Smooth Chiraz by a head in Northern Lights Futurity

SHAKOPEE, Minn. – Smooth Chiraz responded to jockey Jorge Carreno's persistent pressure to gain a head victory over Cupid's Delight in Sunday's $80,000 Northern Lights Futurity.

Remaining undefeated, Smooth Chiraz ($5.40) led a sweep of the top three positions in the field of nine Minnesota-bred geldings for the Francisco Bravo stable. The 7-5 favorite, Pensador, was a half-length behind Cupid's Delight in third.

Covering the six furlongs over a fast track in 1:11.89, Smooth Chiraz earned $48,000 for owners Ann Sachdev and Lori Bravo.

La Petite Cheri also improved to 2 for 2 when charging home for a 3 1/4-length upset win in the co-featured $80,000 Northern Lights Debutante, a six-furlong stakes for Minnesota-bred fillies.

Benefiting from a duel between the favored fillies Pecos and the slow-starting Stella's Princess, La Petite Cheri bided her time under jockey Hugo Sanchez before finishing strongest. She swept past second-place finisher Honey's Sox Appeal and third-place Moonlight Basin in the final furlong.
Owned by her breeder, Curtis A. Sampson, La Petite Cheri, a Tony Rengstorf trainee, collected $48,000 and went six furlongs in 1:12.88.

• Silver Magna kicked off the Minnesota Festival of Champions, a six-race stakes program for Minnesota-breds, with a 3 1/2-length tally in the $60,000 Glitter Star Minnesota Distaff Championship.

Despite bearing out on the second turn, Silver Magna, under jockey Geovanni Franco, resisted a barrage of challenges and was going away at the finish from the resilient inside effort by Blues Edge. Silver Magna survived a claim of foul from the connections of fifth-place Dear Fay, who was carried out when the winner blew the final turn.

Trained by Michael Biehler, Silver Magna raced the Distaff's 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:48.15. Bred by her owners, Al and Bill Ulwelling, the 3-year-old Magna Graduate filly earned $36,000 for defeating her elders.

• Rockin the Bleu's bounced back to her best form with a gritty three-quarter-length win over the favored Gypsy Melody in the Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship. Ridden by an aggressive Scott Stevens, Rockin the Bleu's ($34) dug in gamely and prevailed over six Minnesota-bred fillies in a sharp time of 1:10.70.

Trained by Michael Biehler for her breeders, Jeff and Debora Hilger's Bleu Valley Farm, Rockin the Bleu's, a 4-year-old Rockport Harbor filly, collected $36,000.

• Bourbon County produced a steady three-wide rally to garner a three-quarter-length win over Let Da Cowboy Rock in the $60,000 Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship.

Bourbon County, the 1-2 favorite in the field of seven, found enough under jockey Dean Butler's urging to prevail. Trained by Bernell Rhone, Bourbon County went six furlongs in 1:11.29. Bred by Scott Rake and owned by his Rake Farms LLC, Bourbon County, a 5-year-old Dehere gelding, earned $36,000.

• A P Is Loose emerged from a prolonged duel with 8-5 favorite Hold for More to seize top honors in the $60,000 Wally's Choice Minnesota Classic Championship. Ridden by Alex Canchari for trainer Mac Robertson, A P Is Loose ($6.40) stayed on best and covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in a sharp 1:44.30. Hold for More bravely held second, 3 1/2 lengths behind the winner and 10 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Hansboro.

Bred and owned by Joel Zamzow, A P Is Loose, a 4-year-old Monarchos gelding, collected $36,000.