Love the Nest holds off Cousinvinnysacanuck in Minnesota Derby

Love the Nest fought off stablemate Cousinvinnysacanuck for a head win Saturday night in the $100,000 Minnesota Derby at Canterbury Park.

It was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third to Bens Malice.

The Minnesota Derby was the centerpiece of a card that featured four stakes for Minnesota-breds. The purses for the stakes totaled $300,000.

Love the Nest ($5.20) was making his two-turn debut in the Minnesota Derby and sat just off the pace set by Doctor Oscar, who took the field through an opening quarter in 22.88 seconds and 46.97 for the half-mile. Love the Nest took the lead through six furlongs in 1:12.09 and had more to hold off the imposing bid of Cousinvinnysacanuck. The winner covered the one mile, 70 yards on a fast track in 1:42.93 and was ridden by Ry Eikleberry.

“We had the speed horse and the closer, either way the race set up,” Bob Lothenbach, who owns the first two finishers, said in an interview broadcast by Canterbury.

During the interview he was congratulated for also winning the $200,000 Lady Tak earlier in the day at Churchill Downs, with the Neil Pessin-trained Bell’s the One.

Joel Berndt trains both Love the Nest and Cousinvinnysacanuck. The winner is by Blame and has now won 4 of 6 starts for earnings of $184,275.

Four for Ready to Runaway

Eikleberry won another stakes on the card aboard Ready to Runaway. She captured the $50,000 Glitter Star for the fourth consecutive year, according to the press department at Canterbury.

Ready to Runaway ($4.40) set fractions of 24.50 for the opening quarter, 49.16 for the half-mile and 1:13.72 for six furlongs before covering the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:46.18.

Ready to Runaway won by a half-length over stablemate Clickbait. Both horses are trained by Mac Robertson.

John Mentz owns Ready to Runaway, a daughter of First Dude who has now won 14 of 27 starts for earnings of $541,085.

Robertson also trained the one-two finishers in the $100,000 Minnesota Oaks, which It’s Her Time captured by 3 1/4 lengths over Honey Bella. It was another four lengths back in third to Start Singing.

It’s Her Time ($19) was making her two-turn debut and, after tracking She’s My Warrior through an opening quarter in 23.20 seconds and a half-mile in 46.95, moved to the fore through six furlongs in 1:11.70. It’s Her Time went on to cover the one mile, 70 yards in 1:44.31.

Constantino Roman was aboard the winner for breeder and owner Warren Bush. It’s Her Time is a daughter of Not This Time who is now 3 for 5 for earnings of $110,450.

*** Thealligatorhunter ($5) led throughout for a two-length win over Bayou Benny in the $50,000 Wally’s Choice. It was another four lengths back in third to Hot Shot Kid. Alonso Quinonez was aboard the winner for trainer Tim Padilla, who co-owns the horse with Peter Mattson. Thealligatorhunter covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.22. He is a son of Overanalyze and has a career record of 9 for 16 for earnings of $265,085.