Shakopee Town shows she's the real deal in Goldfinch Stakes

The filly Shakopee Town is named after the Minnesota municipality in which lies Canterbury Park, the home track of owners and breeders Al and Bill Ulwelling, and the filly is a Louisiana-bred. But it was at Prairie Meadows in Iowa on Thursday night where she won the $50,000 Goldfinch Stakes, a strong validation of a sharp maiden win last out at Fair Grounds.

Shakopee Town, a robust daughter of Jersey Town and the Evansville Slew mare Shakopee, looked like she was rolling to a debut win March 10 at Fair Grounds when she either idled or tired in deep stretch. Shakopee Town left no doubt making her second start on March 30, winning a Louisiana-bred maiden sprint by 14 lengths.

Even on a relatively steep class hike Thursday night, Shakopee Town had little trouble winning her second straight. Stalking outside and wide under Mitchell Murrill, Shakopee Town moved up strongly off the far turn, collared pace-setting favorite Gorgeous Ginny in the final furlong, and rolled home to a 2 1/2-length victory over her. Shakopee Town, trained by Gary Scherer, ran six furlongs in 1:11.64 and paid $6 to win as the second choice. Laudation, who stumbled at the start, finished a distant third.