had two seconds this year, ran well both times. I think she can turn the tide this time.”
The Minnesota Turf Distaff is for fillies and mares at 7 1/2 furlongs. Midnight Current will break from post 2 under regular rider Harry Hernandez. She’s a homebred who overall is 7 for 15.
The chief threat could be Let’s Skedaddle, another homebred who won an allowance over Midnight Current in May at Canterbury. The race was the first since September for Midnight Current, who was 4-5.
“The first race of the year she was still on that six-win streak, carried over from last year and the year before,” Berndt said. “For her to get beat was bittersweet because it was her stablemate, Let’s Skedaddle. It was like, ‘Awww. The queen got beat.’ ”
Let’s Skedaddle also exits the Lady Canterbury, finishing a closing fifth in the one-mile race in June.
“Let’s Skedaddle needs one of two things,” Berndt said. “Lots and lots of pace. And I think she’s longer distance.”
Jermaine Bridgmohan has the mount from the rail Saturday.
Charlie’s Penny – a third homebred – drew post 8 of 9. She comes off a win in the $50,000 Lady Slipper in May at Canterbury.
“She’s my ace in the hole if it was going to rain, but it looks sunny and clear,” Berndt said.
The $50,000 Ralph Strangis is for 3-year-olds and up at 7 1/2 furlongs on turf, and Lothenbach homebred Stagecoach Boys will get good support in the competitive field of eight. Thealligatorhunter is back after finishing first in the race a year ago and being disqualified for interference. Xavey Dave enters off an allowance win at the distance, and Hot Shot Kid is nearing career earnings of $700,000.
Stagecoach Boys owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, a 90. He earned the number for his runner-up finish in the Brooks Fields Mile last month at Canterbury. Stagecoach Boys was making his stakes debut in the mile turf race that went in a blazing 1:33.21 and was beaten a nose by Fuerteventura.
“I thought he had won it from where I was standing,” said Berndt, who trains Stagecoach Boys. “It was just an up-and-down head bob.”
Stagecoach Boys is an up-and-coming member of the division. The 4-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy is 3 for 6 and will be making his third start of the year Saturday. Stagecoach Boys is a half-brother to Let’s Skedaddle.
“We’re very excited about him,” Berndt said. “Every race he’s jumped forward. Last year, he was a very immature-minded horse. Physically, he looked the part, but mentally, he was still babyish. The light bulb turned on over the winter. His first race back was huge, then we took a shot at the open stakes and he was beat in a head bob.
“He’s breezed super since. The only thing that plays against him is the distance is a little short. I think the longer the better.”
Constantino Roman has the mount from post 5.
Berndt said a second entrant, That’s Not Funny, will be scratched in favor of a race Sunday.
Roman also rides Lothenbach homebred It’s Bobs Business in the seven-horse $50,000 Victor S. Myers. The six-furlong race is for 3-year-olds. It’s Bobs Business is returning to the statebred ranks, and he’s won in his two starts against such foes. The victories were by a combined margin of 19 lengths.
The stakes action starts with the $50,000 Frances Genter for 3-year-old fillies. Cupids Crush is seeking to win her fourth straight race for Xtreme Racing Stables.
Lothenbach, retired jockey Ry Eikleberry, and Mr. Jagermeister will be honored between races Saturday as the newest members of Canterbury’s Hall of Fame. On Sunday, the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association will celebrate its 2022 standouts, including older female Charlie’s Penny. Lothenbach owns two other title winners to be feted and also is set to pick up an additional pair of awards earned by his Lothenbach Stables, according to the MTA.
“He wants to support Minnesota,” Berndt said. “He was born and raised in Minnesota.”
Berndt estimated Lothenbach’s operation currently produces 10 to 15 Minnesota-bred foals each year.
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