Ready to Runaway leads strong Robertson team in Minnesota-bred stakes
Ready to Runaway will be looking to stretch her win streak to four and win on the grass for the first time in the $100,000 Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship on Wednesday night at Canterbury Park.
The mile and a sixteenth race for fillies and mares is one of six stakes on the card. The races are all restricted to Minnesota-breds and are worth a cumulative $600,000.
Ready to Runaway brings a long list of accomplishments into the Princess Elaine. She is the richest Minnesota-bred female, with earnings of $457,735. She’s an eight-time stakes winner. And she’s the reigning horse of the meet at Canterbury.
Now, Ready to Runaway makes her second appearance on the grass. Mac Robertson, who trains Ready to Runaway for John Mentz, said he’s running her in the Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship more because of the distance than the surface.
“She’s just done a little bit better at two turns this year,” Robertson said. “This spring, it seemed like she struggled a little to get up sprinting. Back at two turns, she falls into a rhythm, a high gallop, and keeps going. It was more the two turns than it was grass or dirt.”
Robertson also noted that Ready to Runaway ran well in her one turf start, finishing second by a neck in this race in 2020. She comes into this year’s renewal off three straight wins at Canterbury. Ready to Runaway defeated open company in a second level allowance sprint for fillies and mares June 20, then won back-to-back route stakes for Minnesota-breds in July and August.
“She’s pretty tough right now,” said Robertson.
Ready to Runaway will break from post 7 under regular rider Roimes Chirinos. The race drew a field of nine, including Scent of Success, a winner of her last three starts.
Robertson has several other contenders on the card. Cinco Star could go favored in the $100,000 Blair’s Cove Minnesota Turf Championship. He is moving back to the grass after finishing second by three-quarters of a length in the $50,000 Wally’s Choice on the dirt last month at Canterbury.
“He had a wide trip last time on the dirt, and maybe he’s a little better on the grass,” Robertson said. “He’ll make them run.”
Chirinos has the mount from post 5.
The Blair’s Cove, which is for 3-year-olds and up at a mile and a sixteenth, drew eight.
The card Wednesday also includes a pair of $100,000 divisions of the Northern Lights Futurity. The races will be run at six furlongs. The colts and geldings division drew an exciting young prospect in Xavey Dave, trained by Robertson.
Xavey Dave was a five-length debut winner Aug. 15 at Canterbury. Quincy Hamilton has the mount from post 2 in the field of 10.
“He’s a half-brother to Hot Shot Kid,” Robertson said. “He’s a beautiful horse.”
Hot Shot Kid is the all-time leading earner at Canterbury with a local bankroll of $506,657, according to track representative Jeff Maday. Hot Shot Kid can add to his totals Wednesday, when he runs against Mr. Jagermeister in the $100,000 Minnesota Sprint Championship.
Robertson trains Hot Shot Kid and Xavey Dave for their breeder, Warren L. Bush. Xavey Dave is by Temple City and Hot Shot Kid is by Majestic Warrior. Both are out of the mare Our Sweet Mary B.
Robertson will saddle Honey Bella in the Northern Lights Debutante. She won her only start by 3 1/4 lengths Aug. 4 at Canterbury.
“Hopefully, she’ll move forward off that,” said Robertson.
Star of the North cuts back to one turn for the $100,000 Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship for fillies and mares at six furlongs. She had been bidding for her eighth straight win last out, but finished second in the $100,000 Minnesota Oaks over one-mile and 70 yards on Aug. 18 at Canterbury.
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Star of the North won six of the races during her streak at sprint distances. She boasts a 5-for-7 record over the local main track. Ry Eikleberry has the mount from post 4 for trainer Francisco Bravo.
Star of the North, 3, has faced older rivals once before, winning a Minnesota-bred allowance at Canterbury. She races for her breeder, Michael Grossman.
The field of five in the Distaff Sprint Championship includes Clickbait, who comes off a runner-up finish to Ready to Runaway in the Minnesota Distaff on July 14 at Canterbury.