Roses by Liam moved past favorite Sir Sterling and leader Jose Patio in the stretch to win the $100,000 Minnesota Derby and give Pete Mattson, trainer Tim Padilla, and jockey Alonso Quinonez their third stakes win on the Saturday night card at Canterbury Park. The Minnesota Derby was one of four stakes on the Made in Minnesota program, with all of the stakes routes for statebreds. The four races were worth a cumulative $330,000. Roses by Liam ($4.60) won the Minnesota Derby by 3 3/4 lengths over Jose Patio. It was another three lengths back in third to It’s Bobs Business. Congrats and Roses, who is the dam of Roses by Liam, has now produced the winners of the last two runnings of the Minnesota Derby. She also is the dam of 2022 winner Love the Nest. Roses by Liam was content to stalk the pace that Jose Patio set while under pressure from Sir Sterling, sitting in fifth through an opening quarter in 23.55 seconds, a half-mile in 47.01 and six furlongs in 1:11.03. The eventual winner came three wide into the stretch and rallied, going on to cover one mile and 70 yards on a fast track in 1:42.52. :: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets. “I was hoping to follow the front-runners,” Quinonez said in a post-race interview conducted by Canterbury. “It worked out perfect.” Roses by Liam is a son of Liam’s Map that owner Mattson bred in partnership with Bruce Malkerson. The horse is now 3 for 10 and won his first stakes race Saturday.  Mattson, Padilla and Quinonez also teamed to win the $65,000 Glitter Star with She’s My Warrior. She led throughout to capture the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares in 1:45.39. She’s My Warrior ($13.60) took the field through an opening quarter in 23.03 seconds, a half-mile in 46.33 and six furlongs in 1:10.74 before going on to a length win over It’s Her Time. Mattson bred She’s My Warrior in partnership with Padilla. The trainer also co-owns the daughter of Warrior’s Reward with Mattson. She’s My Warrior is a half-sister to Thealligatorhunter, who led throughout for a neck win over a hard-trying Xavey Dave in the $65,000 Wally’s Choice. Constantino Roman was aboard Thealligatorhunter for her breeders and owners, Mattson and Padilla. He is a son of Overanalyze and he was winning his second straight Wally’s Choice.   Thealligatorhunter ($6), who also is a past winner of the Minnesota Derby, set fractions of 23.54 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.20 for the half-mile and 1:11.16. Xavey Dave made two runs at the leader in the stretch, cutting into his advantage before Thealligatorhunter hit the wire in front. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and up in 1:42.42. Mattson said in a post-race interview with Canterbury that raising horses is satisfying, noting how simply impressive it is that they "walk the day they're born. But then they grow up, run, and win a trophy."  Quinonez started his night with an upset win in the $100,000 Minnesota Oaks, guiding Thunders Rocknroll to a wire-to-wire win over 1-9 favorite Cupids Crush. Thunders Rocknroll won by nine lengths over Cupids Crush, who finished 5 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Lover Girl. Thunders Rocknroll set fractions of 23.90 seconds for the opening quarter, 47.65 for the half-mile and 1:11.77 for six furlongs before going on to get the one mile and 70 yards in 1:42.19. The daughter of Maclean’s Music is owned by her breeder, Robert Lindgren, and is trained by Bernell Rhone. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.