Sir Sterling could deal with early pressure in Minnesota Derby

Trainer Tony Rengstorf believes Sir Sterling has the propensity to get two turns in Saturday night’s $100,000 Minnesota Derby, but also said much will depend on how the pace plays out for the front-runner seeking his fourth straight win this meet at Canterbury Park.

“It’s going to depend on how much they pressure him the first half-mile,” Rengstorf said. “That’s going to have a lot to say about how the last quarter goes.”

The Minnesota Derby at one-mile and 70 yards is one of four stakes worth a total of $330,000 on the annual Made in Minnesota card. The $100,000 Minnesota Oaks drew Cupids Crush, who is seeking her fifth consecutive win. The Glitter Star and Wally’s Choice each have received a purse boost from $50,000 to $65,000 due to a sponsorship agreement. The stakes are all restricted to horses bred in Minnesota.

Sir Sterling will start from post 8 in the field of eight for the Minnesota Derby. His rivals include fellow stakes winner It’s Bobs Business and Jose Patio, who is seeking his third straight win. Lindey Wade has the mount on Sir Sterling.

:: Bet with the Best! Get Free DRF PPs and Cashback when you wager. Join DRF Bets.

“We didn’t draw the best post with him,” Rengstorf said. “I’ve got another horse in the race, West Island, on the inside and he’s equally as fast as Sir Sterling. My biggest concern is the two of them knocking heads all the way around there.

“So, I think it’s depending on the break. Sir Sterling is pretty one-dimensional. He kind of likes to be in front. We may have to use a little horse to get good position in that first turn, so we’ll see how much that costs him in the end.”

Sir Sterling has used his natural speed to win all three of his starts this meet at Canterbury. His streak began in a first-level allowance over 5 1/2 furlongs May 27. He proceeded to win the MTA Stallion Auction Stakes over 6 1/2 furlongs June 21 and in his most recent start accounted for the Victor S. Myers over six furlongs July 15. He will be making his two-turn debut Saturday.

“When he trains and he breezes he kind of goes one speed, so to speak, quite a ways without ever getting tired,” Rengstorf said. “But you know, that’s in the morning. When there’s pressure – if I see a 21-second opening quarter and a 45 [half-mile] – we might be in deep trouble. If he throws down the gauntlet early, he may be in trouble late. It depends on how much horse we’ve got to use to get in a good position or get the front.”

Sir Sterling earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 82 for his win in the Myers and it’s the best career number in the Minnesota Derby. Overall, he is 4 for 5 at Canterbury. Sir Sterling, who is by two-turn stakes winner Sam Lord’s Castle, races for his breeder, Chad Kuehn.

Cupids Crush will attempt to continue her win streak early on the card, as the Minnesota Oaks is slotted as the first race. She is moving back to two turns off an 11 3/4-length win in the Frances Genter – a race also won by her dam, Dazzlingsweetheart – July 15 at Canterbury. The Beyer Speed Figure of 84 that Cupids Crush earned is the best last-race number in the Minnesota Oaks.

Cupids Crush began her streak in April at Oaklawn and from there has won her three starts at the current Canterbury meet. She will break from post 3 in the field of five and trainer Mac Robertson has given the mount to Eduardo Gallardo.

The same trainer-jockey team has leading contender Xavey Dave in the Wally’s Choice for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. He is moving back to dirt, where he is a winner, following a stakes victory over the turf course in the Ralph Strangis at Canterbury July 15. Xavey Dave has made three starts at the meet and his lone loss came to One in Vermillion, who last weekend ran third in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. Xavey Dave is from the same mare as 10-time stakes winner Hot Shot Kid and four-time stakes winner Minecraft Maniac.

Rengstorf will saddle the capable Star Singing in a competitive Glitter Star, which is for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles. She comes off a close sixth-place finish in the Minnesota Turf Distaff on July 15 at Canterbury and before that won a first-level allowance over open company on the local main track June 17.

“She’s back on dirt, which I think is to her advantage,” Rengstorf said. “She faced those turf horses last time and that’s really not her best lick. She still ran pretty well. She’s got early speed. Going a mile and a sixteenth, she can get that. She can motor all day long. So, I’m kind of excited about her.”

Jermaine Bridgmohan has the mount for breeder and owner Suzanne Stables.

Charlie’s Penny, the probable favorite, is moving back to the Minnesota-bred ranks for Joel Berndt, who collected the 1,000th Thoroughbred training win of his career last week at Canterbury.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.