Sirenusa outruns storm and her foes in Northbound Pride Oaks

Sirenusa stormed to victory in the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks just before actual storms caused Canterbury Park to cancel the final three races on its Monday program.

Among the races lost to a persistent lightning-filled storm was the $50,000 Honor the Hero Stakes.

Sirenusa, the 4-5 favorite, was the hero of the Northbound Pride, making a trip to Canterbury from his Churchill Downs base worth the travel for English export jockey Adam Beschizza. Beschizza began riding regularly in the U.S. last fall at Fair Grounds and had a strong winter because of his association with trainer Joe Sharp, and it was for Sharp that Beschizza won the Northbound Pride.

Racing mid-pack much of the trip, Sirenusa rallied three wide and had little trouble taking the measure of her competition, crossing the line three lengths in front of Sippin Kitten, who was a head better than Passion Plus in third. Sirenusa ran one mile on firm going in 1:36.96 and paid $3.80 to win.

Sharp trains the 3-year-old filly for owners Barry and Joni Butzow, and Sirenusa might have a future. By Tiznow and out of the Grand Slam mare Spun Silver, Sirenusa now has three wins from three starts, having captured a turf-sprint maiden race at Fair Grounds and a turf-sprint first-level allowance at Keeneland before successfully stretching to two turns Monday.