Sushi Man dominates Canterbury Derby

Canterbury Park leading rider Harry Hernandez won two of the three stakes during Saturday night’s Northern Stars Turf Festival as he guided Sushi Man to a dominant win in the $50,000 Canterbury Derby and Cupids Crush to a popular victory in the $50,000 Lady Canterbury.

The races were scheduled for last weekend, but were canceled due to excessive heat and redrawn for Saturday.

Sushi Man ($3) entered the Canterbury Derby, which was run at a mile on firm turf, off a maiden special weight win over the local course. He set the pace Saturday night, taking the field through fractions of 23.60 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.54 for the half-mile and 1:12.52 for six furlongs. Sushi Man increased his advantage through the stretch to win by 9 1/4 lengths over Homie.

“At the three-eighths he switched leads and he just took off on his own,” Hernandez said in an interview conducted by Canterbury. “And the way he took off, I just didn’t have to look back. I knew how fast he was going. We weren’t even in the stretch and when I asked him in the stretch, he gave me another gear.”

Sushi Man covered the distance in 1:36.61.

Coty Rosin trains Sushi Man for his breeder, One Bid Stable. Sushi Man is a son of Astern who has now won 2 of 6 starts for earnings of $64,651.

Hernandez was back in the winner’s circle one race later with Cupids Crush, who stalked the pace, advanced on the final turn, and took the lead into the stretch of the Lady Canterbury. She went on to win the one-mile turf race for fillies and mares by two lengths over pacesetter Thunders Rocknroll, while it was another length back in third to Queen Judith.

Cupids Crush covered the distance in 1:35.87.

Cupids Crush ($2.40) was making her first start since March and with the win improved her record over the Canterbury turf to 5 for 5. Overall, the multiple stakes winner has won 10 of 21 starts. Cupids Crush is a daughter of Cupid who is owned by Xtreme Racing Stable and trained by Mac Robertson.

Brooks Fields Mile

Drama Chorus won the $50,000 Brooks Fields Mile in a dramatic photo finish, taking the race by a nose over Fearless Soldier. It was another half-length back in third to Tonka Warrior.

The Brooks Fields was for 3-year-olds and up.

Drama Chorus ($44.40) set the pace, leading through fractions of 23.59 seconds for the opening quarter, 48.49 for the half-mile and 1:11.64 for six furlongs. Drama Chorus continued on in the stretch and on the wire fought off a fast-closing Fearless Soldier. The winner covered the distance on a course rated firm in 1:36.32.

Alonso Quinonez was aboard Drama Chorus for trainer Tim Padilla.

Drama Chorus is an 8-year-old by Big Drama who races for his breeder, Pete Mattson. He is 12 for 45 for earnings of $458,435.

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