Midnight Current notches third consecutive Minnesota Turf Distaff triumph

It was a night of notable feats during Canterbury Park’s Hall of Fame card Saturday, when Midnight Current won the Minnesota Turf Distaff Handicap for the third consecutive year and trainer Mac Robertson and apprentice Serafin Carmona each won five races.

The eight-race card featured five overnight stakes worth $40,000 each. The races were designed to celebrate the latest class inducted into the track’s hall: Hot Shot Kid and breeders Cheryl Sprick and Richard Bremer.

Midnight Current is now 10 for 14 over the Canterbury turf after the rail opened up for her in the stretch and she went on to a half-length win over Let’s Skedaddle. It was another length back in third to She’s My Warrior.

Midnight Current ($4.40) sat just off the pace set by She’s My Warrior, who took the Minnesota-bred field through an opening quarter in 23.18 seconds, a half-mile in 47.21 and six furlongs in 1:10.43 before Midnight Current moved to the lead and went on to cover 7 1/2 furlongs on firm ground in 1:28.64.

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Eduardo Gallardo was aboard for her longtime trainer, Joel Berndt.

Midnight Current was making her second start for Runnymoore Racing after previously racing for her breeder, Bob Lothenbach, who died in 2023.

“She was sold at the dispersal sale and I just assumed she was going to get bred,” Berndt said in a post-race interview conducted by Canterbury.

Berndt said he was driving home from the sale the next day when he got a call from the stable manager for Runnymoore Racing.

“He asked me if I would like her back and he didn’t even finish the sentence and I said yes,” Berndt said.

Midnight Current is a 6-year-old by Midnight Lute who has now won 11 of 20 starts for earnings of $361,700. For her win on Saturday, she earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.

Earlier on the card, Berndt and Gallardo teamed to win the Victor S. Myers for 3-year-olds bred in Minnesota with Street Warrior. He rolled home by nine lengths over General Battle Axe.

The start came one race after Street Warrior won his debut by 14 1/4 lengths June 15 at Canterbury. In the Myers, he tracked fractions of 21.92 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.73 for a half-mile before going on to cover six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.82. Street Warrior earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 84.

Suzanne Stables owns the son of Barbados.

Xavey Dave ($4) became one of two overnight stakes winners on the card for the team of Robertson and Carmona when he retained his title in the Ralph Strangis for 3-year-olds and up over 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. He won the race for Minnesota-breds by 2 1/2 lengths over Thealligatorhunter. Xavey Dave, who closed from last, covered the distance in 1:27.83. The son of Temple City races for Linda Bush. Xavey Dave earned a Beyer of 90.

Robertson and Carmona also teamed with Cupids Crush in the Mr. Dale Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, and she rallied for a 2 3/4-length win over Thunders Rocknroll. The winner covered five furlongs on turf in 56.46 seconds. Cupids Crush ($8.60) is a daughter of Cupid who races for Xtreme Racing Stables. She earned a Beyer of 81.

Robertson and Carmona also won the first race with Wynn Trip ($5) and the third race with Mister Muldoon ($3). Carmona’s other winner on the card came in the eighth with Firenspice ($4.60) for trainer Stetson Rushton.

Carmona won the first race of his career in January at Fair Grounds. Robertson is the all-time leading trainer at Canterbury.

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