Mizz Money, Walking the Kitten clash in Northbound Pride Oaks

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Canterbury Park enlivens its Sunday card with a pair of $75,000 stakes races, the Northbound Pride Oaks and the Dark Star Cup.

The Northbound Pride Oaks, a turf race at about one mile for 3-year-old fillies, attracted nine entrants and is headed by stakes winner Mizz Money and the Mike Maker-trained Walking the Kitten.

Mizz Money, who won the $60,000 Lacombe Memorial on the Fair Grounds turf course, ships in from Churchill Downs for trainer Bernie Flint. The improving Walking the Kitten makes the trek from Keeneland after an encouraging second, 1 1/4 lengths behind the highly regarded Bugle, in a June 4 allowance route over the Churchill turf.

◗ Graded stakes winner Rise Up, who ships in from Churchill for trainer Tom Amoss, heads eight older colts and geldings in the Dark Star Cup, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint on the main track. Rise Up, a 4-year-old Rockport Harbor colt who won the 2013 Delta Jackpot, turns back to a sprint after running third in the Grade 3 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park.

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Picko’s Pride, a tough 7-year-old who is a graded stakes-placed winner of eight races and $378,907, drops in class after facing Grade 3 foes in both of his 2015 starts. Trained by Mac Robertson, who is 13 for 36 at Canterbury this season, Picko’s Pride ships in from Delaware Park for his first try at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Northbound Pride Oaks, race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

America Mon Amie (Last 3 Beyers: 74-64-60)

◗ Lightly raced Arlington shipper sprang to life in her May 15 turf debut, winning easily by four lengths.

◗ Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. travels here to retain the mount.

Walking the Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 81-66-62)

◗ Jockey Deshawn Parker ships in to ride and has won with seven of his last 16 mounts for trainer Mike Maker.

Mizz Money (Last 3 Beyers: 82-70-76)

◗ Possesses a notable class edge after contesting four straight stakes, including a fourth-place finish in Churchill’s Grade 3 Eight Belles on May 1.

◗ Will be ridden for the first time by Jorge Carreno, who is 13 for 63 at this meet.

Dark Star CUP, race 9

KEY CONTENDERS

Rise Up (Last 3 Beyers: 92-97-90)

◗ Quick colt gets the services of jockey Leandro Goncalves, who has won 30 percent of the time for Amoss in 2014-15. Goncalves guided him to a 10 3/4-length romp in the Hilton Memorial at Charles Town.

Priceless Commodity (Last 3 Beyers: 97-67-76)

◗ This 5-year-old has a proven affinity for the surface and rallied strongly for a lifetime-best 97 Beyer in a May 17 allowance sprint.

Picko’s Pride (Last 3 Beyers: 73-92-92)

◗ Jockey Dean Butler, who is 12 for 27 at this meet for trainer Robertson, climbs aboard for the first time.

Ghost Is Clear (Last 3 Beyers: 70-78-94)

◗ Defending champ has been freshened, and this Maker-trained deep closer looks set to rebound.