Minnesota-breds at Canterbury

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Ten Minnesota-bred fillies are entered in the $35,000 Lady Slipper Stakes at six furlongs Sunday at Canterbury Park, a race that renews a three-way rivalry from last season.

Susie Blues, owned by Barbara Kelly, might prove the narrow favorite in the Lady Slipper. Unbeaten at 2, Susie Blues returned last season to capture the Minnesota Oaks with an impressive front-running victory. Vic Hanson trains Susie Blues and appears to have her ready to fire in her first outing in eight months following a bullet half-mile workout over the Canterbury Park strip last week. Derek Bell is named to ride.

Susie Blues will be put to the test in the Lady Slipper when she meets her rival Lakeville. A Camelia Casby homebred, Lakeville finished a close second in last season's Minnesota Oaks, following a victory in the MTA Stallion Auction Stakes. Lakeville capped off her season with a win over Susie Blues in the Minnesota Distaff Classic. Trainer Bruce Riecken prepped his runner for the Canterbury meet in Kentucky, and her last-place finish in a Keeneland allowance comes with some valid excuses - she got loose in the paddock and experienced some trouble at the start. Lakeville will be reunited with rider Paul Nolan, who has ridden the filly in all but one start at Canterbury Park.

Demiparfait, owned by Astar Thoroughbreds, beat both Susie Blues and Lakeville in the Frances Genter Stakes last season and might be the sustained pace type who pulls the upset. She has been breezing steadily for trainer Todd Hoffrogge. Curtis Kimes is named to ride.