Mr. Jagermeister trounces foes in Minnesota Sprint Championship

It was another great show.

The homegrown rock star Mr. Jagermeister improved his record in Minnesota-bred stakes company to 6 for 6 on Sunday, when he shuttled to a 5 1/4-length victory in the $100,000 Minnesota Sprint Championship at Canterbury Park.

Now, it’s cookie time.

“He’s a terrible cookie monster,” said winning trainer Valorie Lund. “We have cookies for the horses and he thinks he should get them all.”

It’s probably safe to assume Mr. Jagermeister will be getting more than his fair share Sunday night. He was winning his third straight race in the Sprint Championship, following an Oaklawn allowance win in April and the $100,000 Chesapeake on Aug. 17 at Colonial Downs.

The Sprint Championship was one of eight stakes on Canterbury’s card dedicated to Minnesota-breds. There were a total of six stakes for Thoroughbreds, and those races were worth $600,000.

Mr. Jagermeister ($2.80) was a focal point on the card, for his long record of success in his native Minnesota. He broke from the rail in the Sprint Championship, and dueled with Mister Banjoman in the early stages, with the opening quarter going in 21.37 seconds and the half-mile in 43.97. In the stretch, Mr. Jagermeister separated himself from the field, while covering six furlongs in 1:09.87.

Leandro Goncalves was aboard Mr. Jagermeister.

Drop of Golden Sun finished second at 25-1, while it was another two lengths back in third to Cinco Star. Mister Banjoman, coming off an impressive win in the $100,000 Minnesota Derby, had an equipment issue during the running of the stakes, a broken right rein, according to the chart of the race from Equibase.

Mr. Jagermeister’s streak in Minnesota-bred stakes started in 2017 when he won the Northern Lights Futurity by 15 1/2 lengths at Canterbury. He added four more statebred stakes wins at the track last year to be crowned 3-year-old of the year by the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association.

Mr. Jagermeister is a son of Atta Boy Roy and he races for his breeder, Kristin Boice, as well as Leslie Cummings and Lund. He’s now won 10 of 17 starts and earned $493,537.

Hot Shot Kid leads Robertson winners

Hot Shot Kid, who was the older male Minnesota-bred of 2018, led a parade of three stakes winners on the card for trainer Mac Robertson. The horse accounted for the $100,000 Classic by four lengths over Fireman Oscar and in the process went over $500,000 in career earnings. Robertson overall won five races on the card Sunday. Last month, he swept the four Thoroughbred stakes on the Made in Minnesota card at Canterbury.

Hot Shot Kid ($2.20) on Sunday set the pace in the field scratched down to four head, leading through an opening quarter in 25.62 seconds, a half-mile in 49.86, and six furlongs in 1:13.87. He went on to cover 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.82.

Orlando Mojica was aboard Hot Shot Kid, who was picking up his fifth win at the meet from six starts. Hot Shot Kid has now won 12 of 27 career starts, for earnings of $512,198. The son of Majestic Warrior races for his breeder, Warren L. Bush.

Robertson and Mojica teamed to win the $100,000 Northern Lights Futurity with Happy Hour Cowboy ($4), who was always prominent for a length win over Public Safety. The winner covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:12.06. Happy Hour Cowboy, a son of Successful Appeal, races for his breeder, Robert Lindgren.

Ready to Runaway ($3.20) picked up her fourth consecutive win in the $100,000 Distaff Championship, with Jareth Loveberry aboard for Robertson. The filly was content to track the pace in second, then overtook to the leader and went on to a 7 1/4-length win in the race for fillies and mares. She covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.13. Following the race there was a claim of foul lodged against Ready to Runaway by the rider of runner-up Pinup Girl, but the stewards made no change to the order of finish. Ready to Runaway is a daughter of First Dude who races for John Mentz.

► Rush Hour Traffic ($7.60) overtook 2-5 favorite and pacesetter Defend the Rose for a 4 1/4-length win over that one in the $100,000 Northern Lights Debutante. Leandro Goncalves was aboard the winner, who covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:13.43. Rush Hour Traffic is a daughter of Cross Traffic who races for her breeder, Sugarland Thoroughbreds, and is trained by Gary Scherer.

► Ari Gia ($3.60) was a 3 1/2-length winner over Honey’s Sox Appeal in the $100,000 Distaff Sprint. The winner covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.57. Francisco Arrieta was aboard for trainer Jose Silva, Jr. Ari Gia is a daughter of Giacomo who races for Silva.