Minnesota-breds in spotlight for eight stakes

A little more than a week after Prairie Meadows had its statebred day of racing, now comes Canterbury Park’s turn. On Sunday, the track has carded 11 races for Minnesota-bred horses, headed by six stakes for Thoroughbreds and two for Quarter Horses.

The two Quarter Horse stakes carry $45,000 purses, while the six Thoroughbred stakes range in value from $60,000 to $85,000, with a pair of stakes for juveniles offering the most money.

The first of the two races for 2-year-olds, the Northern Lights Debutante for fillies, goes as the sixth race and drew 11 runners, none of whom has more than two starts. A pair of runaway first-out winners at Canterbury, Ryan and Madison and Line of Grace, top the field. There’s also Shipmate, who won a pair of races at Prairie Meadows, including a restricted stakes.

The field looks more wide open in the Northern Lights Futurity for males in race 7. Threats include Chaska and Fireman Oscar, the one-two finishers from a maiden race Aug. 5; Devil’s Teeth, an off-the-pace debut winner July 2; and Fridaynitestar, who debuted in a sales stakes and won by 2 3/4 lengths July 30.

Morning-line favorites in the four other Thoroughbred stakes are the 4-for-6 Smooth Chiraz, who heads a field of five in the Minnesota Sprint Championship; defending champion La Petite Cheri in the Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship; Thunder and Honey in the Minnesota Distaff Classic Championship; and A P Is Loose in the Minnesota Classic Championship.

A P Is Loose is the shortest price on the morning line at 4-5. He comes off a close second in an open allowance and was a 3 1/2-length winner of the Minnesota Classic Championship in 2015.

Northern Lights Debutante, Race 6

Key Contenders

Line of Grace, by Line of David

Beyer: 54

◗ Bet down to 2-1 in her debut July 29, she was unhampered by an inside draw, shooting to the lead and pulling away in the lane to win by five lengths over fellow Northern Lights Debutante entrant Start a Ruckus.

Ryan and Madison, by Sam Lord’s Castle

Beyer: 60

◗ Recorded the largest margin of victory of any maiden winner in the field when she romped by 9 1/2 lengths July 15 under hand urging.

Shipmate, by Midshipman

Last 2 Beyers: 45-53

◗ Won both of her starts this summer at Prairie Meadows, taking a maiden race by 2 3/4 lengths and scoring a neck victory as the heavy favorite in the Iowa Stallion Futurity on July 8. She defeated males on both occasions.

Northern Lights Futurity, Race 7

Key Contenders

Devil’s Teeth, by Hat Trick

Beyer: 55

◗ Rated effectively in his lone start, sitting in third early and kicking past the two leaders to win by 1 3/4 lengths on July 2.

Fridaynitestar, by Five Star Day

Beyer: 42

◗ Whipped stakes rivals in his lone start, but did so in a race restricted to horses who went through the auction ring during the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association’s yearling sale in 2015.

Chaska, by Regal Ransom

Last 2 Beyers: 53-19

◗ After a nose loss in a slow race July 15, he improved the second time out, winning and running a significantly faster time when beating Northern Lights Futurity rivals Fireman Oscar and Floki.