Run With Joy cruises in Oaks

SHAKOPEE, Minn. - Run With Joy lived up to her advance billing with a front-running two-length victory in the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks at Canterbury Park on Saturday.

The odds-on favorite in the field of 10 3-year Minnesota bred fillies, Run With Joy ($2.60) quickly joined the pace and shook clear on the lead by the time the she had reached the backstretch in the mile-and-70-yard race. Setting rapid fractions of 22.60 seconds, 46.50, and 1:11.69, Run With Joy was never threatened as she coasted home, covering the distance in 1:43.49. Sucara rallied for second, three-quarters of a length in front of Seasahm.

The winner is trained by Harold Williams and was ridden by Dean Butler.

* Palm Reader ($24.80) rallied to defeat odds-on favorite Sul Lago by three-quarters of a length in the $60,000 Minnesota Derby.

Sul Lago was well placed early, sitting just off rapid splits of 22.59 and 46.35. Moving readily to command on the far turn, Sul Lago raced clear into the stretch but was confronted in the lane with a sustained rum from Palm Reader, who had rallied from midpack. The pair dueled to the wire with Palm Reader prevailing in the mile-and-70-yard race in 1:42.57. Jagan overcame a wide trip to finish third, another 2 1/2 lengths behind the top pair.

Palm Reader was ridden by Juan Rivera and is trained by Gary Scherer for owner and breeder Camelia J. Casby.