Mister Banjoman part of Mac Robertson contingent on Made In Minnesota Night

Mister Banjoman will attempt to stretch his speed around two turns Saturday night, when he starts as one of the most promising young runners on the Made In Minnesota card at Canterbury Park.

Mister Banjoman goes in the $100,000 Minnesota Derby for 3-year-olds, one of four Thoroughbred stakes on the card. There are also two Quarter Horse stakes. All of the races are restricted to Minnesota-breds.

The Minnesota Derby is the card’s co-richest offering alongside the $100,000 Minnesota Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. Both races will be run at a mile and 70 yards. Also on the card, A P Is Loose seeks to win the $50,000 Blair’s Cove for the fourth time.

Mister Banjoman has the makings of a top Minnesota-bred. Novogratz Racing Stables gave $200,000 for the son of Maclean’s Music as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky auction in October 2017.

“He was the best Minnesota-bred yearling I’d ever seen,” said trainer Mac Robertson, who recommended the purchase. “He’s a nice horse.”

Mister Banjoman won his career debut a year ago this week at Canterbury, and two starts later defeated open company in the track’s $75,000 Shakopee Juvenile. This year, he’s won an allowance over older rivals and captured the $50,000 Victor S. Myers in his last start July 4 at Canterbury, improving his career record to 4 for 7. Mister Banjoman will break from the rail in the field of eight for his two-turn debut Saturday. He will be ridden by Orlando Mojica.

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“I was happy he drew the rail,” Robertson said. “I thought he ran a big race last time. He broke bad, got bounced around, still ran a big race.

“The distance is a question. He’s got a lot of speed. He’s a fast 3-year-old. Hopefully, he can get two turns and be a good horse for the future.”

Mister Banjoman, who has a chance to control the pace, shares the same sire as Cloud Computing, winner of the 2017 Preakness Stakes. Mister Banjoman’s dam, Mesa Mirage, registered all four of her wins at two turns.

The chief threat could be Dame Plata, who was second in the Myers.

In the nine-horse Minnesota Oaks, Ready to Runaway will be looking for her third straight win and her second consecutive stakes victory following the $50,000 Frances Genter, which she won by 4 1/4 lengths July 4 at Canterbury. She wired the field in the six furlong race on a good track and should again be prominent when she stretches out around two turns for the first time Saturday. Jareth Loveberry has the mount on Ready to Runaway from post 2 for John Mentz and Robertson.

“I think she’ll get two turns,” Robertson said of the daughter of First Dude. “She won pretty comfortably last time and she’s trained like she’ll get the distance.”

The Blair’s Cove, at a mile and a sixteenth on turf, drew nine, including Robertson trainees Hot Shot Kid and A P Is Loose. A P Is Loose has won the race the last three years, while Hot Shot Kid comes off a win in the $50,000 Minnesota Turf Stakes on July 3 at Canterbury.

Hot Shot Kid is looking for his seventh career stakes win and his fourth victory at the meet. He brings natural speed to the table and could show the way from post 8. Mojica has the mount on the 5-year-old son of Majestic Warrior for breeder and owner Warren Bush.

“He’s been a really consistent horse,” Robertson said. “He runs long, short, dirt, grass. He’s pretty versatile.”

A P Is Loose is moving back into Minnesota-bred company following a fifth-place finish in an optional $35,000 claiming race July 14 at Canterbury. He sat closer to the pace than usual after breaking from the rail in the optional claimer. Before that, he closed for second in the Minnesota Turf. Loveberry has the mount on the 8-year-old stalwart, who would go over $500,000 in earnings with a win Saturday for breeder and owner Joel Zamzow.

“They’re calling for rain, which might make it tough on him,” Robertson said. “If it stays on the grass, I expect him to be tough in there. The horse is doing really well.”

Robertson trainee First Hunter goes for her second straight stakes win in the $50,000 Princess Elaine for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth on the grass.