Robertson trainees sweep Minnesota-bred turf stakes

First Hunter won the Minnesota Turf Distaff and Hot Shot Kid the Minnesota Turf Stakes giving trainer Mac Robertson a sweep of the $50,000 Minnesota-bred stakes races Wednesday night at Canterbury Park.

Robertson-trained horses ran one-two in the Turf Stakes, where A P Is Loose, the 7-5 favorite, could not reel in Hot Shot Kid, who prevailed by three-quarters of a length. Five-year-old Hot Shot Kid has been one of the better Minnesota-breds of recent Canterbury seasons and with this win ran his career mark to 10-7-1 from 25 starts, but he had gone unplaced in two previous grass races and was surprisingly effective on the surface this time. Under Orlando Mojica, Hot Shot Kid tracked the pace from third, took over in upper stretch, went clear and had plenty left to hold off the closers. The Warren Bush homebred by Majestic Warrior out of Our Sweet Mary B, by Officer, ran 7 1/2 furlongs on a firm course in 1:29.49 and paid $7.60.

First Hunter, a 5-year-old daughter of Philanthropist and Hunter’s Tiger Paw, by Military, got a sweet ground-saving trip under Jareth Loveberry to win the Minnesota Turf Distaff for owner-breeder Joel Zamzow. First Hunter ($9.20) clocked 1:30.31 for her 7 1/2 furlongs and beat Maywood Hope by 2 1/2 lengths. The Robertson-trained favorite, Honey’s Sox Appeal, checked in fifth, while Firstmate was scratched.