Sky and Sea the one to beat in Minnesota Oaks

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Minnesota-bred 3-year-olds take center stage Saturday night at Canterbury Park with the running of the Minnesota Oaks and Minnesota Derby. Both $75,000 races will be run at a mile and 70 yards over the main track and will feature the best 3-year-olds in Minnesota.

Minnesota Oaks (Race 7)

The 2014 Oaks is all about Sky and Sea. The Rake Farms homebred has been dominant against her statebred foes this season, and only five fillies have drawn in to meet her here. She has solid early speed and has not been tested by her local foes, though she has faltered twice, placing in high-level, open optional-claiming races at Tampa Bay Downs and Canterbury. The Bernell Rhone trainee will go postward as the odds-on favorite under Dean Butler.

Key contenders

Sky and Sea (Last 3 Beyers: 75-61-70)

* Average winning margin against Minnesota-breds is nearly 13 lengths.

* Average winning Beyer Speed Figure is nearly 30 points higher than the rest of the field.

* Went off at 1-5 and 1-10 in her last two starts against Minnesota-breds.

Thunder and Honey (Last 3 Beyers: 65-46-43)

* Second in the Frances Genter Stakes to the favorite.

* Has never missed the board vs. Minnesota-breds.

* Trainer Mac Robertson is a 17 percent winner with stakes starters this year.

Minnesota Derby (Race 8)

The Minnesota Derby is a more wide-open affair, with 11 colts and geldings going postward. Pace and endurance will prove to be factors in the Derby, as many of these runners are trying two turns for the first time, including the morning-line favorite, Appeal to the King.

Key contenders

Appeal to the King (Last 3 Beyers: 80-45-37)

* Multiple stakes winner captured the MTA Stallion Auction Laddie Stakes last out by 9 1/4 lengths but will try two turns for the first time in the Derby.

* Last-race Beyer of 80 is tied for the highest career mark in the field.

* Tired two back in the Vic Myers Stakes, finishing behind Speed Is Life.

Speed Is Life (Last 3 Beyers: 48-69-74)

* Gate-to-wire maiden win was followed by a stakes win in the Vic Myers.

* Bounced in a statebred allowance last out.

* Another attempting two turns for the first time.

A P Is Loose (Last 3 Beyers: 60-80-73)

* Bounced in the Vic Myers, finishing fourth after romping in maiden win.

* Co-owner of the best Beyer in the field with the favorite (80).

* Gelding is 1 for 1 going more than a mile.

Careless Navigator Stakes (Race 6)

Earlier on the card, the $40,000 Careless Navigator Stakes will be contested by 2-year-olds going 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track.

Key contenders

Flying Frank (Last 2 Beyers: 48-58)

* Stakes-placed colt finished third in the Prairie Gold Juvenile at Prairie Meadows.

* Maiden win earned a Beyer of 58.

Majestic Pride (Last Beyer: 62)

* Stalked the early speed and drew off for the win in professional debut.

* Trainer Robertson is winning with 29 percent of his 2-year-old starters.

Aggressive Beauty (Last 2 Beyers: 61-52)

* Is 1 for 2 lifetime, breaking her maiden in an allowance and finishing second in the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders Association Stakes last out.

* Off since May 4. Trainer Dan McFarlane is only 6 percent off a layoff, well below his overall win percentage.