Robertson holds strong hand in four statebred stakes

Clickbait’s natural speed could help keep her out of trouble when she takes on a full field of fillies and mares in the $50,000 Minnesota Turf Distaff on Saturday night at Canterbury Park.

The 7 1/2-furlong turf race is one of four Minnesota-bred stakes on the card.

Clickbait drew post 6 in the 11-horse Minnesota Turf Distaff, with Hotasapistol entered for the main track only. Other top contenders in the field include multiple stakes winner Ready to Runaway, who has earned more than $500,000.

Clickbait could prove to be the controlling speed. She will be stretching out around two turns off a runner-up finish in a Canterbury allowance over 5 1/2-furlongs on June 25. She set the pace in the race. Following the start, trainer Mac Robertson entered Clickbait in the Saylorville that was run last Saturday at Prairie Meadows. She was scratched from that race in favor of this race at Canterbury.

“It was just a little too quick,” Robertson said. “She ran hard last time. It was just a little too quick back.”

Clickbait is a multiple stakes-winning sprinter who is proven around two turns. Despite the versatility, she will be looking for her first turf win Saturday.

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“She’s run once on the turf and kind of got crowded,” Robertson said. “I think she’ll run well. I want to give her one more shot.”

Luis Valenzuela has the mount on Clickbait.

Robertson also sends out Ready to Runaway from post 11. She won this race a year ago when it was moved from turf to the main track and is coming off a main-track allowance win June 8 at Canterbury.

Ready to Runaway is another looking for her first turf win, after running second on the surface in each of her two starts, her latest in a stakes last September at Canterbury.

“She tries hard,” Robertson said. “She’s run some good races, will run on anything, I think.”

Roimes Chirinos has the mount.

Robertson also will start a pair of multiple turf winners in the race in Scent of Success and Shabam.

Ralph Strangis Stakes

Hot Shot Kid, one of the most accomplished Minnesota-breds in training as a 10-time stakes winner who has earned more than $650,000, makes an appearance in the $50,000 Ralph Strangis.

The 7 1/2-furlong turf race is for 3-year-olds and up. It’s drawn a field of 10, with Dame Plata entered for the main track only. Twoko Bay won an allowance prep in May, and Thealligatorhunter is chasing after his third straight win at the meet.

Hot Shot Kid enters off a fourth-place finish in the 10,000 Lakes on May 18 at Canterbury. Robertson said his training approach with the 8-year-old this season is to simply keep him fresh and happy, and he’s responding based on a five-furlong move July 10 at Canterbury.

“He’s working like he used to – worked in 59 the other morning,” Robertson said. “He certainly doesn’t owe us anything.”

Hot Shot Kid races for his breeder, Warren Bush.

Ry Eikleberry, who is in from Lone Star Park to ride, has the mount on Hot Shot Kid from post 8.

Victor S. Myers Stakes

Love the Nest will be looking for his fourth straight win when he starts in the $60,000 Victor S. Myers.

The six-furlong race is for 3-year-olds. It has drawn a field of seven.

Love the Nest will start from the far outside under Eikleberry. He began his streak at this meet a year ago, when he won his maiden in August and captured the Northern Lights Futurity in September, both under Eikleberry. Love the Nest has made one start at 3, winning a first-level allowance over open company May 1 at Hawthorne.

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Love the Nest set the pace en route to a 5 1/4-length win, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 80 is a career best. Joel Berndt trains Love the Nest, a son of Blame who races for Lothenbach Stables.

The chief threats include Doctor Oscar, a winner of his last two starts including a local allowance for which he earned a Beyer of 82. It’s the best career number in the Myers, and it came over open company June 30.

Robertson trainee Xavey Dave is cutting back to one turn and returning to dirt after a fifth-place finish in the Mystic Lake Derby.

◗ Roberston will send out four promising 3-year-old fillies in the $60,000 Frances Genter. It will be run over six furlongs. The barn’s Brewhouse could go favored off a 5 3/4-length victory in a maiden special weight sprint July 2 at Canterbury. The 69 Beyer she earned is the best career number in the Genter.

“They’re all good fillies,” Robertson said. “They all try hard.”