Martin Bids Adieu By Winning Two Stakes

by JIM WELLS

Eddie Martin, Jr. says good-bye quietly, simply ending his first summer in Shakopee since 1985 by winning both ends of the co-feature races on Saturday. Then, he quietly slipped away without so much as a single word.

Actually, Martin slipped quietly back into town on Saturday after riding at Hoosier Park Friday, where he has four mounts on today’s card.
First, Martin rode Hunter’s Tiger Paw, a 3-5 choice, to victory in the $60,000 Minnesota Oaks on Saturday.

Then, as if to prove that odds don’t mean a thing when he’s on a horse’s back, Martin rode Tsar Tops Dancer to an upset victory at 25-1 in the $60,000 Minnesota Derby.
Martin avoided all but a couple of quick two or three-sentence interviews after races during the entire time he was at Canterbury Park.

His riding spoke volumes, though.

Nobody finishes on a horse any stronger than Martin.

Martin didn’t have a mount in the final stake on the card, the $28,000 North Central Quarter Horse Racing Assn. Futurity or he might have won that race, too. He left that one for Ry Eilkeberry, who drove Seis It Fast to an impressive but narrow victory over Chicks Gold Medal
Martin took the very talented Hunter’s Tiger Paw, trained by Cory Jensen, to an impressive 1 ½ length victory over Sasha’s Fierce as the odds-on favorite, in 1:42 and 4/5, to win the girls’ end of the feature events, the Oaks. Hunter’s Tiger Paw won that race gate to wire.

Martin came right back and rode longshot Tsar Tops Dancer to a driving 1 ¼ length victory over 2-5 favorite Bet Your Boots, who had a nose on Our Family Affair. The boys were a full second slower than the girls with a winning time of 1:43 and 3/5.

“Cory does such a great job with this horse,’’ said Joel Zamzow, the owner of Hunter’s Tiger Paw with his wife, Kris., shortly after the filly won her fourth straight race.

Hunter’s Tiger Paw will head now to Woodbine in Canada, where she won two of her previous three races. “We plan to bring her back here then for her four-year-old season,’’ said Zamzow, who spent Friday night in the barn with the winning filly, hoping to keep her calm. It apparently worked quite well. Then again, the Zamzows have been hands on with the filly since birth. Theyo bred and the filly and daughter Hunter, 9, named the horse as a suckling. “Look, ‘’ she said, “it has tiger’s paws.’’

Saturday, the filly roared like a Tiger from start to finish.

Meanwhile, the owners of Tsar Tops Dancer arrived at Canterbury Park not expecting to do any better than third or fourth and were delighted they had bet on their horse nonetheless.
“Now I wish I had bet more,’’ said Tim Becker, who owns the horse with partners Steve Adams and Keith Westrup.

Westrup actually raised Tsar Tops Dancer from a baby and brought the other two fellows in as partners.

Tsar Tops Dancer finished fourth in the Victor S. Myers Stakes at Canterbury on July 17, 8 ½ lengths behind the winner, Bet your Boots, who was trying to add to a two-race winning streak.
Saturday, however, there was a new element to the race. It was the first time the first three finishers had gone around two turns.

“To finish fourth the last race and then win a race like this…all I can say is ‘wow,’ ‘’ said Becker.

Eilkeberry got his horse to a ever so narrow victory in the quarter horse stake, urging Seis It Fast to the wire a hair’s breadth in front of Chicks Gold Medal, in :18.20.

The winner is owned by Bob and Julie Peterson and trained by Ed Ross Hardy.

SENTIMENTAL FAVORITE FINISHES THIRD
The sentimental favorite in race four on Saturday was Northbound Beauty, a three-year filly and the last foal from Northbound Pride, a member of Canterbury Park’s Hall of Fame.
A week ago Saturday, Northbound Pride was found dead, the victim of a storm-related accident the previous night. She and other mares were apparently spooked by thunder and began running. Northbound Pride ran headlong into a tree in the dark.

Ridden by Seth Martinez and trained by Troy Bethke, Northbound Beauty was sent off at 3-1 and finished third, behind 5-1 outsider Half Moon Lady and 4-5 favorite Citizens Issue.
Northbound Pride, nicknamed Pootie by her groom, Sherry Nolan, was buried where she lived, Shamrock Valley Farm, near Stillwater.

Northbound Pride Laid To Rest

by JIM WELLS

It's a simple race, Saturday's fourth _ $7,500 claimers going six furlongs.

But the horse in the No. 6 hole, a three-year-old named Northbound Beauty, should garner some sentimental backing in this one. She is a daughter of Northbound Pride, a member of Canterbury Park's Hall of Fame and one of the early stars of Canterbury Downs.

A week ago Friday, the night before the Claiming Crown, Northbound Pride was killed in a freak accident at Shamrock Valley Farm in rural Stillwater, where she had lived the last several years.
Northbound Pride's owners tried to piece together the evidence after she was found lying at the base of a tree on Saturday. Northbound Pride apparently set out running with other mares on the farm during a storm that produced loud thunder and ran headlong into a tree in the dark. The evidence suggests she died instantly.

Northbound Pride was bred by the late Vic Myers at his Northbound Farm outside Stillwater. She was a daughter of Proud Pocket from the Our Native mare Our Trelawny.

Northbound Pride ran in open company and on every kind of surface, turf or dirt, dry or wet and at any distance from a short sprint to a route of ground. She won 11 times, was second nine times and third nine times from 38 career starts and earned $213,983. She ran 22 times at Canterbury, seven times at Oaklawn Park, eight times at Arlington park and once at Louisiana Downs.

She won six of seven races at Canterbury as a three-year-old in 1989, including three stakes. She was the track's champion three-year-old filly that year and was in the running for Horse of the Meet, but lost out to Hoist Her Flag.

"I don't know of any horse like her,'' said Les Martens, one of Northbound's owners. "She could run any distance, on any surface. I think she only turned in one clunker, on a muddy, heavy track that was just drying out one day.''

Bob and Lisa Dainty own Shamrock Valley and found Northbound Pride about 10 a.m. on July 24 near the base of the tree she encountered in the dark.

They were still struggling emotionally with the horse's death as they talked about her a week later.

The Daintys conducted a memorial service for the horse as they buried her on the farm the evening of July 24.

"We covered her head in an Irish flag (for the farm and Lisa's heritage) and her body with a flag of a mare and baby that we fly during foaling season,'' Bob said.

Then the Daintys gathered a number of flat rocks and inscribed them with mementoes to the fallen horse. On one they inscribed the word "Poohdy,'' the nickname given Northbound Pride by her former groom, Sherry Nolan.

Bob Dainty said that the five mares who ran with Northbound Pride the night she died stood nearly motionless for hours a stone's throw from the gravesite as they dug it.

Lisa Dainty made a headstone of rock in the shape of a heart. "We just came from there about 20 minutes ago,'' Bob said Friday night, "and the mares were all gathered around the site. It's almost as if they're showing a kind of reverence.''

Family Life At The Racetrack

by JIM WELLS

There is one rule upon entering the tack room in Christine Riddle's barn. It is imperative that a visitor acknowledge Daisy, the 2-year-old Dachshund that is easily mistaken for a Jack Terrier.
Daisy doesn't appreciate going unnoticed and will let you know it.

Once Daisy's gotten the obligatory attention, all is cool and a conversation may ensue.

Riddle has a string of 18 horses in her stable, not bad for someone who's been on her own as a trainer since only last year. You get the impression after a short conversation _ with Daisy's consent naturally _ that the stable is destined to grow with the passing of time.
Riddle, 47, finds training horses child's play compared with raising seven children _ three of her own and four with a former boyfriend. "This is a breeze,'' she said Wednesday as her morning training session wound to an end.

Maybe it seems that way since it's so enjoyable. Riddle, who grew up in Eden Prairie, raised her children in Prior Lake, lived for a spell in New Prague and currently resides in Chanhassen, has had horses in her daily life since she was a child. "My parents put me on a horse when I was two,'' she said, "and they've been trying to get me off since.''

They might have tried harder had they any idea what she was doing as a youngster. She was in Eden Prairie somewhere jumping horses over hay bales. She fell off the first time, got a mouthful of dirt and climbed right back into the saddle. In later years, she showed horses, rode Western Pleasure, raced some barrels.

"Out of everything I've done in my life with horses, I like this the best,'' she said.

That became quite clear to her the other day when she and Liz Cates, girlfriend to Christine's son Devon, were walking a horse to the receiving barn before a race. Devon, who works on the turf crew at Canterbury, rode past in a four-wheeler, and Christine found herself thinking "this is great, this is what I want.''

It seemed truly a family affair.

For 27 years, Christine and her ex-husband ran the CC Riddle Hair Company with salons in Eden Prairie, Burnsville and Bloomington. She cut and styled hair the entire time, so one might expect that the tails and manes on her charges at Canterbury would have the latest cut and style.

"Oh, they might not run so well, but they'll look good for sure,'' she said.

She found herself at one point during her salon career spending more and more time with the horses, and less time with hair. "I wasn't doing justice to either,'' she said.

So, she took a leave of absence in 2007.

She is still on leave.

Christine will gallop a horse in the morning if necessary but prefers to leave that work to the people who make it their profession. "I'll still get on some babies here,'' she said, "and I'll ride some at the farm. But the last thing I need right now is getting dumped or run off with.''

Riddle injured some ribs a couple of years ago in an incident with a horse, badly enough that her two sons got a lesson in humility while helping mom recover. "They had to carry my purse through the shopping malls for me,'' she said.

Riddle has been at Canterbury since 2006 and previously did a little of everything that needed to be done in the barn with trainer Steve Kane, her significant other.

Her daughter Hannah, 21, is a senior at the University of Minnesota and is headed to Venezuela in August as part of a study abroad program. Son Joshua, 20 is majoring in music at St. Olaf. "All my kids are smarter than I am,'' she said. "Devon is the one with the street sense, a mechanical aptitude.''

He's also hounding his mother for a car. "He'll have to have the money,'' Christine said. "There won't be any loans given out.''

He's saving money from his work on the turf crew, right?

"He better be,'' she said.

So, family life at the racetrack sometimes doesn't seem much different than family life in the suburbs. At Canterbury it has come to include Christine's mom and dad, Sherry and David Anderson, still Eden Prairie residents. "They don't miss a race any time I have a horse running,'' Christine said.

Nonetheless, mom and dad are still concerned at times about their daughter making a living with racehorses. "They wonder about it,'' Christine added.

Suburbs or racetrack, parental concerns are parental concerns.

NEW ARRIVALS ON THE WAY?
Stall superintendent Mark Stancato was on the phone Wednesday morning with trainer Cecil Stewart, who was calling from Prairie Meadows. "He wanted to come here originally with five horses,'' Stancato said.

With the Prairie Meadows meet ending on Aug. 7, several trainers are looking for places to send their horses between meets. It appears that Stewart is one of them and Canterbury is high on the list.

"Wouldn't that be something if he shows up with the same five horses he submitted stall aps for this year,'' Stancato said.

Trainer Tim Gleason, who has run horses at Canterbury off and on over the years, also expressed interest in heading to Canterbury for the remainder of the meet with 20 head.

TAD LEGGETT BENEFIT
Tickets are available for a fundraiser and benefit for injured quarter horse rider Tad Leggett. The benefit will be held on Sunday, Aug. 8 and is sponsored by Arizonas at the Canterbury Inn. Leggett, who has ridden frequently at Canterbury Park was seriously injured in a spill at Fair Meadows at Tulsa. He underwent a nine-hour surgery on July 2 for spinal injuries.
Leggett, 45, was riding a mount that threw and then fell on him after the wire in a race on June 30.

He suffered upper spine injuries in addition to a broken vertebra.

Tickets for the benefit are $10 and include a BBQ Pork dinner at Arizonas from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 8. Live music by the Fanatics is included from 8 p.m. until closing.

Tickets are available from Jerry Livingston and other trainers and at various locations in the grandstand.

Judd Spicer Picks The Ponies

City Pages reporter Judd Spicer time with Kevin Gorg a couple of weeks ago, learning what it takes to be a public handicapper. He chronicled his adventure in this week's City Pages (on news stands now). Find the story here.

Young Trainers Leave Minnesota For Greener Pastures

By JIM WELLS

Perhaps two of the most telling examples of what’s happening to horse racing in Minnesota were on display Saturday during the 12th annual Claiming Crown.

Two young trainers who saddled winners once kept competitive stables at Canterbury Park. Now they have taken those stables elsewhere to chase better purses.

Imagine that the trainer in horse racing is a stock broker on wall street. He’ll put his client’s money where the best opportunities exist for a profit, for growth. If an investment fails, he moves the money elsewhere.

The trainer’s role isn’t much different. He needs to take his owner’s horses where they have a chance at a return on investment, as things are today sometimes merely to break even.
So Tammy Domenoksy and Jamie Ness were back at Canterbury on Saturday. Domenosky saddled Moralist, winner of the $50,000 Express. Ness saddled My Irish Girl, winner of the $75,000 Glass Slipper.

Canterbury has hosted 10 of the 12 Claiming Crowns and offers a day of purses such as Saturday’s only once all summer. Tracks elsewhere put up that kind of money on a regular basis.

Domenosky was ecstatic after Moralist was clearly the best in his race, but there is a hint of regret in her voice when she discusses her need to leave Canterbury for Arlington Park in suburban Chicago.

She keeps a stable of around 12 horses in Shakopee. “But those are my cheap horses,’’ she said. “There’s a lack of money here. It’s just a business decision.’ ’ She has as many as 30 horses in Chicago.

Ness was here most of the week and spoke frequently of how he missed the people of the Midwest. He currently has horses at Presque Isle Downs, Thistledown and Penn National.
Ness is a South Dakota native and prefers the atmosphere in Shakopee , but he, too, wants to compete for purses that enable his stable to not just survive but to grow.

“You have to go where the money is,’’ he said.

Ness loves Canterbury Park, the way management conducts business and the people here. He might still be here if Canterbury could compete to any extent with other tracks in the nation, particularly those who supplement purses with the proceeds from casino gaming.

Minnesota owners such as Jeff Hilger from Grant Township show up at Canterbury to watch their horses run via simulcast at tracks elsewhere in the country.

Mac Robertson makes winning training titles look easy at Canterbury but is in tougher this year after shipping some of his best horses to Delaware, where purse money has been substantially enhanced by racino profits.

Despite the good atmosphere in Shakopee, the respect for management at Canterbury Park and the general appeal of this area, the business climate for racing in Minnesota needs improvement.

CLAIMING CROWN NOTES:
Moralist ate up his feed on Saturday night and was munching on a mixture of hay and alfalfa when a visitor approached his stall Sunday afternoon.

Asked where he might be headed next, Domenosky replied, “a big field somewhere.’’

She is considering giving the horse a break after his thrilling win on Saturday .

“I’m not sure,’’ she said, “but he deserves some time off.’’ Moralist has been to Chicago, Lexington and Louisville in addition to Canterbury this year. So, in addition to racing, he has been on the road.

**Pat Dupuy and wife Jennie Rees were packing up early Sunday afternoon to return to Louisville. Dupuy trains Strike Impact, who finished third in the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. Rees, who covers racing for the Louisville Courier-Journal, was licensed as groom and hotwalker for this event.

They had planned to return on Monday but their exercise rider, Winston Skaggs, had work waiting for him at home.

“It was a great experience,’’ Rees said. “The horse is fine. He ate up and looks good.’’
And next?

“We might look for a little stakes for him somewhere,’’ Rees said. “We’re not major bear hunting but we might do a little squirrel hunting.’’

**Lil Dish was in her stall in Doug Oliver’s barn on Sunday, still recovering from the race of her life.

“Oh, she’s tired today,’’ Oliver said. “She’s exhausted.’’

And well she should be.

Lori Keith put her on the lead directly out of the gate and tried to steal the $75,000 Glass Slipper against tough competition on Saturday. “She ran her heart out,’’ Keith said afterward.
Lil Dish dug deep and looked at the top of the lane like a winner but ran out of gas and racetrack and finished fourth.

“The race was a little too tough,’’ Oliver said. ‘She’s been running for $7,500 and those others for as much as $16,000 or more. That’s a pretty big jump.’’

Oliver said he hopes to run Lil Dish once more before the meet ends. Maybe not.

“She’ll need a few days off. She almost made us famous.’’

Claiming Crown Another Winner

By JIM WELLS

Forget the whispers behind shedrow, the explanations for trainers who no longer show up, the rumors of impending demise.

The Claiming Crown is alive and well, Virginia, although Canterbury Park seems the only venue that can keep it that way.

The 12th annual staging of this event for the nation’s claimers was a success by several measuring sticks, not the least of which was attendance on Saturday.

Tracks across the country are crying for patrons, looking for anything possible to put customers in the seats.

Saturday, a turnout of 11,473 showed up in Shakopee to watch this event that was first staged there in 1999.

Ten of the 12 Claiming Crowns have been held at Canterbury, all with impressive turnouts.
Highlights of Saturday’s show included two wins in the Claiming Crown by rider Israel Ocampo, who rode the winners of the Iron Horse and the Express.

Julien Leparoux also rode two winners, in the Emerald and the Jewel. Alex Birzer rode King A.J.,. the winner of the HBPA Sprint and capped his day aboard the winner of the Rapid Transit.
The leading owner of the day was Ken Ramsey, who had Headache in the Jewel and Inca King Emerald. Make it two wins also in those races for trainer Mike Maker.

Shane Sellers was late arriving for the card after his flight from Chicago was delayed by weather concerns and lost two winning mounts on the card, to Birzer in the HBPA Sprint and to Ocampo in the Express.

His trip was not wasted, though. He rode Never Retreat, the winner of the $100,000 Lady Canterbury for owner/trainer Chris Block.

$50,000 IRON HORSE
(1 mile 1/16 main track)

This race produced one of the grandest stories in Claiming Crown track history, a victory that summed up the intent and purpose of the event itself.
The late George Bango was walking on air after Superman Can did indeed win for owner Dana Isaacson, with Scot Stevens up. So a local trainer, rider and owner claimed the prize in 2004.
No such luck this time for trainers Dave Van Winkle, Red Rarick, Francisco Bravo or Dave Wolochuk.
Not even the 2-5 favorite, Sea Gaze, a ship-in from Churchill Downs, could catch front-running Roaring Home, who did just that under Daniel Centeno
“We wanted to be up front, maybe stay close,’’ said Centeno. “But my horse broke so sharply, and then they let us go.’’
Roaring Home finished ¾ lengths in front of Sea Gaze who had the same margin on 11-1 Benson in a gate to wire performance.
The winning time was 1:43 and 4/5 for the mile and 1/16 event. The winner did the first six furlongs in 1.11 flat.
The winner is owned by Maggi Moss and trained by Chris Richard.

$50,000 EXPRESS
(Six furlongs, main track)
This race produced the first winner with truly local connections. Moralist was too much horse, too well trained, too well ridden and too well owned to settle for anything less than the winner’s circle under substitute rider Israel Ocampa, who filled in for Shane Sellers, late arriving Sunday because of travel difficulties from Chicago.
It didn’t matter.
Moralist, trained by Tammy Domenosky, was simply the best horse in the race, moving to the lead at the head of the lane and then closing strongly to finish a length in front of Thegreatcrosby, who had 1 ¾ lengths on Churubusco. First the winner put away Esperamos between the eighth and sixteenth poles, and then held the Thegreatcrosby safe.
Domenosky became so engrossed in the race that she found herself running from the steps to the horsemen’s level of the grandstand to trackside as her horse led the way to the wire.
Asked by paddock analyst Kevin Gorg about her emotions during the race, Domenosky replied, “emotions? I’m still shaking.’’
The winner is owned by local stable Miracle Logistics. Spokesman Greg Peterson, one of the owners, was elated with the win. “Tammy did an excellent job,’’ he said. “We really have to thank (track president) Randy Sampson and (media relations manager/Claiming Crown coordinator/ad infinitum) Jeff Maday for getting us involved three or four years ago with the Canterbury college. We’ll always be Canterbury people.’’
Later, Pat Cuccurullo, agent for Shane Sellers, asked Domenosky if she wanted a martini. “No,’’ she said. She still had one to saddle. Besides, as she said after the race…”I feel great. I wish I could do this every day.’’
No martini could duplicate what she felt at that moment.

$75,000 GLASS SLIPPER
(six furlongs, main track)

My Irish Girl had the right rider, the Hispanic Irishman Ocampo, and she put on a late charge to win the six-furlong sprint in 1:09 and 4/5s, 1 1/2 lengths in front Margie Marie and 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Hawaiian Sky.
My Irish Girl was the first Claiming Crown winner for former Canterbury trainer Jamie Ness, closing with a rush to overtake the front-running sentimental favorite Lil Dish, trained by Canterbury’s Doug Oliver and ridden by Lori Keith.
Keith tried to steal the race, putting her sharp breaking mount directly on the lead. She stayed there until the stretch charge by the first three finishers and settled for fourth. “I thought she was going to steal it,’’ a bystander remarked. So did a number of folks, but Keith got all she could get out of her mount against a talented field. “She tried her heart out,’’ Keith said. “ At the top of the lane, I could feel her digging in and trying, but she was tiring and I could hear the other jocks coming.’’
The winner is owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds out of Chicago.

$75,000 RAPID TRANSIT
(six furlongs, main track)
The largest field of the Claiming Card, a field of 11, lined up for this six-furlong race, and Humble Smarty, with Alex Birzer aboard, got there first, by ¾ length over Red Pete, ridden by Eddie Martin, Jr., who had ¾ length on Max Ahead.
Owner/trainer Brett Creighton found the win a bit emotional and choked up trying to describe his feelings afterward.
“He’s a good horse, and he’s been very good me,’’ Creighton said. “He’s as honest as they come.’’
The winner tracked the early pace, never more than a length back of Max Ahead. Red Pete closed through the stretch but couldn’t catch Humble Smarty.

$100,000 EMERALD
(mile and 1/16 turf course)
The winner’s circle after the Emerald is nothing new to Ken Ramsey, who was there twice previously, in 2007 with One Eyed Joker and in 2008 with Self Made Man.
He made it three times on Saturday after Inca King, trained by Mike Maker, won for the 16th time in 34 career starts with a strong close to hold off Tiger Lake by 1 ¼ lengths under a perfect ride from Julien Leparoux. Elusive Schemes finished a nose out of second.
“It’s quite an honor win this race three times,’’ Ramsey said. “You guys put on quite a show up here. Everything is well done.’’
The winner finished in 1:37 and 1/5.

$150,000 JEWEL
(mile and 1/8, main track)

Guess who was back in the winner’s circle at this race! Ken Ramsey. With two of his grandsons.
With some prompting about the good-looking grandsons, Ramsey said “They’re good looking just like their grandfather.’’
It was Headache, a four-year-old gelded son of Tapit, who looked the best, however, with a masterful ride from Leparoux, who brought him from off the pace to catch Smarten Destiny a stride from the wire and finish first by a neck. Strike Impact was third under Shane Sellers, another neck back.
Ramsey was most pleased that his horse had overcome a fascination with second place. “He’s given me a headache with all those seconds,’’ Ramsey said.
Headache is now 5-5-2 from 18 career starts and broke his seconditis with a strong final 16th. Eddie Martin, Jr. had Smarten Destiny on the lead until the eighth pole when he started to weaken, but no horse is ever entirely done under Martin.
He brought his horse back to life inside the 16th pole to hang on for second.
Third place went to Strike Impact, longest priced horse on the board at 15-1 and the only horse in Pat Dupuy’s stable. He and his wife, Louisville-Courier Journal writer Jennie Rees (who hot-walked the horse during his stay in Shakopee), wanted a win naturally but figured they’d pay their expenses to the Claiming Crown with a fourth-place finish. They did better than that, claiming $15,000 show money.

Cuccurullo Returns Where He Once Ruled

by JIM WELLS

As records go it won't challenge DiMaggio's hitting streak, Marciano's undefeated career or John Henry's graded stakes triumphs.

Just the same, Pat Cuccurullo wouldn't mind providing the Claiming Crown with a footnote on Saturday.

Cuccurullo won three consecutive training titles at Canterbury Downs beginning in 1989 and later hustled book for Scott Stevens during Canterbury Park's first summer.
Today Cuccurullo has a farm in Shelbyville, Ky., where he handles layups. One of his best customers is Steve Asmussen.

Nonetheless, when he heard that the unretired Shane Sellers was headed to Arlington Park this year and needed an agent, Cuccurullo couldn't resist. "How many chances does a guy get to work with a rider who's won more than 4,100 races,'' Cuccurullo said.

Friday afternoon, Cuccurullo was en route to Canterbury Park after catching a ride from Chicago with trainer Tammy Domenosky, who will saddle Moralist in the Claiming Crown Express on Saturday with Sellers up.

Sellers is also on Carson's Honor, trained by Mac Robertson for Jer-Mar Stable in the Emerald, and on Strike Impact for Pat Dupuy in the Jewel. He also has a mount in the Lady Canterbury,
"Tammy was instrumental in us coming up here, gave us the opportunity to work her horse and ride it,'' Cuccurullo said. "Then when people heard we were coming, we picked up a couple more mounts,

Cuccurullo wanted to be at Canterbury for the Claiming Crown and Lady Canterbury, but he had another reason for the visit to Minnesota. "I want to see Scott,'' he said.
Stevens, of course, was badly hurt on July 2 in the worst spill in track history and will be recovering for some time from those injuries.

Cuccurullo was sleeping when his phone rang that night. It was Gary Stevens, Scott's brother, who had been watching the race on TV and saw the spill. He wanted to know who Cuccurullo knew at Canterbury.

Cuccurullo placed calls to Mike Biehler, Doug Schoep and Bernell Rhone, trying to gather information and passed on what he knew to Gary. It was the least he could do. After all, he's known the Stevens brothers for some time, and they had been instrumental in lining him up with Sellers.

Now, the former trainer/agent/farm manger will be part of the Claiming Crown for the fourth time. He made trips to Canterbury for the first three Claiming Crowns as a trainer, winning with Secret Squall and Luis Quinonez for Lothenback Stables in 2001.

So what's the record he could set on Saturday?

"Nobody else has ever won the Claiming Crown as a trainer and as an agent,'' he said.
DiMaggio sounds safe...real safe.

LIL DISH HAS LITTLE DISH UP
Lori Keith chuckled when told that her win aboard Lil Dish on July 4 drew a comment from the press box when they entered the winner's circle that afternoon.

"Which one's the little dish?'' a pressbox wag asked.

"That's funny,'' Keith said.

That was funny and today will be something else altogether for Keith, who will ride Lil Dish for trainer Doug Oliver in the $75,000 Glass Slipper, her first mount in a Claiming Crown race.
From funny to exciting.

"I'm very excited,'' she said. "This event is exciting. It brings in great riders, trainers shipping in, a great atmosphere in the grandstand. There's a big buzz. It's an exciting day. I like it.''
What Keith likes most is the opportunity given the small stables by the Claiming Crown to compete in races they otherwise wouldn't get a shot at, and, of course, the thrill that accompanies it.

"I think the day is more emotional,'' she said. "A lot of people expect the shipins to dominate, so when the smaller, local trainers _ the guys with 12 or 20 horses _ win, it is a lot more emotional.''

The chance to compete in a race of this kind means more to the smaller stables. "These big boys ship in and it's just another stakes race to them,'' she said.

Lil Dish is two-for-three at Canterbury this meet with a second in the race she didn't win. She has won two straight but is taking on the kind of company that has relegated her to an outsider's chance at 6-1 in the morning line.

Just the same, Keith agrees with Scott Stevens that local riders and trainers have an edge on this track because they aren't breaking their routines, they don't have to ship in, adjust and get used to their surroundings.

"Oh, absolutely,'' Keith said. "We'll all on our home ground. There's nothing really different other than we're running for more money. It's still horses in the gate, still six furlongs....''
Keith had an immediate thought when Oliver asked her if he should nominate Lil Dish. "I said 'why not.'

I do think she has a legitimate shot. It's horse racing. Anything can happen.''

Look no further than the 2004 Claiming Crown Iron Horse, won by longshot Superman Can with Stevens up for trainer George Bango and owner Dana Isaacson.

For handicappers who like to mix telling signs and coincidence with their PPs, consider this when wagering on the Glass Slipper:
Lori Keith rents a room from none other than Dana Isaacson.

Claiming Crown Updates

The large majority of Claiming Crown horses have arrived. Due shortly are Esperamos for Ingrid Mason and both of Doug Matthews runners.
Missing is Cape Hatchet for Joe Woodard.
Prospective Kiss ran third last night at Horsemen's Park.
JM

Yes, Mr. Wolfe, You Can Go Home Again

by JIM WELLS

Yes, Barney, it's true. Sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Check it out with Jamie Ness for the facts on the matter.

Ness is the third leading trainer in the country right now, and he's camped out at Canterbury Park awaiting the call to post for Saturday's 12th annual Claiming Crown. In fact, Canterbury is where Ness fell in love with racing, where he cut his teeth in the sport as a young pressbox intern just out of college and contemplating a career in maybe marketing, journalism or the like.
There was an unseen hitch in that initial plan, however. Ness had no idea at the time that he would wind up training thoroughbreds rather then simply watching them run, but that's precisely what happened. He studied the sport inside out and _ being the hands-on guy that he is _ actually got down and dirty in the stalls for a spell. He became a trainer and climbed fast enough that he left Shakopee altogether two years ago for the East, where he keeps strings at three different racetracks _ Presque Isle Downs, Penn National and Thistledown _ shuttling horses from one location to the next on a regular basis.

"I've got a van constantly rotating horses around the three tracks, moving them all the time,'' Ness said Thursday morning. "It's a 365-day, 24-7 job with this many horses, and I love it.''
It was also good to come home again. "It's really good to be back,'' Ness said. "I really love this place.''

Ness used to work in simulcasting at Canterbury, too. He he took a stroll through the grandstand the other evening and discovered some things haven't changed. "I saw a lot of familiar faces,'' he said. "They were sitting in the same places they sat in years ago and I think they were even wearing the same clothes.''

So much for formalities. Ness is hunkered down in his former quarters in barn B5, with stalls right next to his cousin, Cory Jensen, who picked up the trade from....you guessed it.
Ness crammed constantly while learning the business. According to stall superintendent Mark Stancato, Ness used to study the Racing Form as if it were a schoolbook and the test were tomorrow.

Stancato went one step further in analyzing Ness's presence for the 12th annual Claiming Crown. "Scott Lake isn't here (this year),'' he said. "He's been replaced by Jaime Ness."
Lake, for the unaware, is the all time leading trainer with eight Claiming Crown wins.
With Ness are five thoroughbreds he will saddle in three of Saturday's Claiming Crown races.
Ness was a hands-on guy while learning the business. His lifestyle and workload have changed tremendously, but his hands-on approach hasn't.

"You have to have good help, good assistants with this many horses,'' he said. "That's the key. But you could talk to them and I'm sure they'd say I'm too much involved. But you have to let your assistants make the decisions from time to time. You learn as you go in this business.''

Hands-on?

Ness hauled his horses here himself for the Claiming Crown.

Saturday's event isn't new to Ness. He ran horses in the Claiming Crown when he was stabled here. "They were usually overmatched. They weren't looked at as all that live,'' he said. "We were taking a stab.''

He will cut a larger swath with the "stab'' he takes on Saturday.
He will saddle My Irish Girl, a 3-1 favorite, in the $75,000 Glass Slipper for fillies and mares, 3 and older, at a mile and 1/16.

My Irish Girl is trained by Brad Cox but is under Ness's supervision on Saturday.
Ness has two horses in the $75,000 Rapid Transit, for fillies and mares 3 and older at 6 1/2 furlongs, Max Ahead, 8-1 in the morning line, and Sweeten With Gold, 9-2 second choice.
Max Ahead is the speed horse, Sweeten With Gold the closer. Ah....take it from there.
Ness has two starters in the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, For All Who Conga, 5-1 in the morning line, and My Friend Nev, 7-2 second choice to Racing Bran. The Jewel is for fillies 3 and older at a mile and 1/8.

"Distance is the only question here,'' Ness said. "Neither one has gone a mile and 1/8. "I think they can do it. If they're good enough, they'll be there.''

In the meantime, Ness will spend any spare moments he has in the stands, mingling with old friends and acquaintances. "What I really miss about this place are the people here,'' he said. "My fellow trainers, the cronies in the stands. Coming from the East Coast to the Midwest, I can really tell the difference in people.''

Ness's sentiments clearly lie with the Midwesterners. He is one himself, raised in east central South Dakota, in Wessington Springs, later graduating from South Dakota State. It didn't take him long to realize that journalism was not what he wanted to pursue despite the degree in marketing/journalism. "I worked for the local paper when I was in college,'' he recalled, "from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Everybody else was out having fun and I was working.''

Then again, what he's doing now doesn't leave much time for fun.

Ness, now 35, handles the nomadic lifestyle he leads routinely. "You know, it's a gypsy lifestyle. I had to sell my house here in Shakopee,'' he said. "You can't put roots down anywhere, but I'm still young and single. It's easier for me than for people with families.''

All of the horses Ness will saddle Saturday are owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds, the leading owners in the nation. The principal guy in the ownership is Rich Papiese from Chicago. "He's a blue collar guy who built a business doing store displays for AT&T as I understand it,'' said Ness, whose 90-horse stable includes around 60 for Midwest Thoroughbreds. "He just burst on the scene in the last couple of years.''

Sort of like the fellow who trains for him.

NTRA Thoroughbred Notebook

News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by NTRA Communications.

CANTERBURY PARK RECEIVES ACCREDITATION FOLLOWING REVIEW BY NTRA SAFETY AND INTEGRITY ALLIANCE INSPECTION TEAM

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) announced that Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn., has been fully accredited by the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance following a complete review of all racing operations at the facility.

The accreditation of Canterbury Park was the culmination of a lengthy certification process that began with the track’s completion of a 48-page written application and continued as Canterbury hosted several meetings with Alliance officials. The on-site review included inspections of all facets of the racing facility, and interviews with track executives, racetrack personnel, jockeys, owners, trainers, stewards and fans. The inspection team was comprised of Ronald Jensen, DVM; racing official Richard Lewis; and Mike Ziegler, Executive Director of the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance. Observing the inspection was Tommy G. Thompson, the independent monitor of the Alliance.

“Canterbury Park was reviewed earlier this month during its current, live meeting,” said Ziegler. “It exceeded prescribed benchmarks in many examined categories and received ‘Best Practice’ ratings in several areas including injury reporting and prevention; substance abuse and addiction prevention; catastrophic injury planning and procedure; infectious disease management; laboratory quality assurance program; and jockey disability support.”

"I’m exceedingly proud that we have received this designation from the NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance," said Randy Sampson, President and General Manager of Canterbury Park. "The safety of all human and equine athletes here at Canterbury will always be our number-one priority. The inspection process was very thorough, and I salute the many staff here who worked so hard to achieve this distinction."

Canterbury Park is the 18th racing facility to be fully accredited by the Alliance. Churchill Downs and Keeneland were accredited in April 2009; Belmont Park received accreditation in May 2009; Delaware Park and Hollywood Park were accredited in June 2009; Monmouth Park was accredited in July 2009; Arlington Park and Saratoga Race Course received accreditation last August; Calder Race Course, Turfway Park and the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club were accredited last September; Oak Tree at Santa Anita/Santa Anita Park received accreditation in October 2009; Fair Grounds and Aqueduct Racetrack were accredited last December; Golden Gate Fields was accredited this past February, Woodbine earned accreditation last March, and Pimlico Race Course was fully accredited in May. Also this past May, Sunland Park was granted provisional accreditation.

NATIONS BEST CLAIMERS TO COMPETE THIS SATURDAY AT THE 12TH ANNUAL CLAIMING CROWN
The 12th annual Claiming Crown is set to run this Saturday at Canterbury Park, in Shakopee, Minnesota. Six Claiming Crown races will be hosted with total purses of $500,000 offered to the connections of America’s best claiming horses. The days featured event is The TVG $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at 1 1/8 miles for horses that have started for a tag of $35,000 or less in 2009-10.

Three of the four winningest trainers in the country are shipping entrants to Canterbury. Steve Asmussen, the leader with 321 wins, has entered Sea Gaze in the $50,000 Iron Horse. Joe Woodard, second in the country with 152 wins, entered Cape Hatchet in the $50,000 Express. Jamie Ness, third with 150, entered five, all for Midwest Thoroughbreds, the leading owners in the country.

The Claiming Crown is a partnership of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. The races will be televised live on TVG, with Ken Rudulph anchoring from Canterbury Park.

A Racetrack Vow Comes Full Circle

by JIM WELLS

You've just celebrated your 20th wedding anniversary and now you want to celebrate the entire 25 years you've been an item.

He trains racehorses off and on. You've covered thoroughbred racing for the Louisville Courier-Journal for the last three decades.

Your wedding took place in the winner's circle at Churchill Downs, so something to do with racing might be nice.

You spent a couple of days in Shakopee, Minn., 25 years ago writing about the new racetrack there.

He was working at Arlington Park at the time....

Hey, that's it. Let's go to the 2010 Claiming Crown races at Canterbury Park, celebrate our 25th at the same time Canterbury celebrates its 25th.
What a grand idea, what a great way to celebrate a wonderful quarter of a century together, years spent talking to testy trainers on your part, years spent cleaning up after horses covered in poop on his.

Well, even if it didn't happen precisely that way...it could have.
Say hello to Jennie Rees and Pat Dupuy, husband and wife from Louisville, Ky., who were the first to arrive in Shakopee for this year's Claiming Crown, with their one-horse stable comprised of Strike Impact, a six-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike (by Mr. Prospector).

Before you write off this couple as mere wannabes of some kind, consider this: Jennie is a three-time Eclipse Award-winning journalist for the Courier-Journal; her expertise, of course, is thoroughbred racing, a sport she covers full time. Well....full time by today's newspaper standards, which include periodic furloughs for employees, but we digress.

Jennie grew up in Lexington, Ky., where it was part of growing up to skip German III at the end of the school day and head out to Keeneland Race Course during the spring and autumn meets.

Pat is a native of New Orleans where his father was a trainer and former jockey. (Does any more need be said?) Pat has trained horses off and on his entire adult life. Right now the correct terminology is that he is training a horse _ a single horse.

Long story short: Pat's sister-in-law, Donna Dupuy (she's married to Pat's brother, Mike), claimed Strike Impact almost exactly a year ago and later sold the horse privately to Chet Miller and his wife, Susan Weiss, who live in Simpsonville, Ky., not 30 minutes drive from Churchill Downs. Chet plans to be at the races on Saturday.
Jennie says they are wonderful people who are truly excited about Saturday's event.
Jennie and Pat arrived with Strike Impact last week, with 12 days to spare before post time, for the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel. They arrived with Winston Skaggs, a trainer and one-time jockey who agreed to exercise Strike Impact for them as well as drive the van from Kentucky.

Pat wanted Skaggs' assistance bad enough that he agreed to pay whatever the man needed to leave his other work behind. Hello, Minnesota, Canterbury Park and the Claiming Crown!

One of the first things Pat and Jennie did was head to the Racing Commission office in the grandstand to get licensed, Pat as a trainer and Jennie as a groom/hotwalker. By the way, Jennie doesn't shortchange her single charge, as some hotwalkers are prone to do. "I'll walk him for a solid 40 minutes every day,'' she said Wednesday, shortly after the draw for post positions.

Now, to the subject at hand, Saturday and the Claiming Crown, specifically the $150,000 Jewel for 3-year-olds and older at nine furlongs.
Dupuy and Rees chose this race after careful analysis. They didn't want to run against Inca King, for one. Strike Impact lost to him by 3 1/2 lengths on May 30.

"We can't beat Inca King,'' Jennie said.

Trainer and groom did their homework on this one, too.

"We took a look at past Claiming Crowns and noticed that the Jewel didn't have big fields,'' Jennie said.

Not that they expect an easy time of it on Saturday, but at least they aren't running against Inca King, who is the 9-5 favorite in the Emerald, and they are in a six-horse rather than 12-horse field.

Canterbury's trusty morning line man, Mark Stancato, has installed Strike Impact as the 9-2 fourth choice in the race to Racing Bran (2-1), My Friend Nev (7-2), and Headache (4-1).

Dupuy is confident nonetheless. He and his owners didn't invest all the time, money and travel if they intended to finish up the track. Just the same, Dupuy and Rees have figured out that even fourth-place money ($7,500) will be just about enough to cover their extensive expenses.

As husband and wife stood outside the stall to Strike Impact early Wednesday afternoon, both agreed that he could have run a better race coming into this one. On June 10 he ran sixth in a n3X optional claiming race for $80,000 at Churchill Downs. He did have a couple of legitimate excuses. One, he lost a rear shoe. Two, he got hit in the right eye with a piece of turf coming out of the turn. Strike Impact looked as if he were about to get on with it when he suddenly backed up. "We think that's when he got hit in the eye,'' Jennie said.

Strike has a 13-4-6 record from 45 career starts and earnings of $339,373. He has adjusted well to his new surroundings. (His handlers brought him in early to assure just that.)

Wednesday, for instance, Strike stood almost dead still in his stall as any relaxed horse is prone to do. He was so relaxed that he took his sweet time sucking up his favorite sweet, a peppermint, from a visitor's palm.

Dupuy likes the way the race sets up for his horse. "There is enough speed for him to run at,'' he said. Strike can run just off the pace or settle back, depending on what transpires up front. He will have Shane Sellers on his back.

Rees took a two-week vacation to help her husband get ready for the trip to Minnesota and the race on Saturday, but she has worked some just the same, sending daily blogs to her newspaper highlighting the trip and preparations for Saturday's race.

"This is exciting,'' Jennie said. "This is his (Pat's) Kentucky Derby.''
She would like to send a blog sometime late Saturday afternoon, informing her readers what it feels like to win a Claiming Crown race.

Money Raised for Injured Jockeys

Last night a spaghetti feed and silent auction was held at the Shakopee American Legion with proceeds going to help injured riders Scott Stevens, Don Proctor, and Paul Nolan.
The house was packed. Fox 9's Paul Blume was there and filed the story below.

Six It Up Bob Morehouse/Cash Caravan Winner

By JIM WELLS

There is a photo of Bob Morehouse in the Canterbury Park media guide. He is wearing his western hat and strumming the guitar, one of the many country-western tunes he penned perhaps.
There is also a photo of a horse named Cash Caravan. Morehouse bred the horse, and both of them are in the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame.
At one time, horse and breeder were honored with separate races named for each, but a shortage of horses and purse concerns led to a consolidation. So the race that honored horse and breeder on Sunday was the Bob Morehouse Memorial/Cash Caravan Stakes.
There wasn’t much doubt about which of the seven horses in the field would claim this year’s trophy a couple of jumps out of the gate. Six It Up, with Thomas Wellington Up, made it three straight over the Canterbury racing strip, finishing 1/1/4 lengths in front of Oak Tree Boulevard in :19.901, with Dashing Big Bud third in the 400-yard dash.
The Brent Clay- trainee , a 1-5 favorite, is now 4-0-1 from eight career starts. “Obviously, you always have the concern that your horse will step well and run his race,’’ said Clay. ‘’You need some luck. She’s also a nice filly.’’
Owned by Steven Pribyl, Six It Up, a daughter of Tres Seis, claimed the winner’s share of the $18,100 purse.
On hand to present the trophy was Bobbi Morehouse, daughter to the late breeder and two of his grandsons, Cody Boll and Garnett Stubbs.
The boys were teenagers when their grandfather died, but both have an interest in horses, sports and even rodeo. Cody at one time steer wrestled. Garnett has hopes of getting into sports broadcasting or something akin.
“He was the one in the family who was whipping that spring horse of his as a little boy,’’ Bobbi recalled. “He’s really into sports and horse racing.’’
So, too, was his grandfather…and the Hall of Fame horse he bred.

BIDDING UNDER WAY ON BENEFIT
Bidding got under way Sunday on items that are part of the silent auction for the jockeys in the spill at Canterbury on July 2, Scott Stevens, Paul Nolan and Don Proctor.
The auction will continue at 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Monday at the Shakopee American Legion, where the spaghetti benefit is also planned.
Sunday’s bidding was conducted on the first level of the grandstand just inside the main entrance. Among the items up for bid are some Fred Stone prints, some of the signed by jockeys who rode the horses pictured.
Those prints include The American Triple Crown series. The print that depicts the 1919-19-35 era is of Sir Barton, Omaha and Galant Fox.
The era from 1937-46 is of War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet and Assault; the 1948-78 time frame includes Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed.
Also up for bid is a photograph of Rachel Alexander winning the 135th Kentucky Oaks signed by winning jockey, Calvin Borel. Sports fans might
prefer taking a shot at a Harmon Killebrew baseball bat or the jersey worn by Buffalo Sabres goalie Dominik Hasek in their loss in the Stanley Cup final to the Dallas Stars.
Also up for bid is a breeding to Shot of Gold, Canterbury’s Horse of the Year in 2001. In addition two mares in foal to Shot of Gold, Allies and Miz Day Jur, are up for bid. The bidding does not include the foals. A breeding to Kipling is also up for bids.
The Fair Grounds donated a package for three nights at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter with a $200 certificate for a nearby restaurant.
Monday’s spaghetti dinner will be held from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Q-Racing Aces Visit Canterbury Park July 23-24

by Martha Claussen

The American Quarter Horse Association is proud to announce the formation of a new program to promote and educate the public about American Quarter Horse racing at racetracks in North America. The Q-Racing Aces, which debut in June 2010, is a group of American Quarter Horse know-it-alls who will actively promote the excitement of “America’s Fastest Athletes” at about 35 major racing events this year.

The Q-Racing Aces are individuals who have been involved in American Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing as handicappers, racing writers and publicists. The group, consisting of Tom Dawson, Martha Claussen, Jennifer Perkins, Denis Blake and others were selected as representatives by AQHA. The major goals of the Q-Racing Aces program are to promote the sport, provide fan education services and help to develop new fan bases.

Perkins and Blake will be on-site at Canterbury Park on Friday, July 23 and Saturday, July 24 for the Bank of America Challenge. The duo will offer their handicapping insight in paddock previews and analysis of the Adequan Central-North Derby Challenge and the Pfizer Central-North Starter Allowance Challenge. They will provide free tip sheets, giveaway items from AQHA and complimentary $2 betting vouchers for new fans. They will also answer questions from fans regarding bridging the gap between Thoroughbred and American Quarter Horse handicapping.

“The idea of this program originated last November at Hialeah Park,” said AQHA Executive Director of Racing Trey Buck. “We were thrilled with opening day of the American Quarter Horse meet, which attracted 27,000 fans, but realized very quickly that they were more familiar with Thoroughbred racing and did not feel as comfortable handicapping American Quarter Horse racing. Our hope is that this very talented group of ‘aces’ can educate Thoroughbred fans, casual fans that attend the races two or three times a year and create a lasting first impression with first timers.”


The Q-Racing Aces will visit a number of racetracks across the country and offer many educational opportunities and promotions, free of charge. These include handicapping seminars, paddock previews, free racing handouts and tip sheets, giveaway items, betting vouchers and one-on-one handicapping tips to racing fans and groups attending the races. Live video streaming and online chats will also be offered for the benefit of simulcast fans.


“Having worked at a racetrack for over a decade, I know how intimidating handicapping horses can be at first,” said Martha Claussen, who is serving as coordinator for the Q-Racing Aces. “But there is nothing more thrilling than teaching someone the basics and watching them cheer on their first winner. Our goal will be to keep it simple, but make sure everyone we interact with understands the unbridled excitement of the sport of American Quarter Horse racing.”

Efforts are underway to schedule visits by the Q-Racing Aces to the following racetracks:

• Ruidoso Downs – New Mexico
• Fair Meadows at Tulsa – Oklahoma
• Sandy Downs – Rigby, Idaho
• Sam Houston Race Park – Houston
• Delta Downs – Vinton, Louisiana
• Indiana Downs – Shelbyville, Indiana
• Arapahoe Park – Aurora, Colorado
• Canterbury Park – Shakopee, Minnesota
• Prairie Meadows – Altoona, Iowa
• Elko County Fair – Elko, Nevada

For more information on the Q-Racing Aces, contact Trey Buck at (806) 376-4888 or Martha Claussen at (281) 556-5461.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.

Weather Breaks For Stakes Races

by JIM WELLS

The weather was fit for neither man nor horse on Saturday, the temperature reaching as it did the high 80s with the humidity about the same.
Almost as if she knew the difference between an overnight and a stakes race, Mother Nature stepped in, blanketing the sun with cloud cover shortly before the co-feature events on the card, The Victor S. Myers and the Frances Genter stakes.
Without a sun beating down relentlessly , the temperature dropped noticeably into the mid 70s, sending a wave of relief through the paddock, grandstand apron _ any outdoor vantage point for that matter.
“Oh, that helped a lot, especially with these big-bodied horses,’’ said Cheryl Sprick, co-owner and breeder with husband Richard Brenner of Victor S. Myers winner Bet Your Boots.
Bet Your Boots, with Ry Eikleberry up, ran down front-running Sugar Storm, taking charge at the 16th pole, and finished 1 ¾ lengths in front.
Sprick was leaving the paddock when she asked how she handled the minutes before a big race. Was she nervous? “Terrified,’’ she said.
She was still nervous even with the result in, waiting to see how her horse came out of the race.
Bet Your Boots actually handled the sultry afternoon in the paddock just fine. “He really relaxed out there,’’ said trainer Troy Bethke.
So, the horse was actually better off than her owner?
“Well, Troy doesn’t train me,’’ Cheryl responded.
In the paddock before the race, Curt Sampson, owner of Sugar Storm, was weighing his horses chances. “We were the only horse to beat Bet Your Boots last year,’’ he said. “But I don’t know about today.’’
Bet Your Boots was the track’s champion two-year-old after winning the Northern Lights Futurity last year and is now three-for-six on the Canterbury dirt, 5-1-3 from 14 career starts with earnings of more than $115,00.
“Ry rode him perfectly,’’ said Bremer.
A few minutes later, Sheso Dazzling lined up as the favorite in the Frances Genter, having shipped up from Iowa for trainer Kelly Von Hemel. Nothing worse than shipping in for a race you don’t get to run, exactly what happened in this case. Sheso Dazzling was scratched on advice of the veterinarian after acting up in the gate.
So, with the heavy favorite gone, the race took on a new dimension and Her Sweet Saint hit the winner’s circle under Derek Bell at 8-5 with a perfectly timed move that got her there a nose in front of the 6-5 Hidden Gold and Dean Butler.
Owner Wayne Simon was a bit concerned during the race because Her Sweet Saint was not where he thought she should be.
“We were a little far back,’’ he said.
Easy explanation, according to Bell.
“We were going to the lead but she didn’t break very well,’’ he said. “So I had to sit back and wait.’’
His horse got there in time but there was a moment when…
“I thought she’d get there sooner,’’ Bell said. “But that other filly dug in pretty good.’’
So, what did Simon think when Sheso Dazzling was scratched?
“I hate to see that happen,’’ he said. “But we would have liked to have beaten her.’’

A HORSE WHO LOVES CANTERBURY
The Canterbury racing office should give this mare her own room at Canterbury, make it something with a separate kitchen, maybe a drawing room and a balcony, too. A Jacuzzi would be nice as well.
Say what?
This mare truly loves the Shakopee track, that’s why. Shot of Silver, with Dean Butler up _ the hottest rider on the grounds this week by the way _ won the opening race on Saturday’s card.
Not a big deal if you look simply at the fact that it was a sprint for $7,500 claimers, fillies and mares three or older.
But consider this: Shot of Silver, owned by Tom and Karen Metzen, is 14-10-10 from 54 career starts. Eleven of those wins have come at Canterbury.
Eleven wins at Canterbury by a Minnesota-bred horse?
Give her the penthouse suite.

Claiming Crown News and Notes

Claiming Crown
Saturday, July 24

Stike Impact, headed to the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, arrived Thursday evening from Churchill Downs and will be training over the track prior to the event.

Julien Leparoux is expected to ride trainer Mike Maker's horses, Inca King and Headache, as well as a horse in the Lady Canterbury.

Jockey agent Pat Cucccurullo reports that Shane Sellers will have multiple mounts.

Rumor has it that riders Israel Ocampo and Daniel Centeno will be in Shakopee as well.
jm

Help Needed for Jockey Benefit

by JIM WELLS

Donations continue to arrive for the jockey benefit on Monday night, but organizers are in desperate need of volunteers to help with dining room duties.

"We really need about 25 people,'' said jockey agent Richard Grunder, who has organized the benefit, with proceeds earmarked for the three jockeys who were injured in a four-horse accident on July 2.

The benefit consists of a spaghetti dinner and silent auction from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the Shakopee American Legion.

Volunteers are needed, Grunder said, to help with clearing and cleaning tables so that people can be seated as efficiently as possible.

Grunder, trainer Tim Padilla and thoroughbred owner Tony Hapka were busy shopping for dinner items early Friday afternoon at a local supermarket. They had put in an order for beef when Grunder received a phone call.

Jerry's Foods in Eden Prairie, where many racetrackers do their grocery shopping, was on the line, willing to donate 110 pounds of beef. "They're going to deliver it tomorrow to the Legion,'' Grunder said. "That's a tremendous help.''

Grunder and his companions picked up 30 gallons of tomato sauce on Friday, 500 pieces of French bread, three large jars of garlic seasonings, five cases of noodles and 24 rolls of paper towels.

Grunder expects more than 500 tickets at $8 apiece to be sold to the dinner. The silent auction will begin at 4 p.m. and run until 7 p.m.

Donations for the auction continue to arrive. Thursday night, Grunder caught the attention of hockey fans in the grandstand after Emerald Bay Stable donated the jersey worn by Dominik Hosek during the 1999 Stanley Cup finals. Hosek was a six-time Vezina winner as the NHL's top goalie and a two-time league MVP for the Buffalo Sabres. "There was a bunch of guys in the grandstand who seemed pretty excited about that,'' Grunder said. The Sabres lost the Cup in six games to the Dallas Stars that year.

Also new to the list of auction items is a package of four seats for a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 18.

New as well is a stud service for Kipling, sire of Kip Deville, winner of the Breeders' Cup Mile. Kipling stands at Mighty Acres in Pryor, Okla. "That's a real good auction item,'' Grunder added. "(Trainer) Amber Blair put that one together. The ranch where he stands donated that.';'

Grunder said that several door prizes will also be part of the benefit.
Proceeds will benefit Paul Nolan, Don Proctor and Scott Stevens, who were injured in the worst spill in track history.

Nolan and Proctor hoped to be back in the saddle in time for the Claiming Crown July 24. Nolan was told this week that he will sidelined for three months, however. Proctor is still uncertain when he will return. Stevens was hurt worst of all and is likely to be sidelined longest of the three.

Nolan was diagnosed this week with a compression fracture, a small fracture in the crown of a vertebra and a fracture in the transverse process of his back.
He said Friday and he and Proctor plan to attend the benefit on Monday, although he was uncertain about the etiquette of such a thing.

"Are you supposed to attend benefits for yourself,'' he said with a chuckle. "I'm not sure about that.''

10 Year Old Passes Groom Elite Program at Canterbury

Kare 11 came to the backside of Canterbury Park recently and did a story on David Van Winkle's 10 year old daughter, whom passed the Groom Elite program with flying colors. Check it out below.

Kare 11 Extra - "Unsung Heroes"

Recently, a Kare 11 Extra focused on the unsung heroes here at Canterbury Park. Photojournalist, Craig Norkus and anchor Scott Seroka did an amazing job capturing the essense of a the job of a jockey. Watch below.

This Week at Canterbury 'July 16th-19th'

The Silent Auction and Benefit Dinner for Scott Stevens, Don Proctor and Paul Nolan will be held Monday, July 19th 4:00-7:30 P.M. at the American Legion in Shakopee. Tickets are $8.

Jockey Benefit Picks Up Steam

by JIM WELLS

Donations are coming from around the nation in response to the benefit planned on July 19 for the Canterbury Park jockeys injured 12 days ago in the worst spill in track history.
A spaghetti dinner is planned in conjunction with a silent auction at the Shakopee American Legion from 4 to 7:30 p.m. next Monday to raise funds for the three riders _ Scott Stevens, Paul Nolan and Don Proctor _ who continue to recover from injuries suffered in the four-horse accident.

Jockey agent Richard Grunder, who is planning the benefit, said on Wednesday that he expects ticket sales to surpass 500. "I don't think we'll have any problem with that number at all,'' he said.

In addition, Grunder is accepting the donation of items for sale at the silent auction.
"We've got some great items to offer in the auction,'' he said. "We plan to run that from the time we open until the cutoff, at 7 p.m.''

Among the expected items is a donation from Wally (McNeil) the Beerman. "I don't know everything for sure,'' said Grunder, "but he plans to help us out with some things from the (Minnesota) Wild, Twins and Timberwolves.''

In addition, a donation from the Fair Grounds is forthcoming. Eric Halstrom, the former vice president of racing at Canterbury Park and now vice president and general manager of racing at the New Orleans track, has assisted with procuring items for the auction.

The piece de resistance of that donation is a three-night stay at the Monteleone Hotel in the French Quarter which includes a $200 gift certificate for a nearby restaurant.

Another item for the auction is an American Inn gift certificate, courtesy of John Voss; also, four rounds of golf at Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee as well as a Tori Hunter autographed bat, courtesy of Emerald Bay Stable.

Also, two Fred Stone prints from the artist himself. And a box for eight at the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby, including buffet tickets.

Grunder said he expects more donations within the next couple of days.

A WET TRIP AND A WET RETURN
Blan Wilson stood at the door on the southeast end of the Dave Wolochuk barn Wednesday morning and watched the rain come down, at first gently and then torrentially. No use trying to reach the racing office at the point. Might as well sit it out.

"I usually watch these puddles here,'' he said, pointing to a small pool outside the door. "If there's a lot of action on that water, no sense heading out.''

Just then the gentle rain turned rain-forest fierce, accompanied by a loud rumble from above and then a pitch-fork strike of yellow electricity beyond the line of barns. It reminded Wilson of some of the storms he's seen at tracks around the country and of a recent trip to Iowa.

The wind at that point wound its way through the barn, blowing wraps hung out to dry like wind-socks and upsetting numerous other items near the barn-door and even the interior stalls.
"The alarms went off earlier today in the barn,'' Wilson said. "Have no idea what caused it.''
It might have been the wind, stirring something up that the alarm found disturbing. "The dorms have their own alarms so it couldn't have been from up there,'' he said.

Wilson got on nine horses Wednesday morning before the thunderburst hit. Two days earlier after he had finishing galloping for the morning, he set out for Prairie Meadows with three horses and wound up with two winners.
"It rained the whole way down there,'' he said. "Couldn't even see the road at times.''
The horses from the Wolochuk barn were able to find the wire nonetheless.
Outlaw Annie won at a mile and 70 over a sloppy track on Monday for a purse of $14,782. Illuminigee won in the final stride by 3/4 length on Tuesday in an allowance/optional claiming race for an $18,000 purse.

There was another winner with a Shakopee connection on Monday at Prairie Meadows, too. Flying Leatherneck, ridden by Chris Fackler, and trained/owned by Larry Donlin won at six furlongs.

Despite the purse attraction at Prairie Meadows, Wilson said it doesn't have the ambiance or appeal or Canterbury. "They don't have so much as a pool table to play on down there,'' he said.
Like Canterbury, the place did get rain, however.

UPCOMING YEARLING SALE
The Minnesota Thoroughbred Assn. has tacked up some reminders on the backside and elsewhere reminding horsemen that the yearling sale isn't upcoming.

The 2010 yearling sale is scheduled the first week of August at Canterbury. The parade of yearlings is scheduled on Aug. 6 at 4:30 p.m. The sale will take place on Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m., following the races.
An enticement? The notice includes mention that last year's sale topper won at first asking.

Stevens Shows Up On Don Macbeth Day

By JIM WELLS

There was an unexpected visitor to the jockey lounge on Sunday; then again, nothing this man does should be completely unexpected.

Scott Stevens, who nine days ago lay on the track with life threatening injuries, stopped by to say hello to his colleagues. Before he left, he apologized.

“Can you just imagine,’’ said Sherry Nolan, the wife of Paul Nolan who was injured in the spill as well. “Scott’s down there apologizing because he doesn’t feel up to signing autographs.’’

Paul Nolan and several other riders did work the autograph table, as part of Don MacBeth Day at Canterbury Park and throughout North America.

Nik Goodwin was at the table and so, too, was quarter horse rider Cody McDaniel, who was taken to the hospital Sunday morning when a horse she was working flipped over and hit the rail, bending it and pinning her against it at the same time.

McDaniel’s horse spooked when the outrider pulled on her mount’s rope to get her moving and she flipped over backwards.

McDaniel’s right leg, elbow and foot were bruised and she was clearly still in discomfort in early afternoon as she talked about the accident. Unable to take the pain medication prescribed for her and still ride in the last two races on the card, she settled for ibuprofen and signed autographs for as long as she was able. Then she headed to the jockeys lounge to get some rest , fully intending to ride. As the afternoon wore on, McDaniel’s’ muscles continued to stiffen and she was forced to take off her two mounts.

Anywhere you care to look there are riders nursing injuries or who certainly have in the past. Injury is part of this occupation that no one escapes at some time or another.
While patrons bid on numerous racing items to benefit the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund Sunday, Jim Olson, a long-time member and past president of the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Assn., spoke about the need for a national effort to provide jockeys with insurance.

“It’s unbelievable that we send these riders out on our horses without any insurance,’’ Olson said. “It’s always baffled me that we put these riders on our horses and then say ‘tough luck, buddy’ when they get hurt.’’

Olson says that the horse industry has the means to provide insurance but the riders will have to be involved as well.

Most riders can’t get insurance because of the high risk associated with their profession. Even when they can, the rates are often prohibitive.

Olson talked about the need for national unity on the matter. “All of the pari-mutuel tracks in the country would have to be part of it,’’ he said.

In the meantime, tracks across North America held raffles, silent auctions and other events to promote giving to the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund this weekend. The Fund assists disabled riders and those with injuries in various ways.

Canterbury Park has led the nation several times with what it collects. The fund last year raised nearly $32,000. Organizers were confident of reaching and likely surpassing that total this year. Raffle tickets for a trip to the 2011 Kentucky Derby are part of this year’s fundraiser and will be sold until the Claiming Crown on July 24, so a final figure won’t be available until then.

Stevens Goes Home Early

JIM WELLS

Ry Eikleberry surely spoke for many others at Canterbury Park on Saturday afternoon with his response to the news that colleague Scott Stevens had been released from the hospital.

“Good, good, good,’’ Eikleberry said.

Stevens’ release came much earlier than expected, but as his friends and acquaintances considered the good news they were not completely surprised that this amazing athlete had beaten the odds once more.

Eikleberry visited the man who mentored him in race riding on Thursday night and was still shaking his head Saturday at what he witnessed.

“He still had a tube in him, he was spitting up blood and he wanted the nurse to let him go home,’’ Eikleberry said.

Stevens reportedly is walking on his own, although slowly, despite extensive injuries from the worst spill in track history on July 2. He was on the lead horse of a six-horse field, and his mount went down after breaking a leg. Only two of the six horses finished the race. Dean Butler was the only unseated rider who walked away from the incident.

Paul Nolan and Don Proctor also were injured in the spill, suffering broken vertebrae, but Stevens was injured much more severely, suffering broken ribs, punctures to both lungs, back injuries and a ruptured spleen.

Track president Randy Sampson, horsemen Dan Mjolsness and Steve Erban and his wife, Dorothy, were among a number of people who intended to visit Stevens on Saturday but were informed that he was going home _ about a week ahead of expectations, even a few days ago.
Chad Anderson, Stevens’ agent, was not entirely surprised. Stevens, 49, has been injured severely several times during his long career and always bounces back sooner than expected.
Anderson recalled an incident that occurred in 2005, the day of the Claiming Crown races in Shakopee, indicative of his rider’s tough spirit. Stevens sprained an ankle badly while doing some work at home that morning. “His ankle was swollen like this,’’ said Anderson, indicating a large circumference with his hands.

“No other jock I know would have ridden that day or maybe for several days.’’

Yet, Stevens figured out a way to get the swollen ankle into a boot, and a way to position himself in the irons without putting undue pressure on the injury.

He not only rode that afternoon, he won the Claiming Crown Glass Slipper on Ells Editor for trainer Percy Scherbenske.

Anderson’s trailer is a couple down from where Stevens lives. The agent planned to stop by after the races on Saturday and invite him to dinner. “I’ll throw something on the grill,’’ Anderson said.

Imagine that.

HEY, WHEN’S THAT GAME, AGAIN?

You could find Vikings purple in various parts of the grandstand on Saturday, as part of the Ride for Life motorcycle rally benefiting the Vikings children’s fund.

Track superintendent Ian Gamble proudly displayed a picture that included him, track president Randy Sampson and several Vikings cheerleaders, who were on hand for the occasion.

Gamble attended the NFC title game in New Orleans last season, decked out in his Vikings colors, and was lucky to escape with his life. There is that rematch on Sept. 9, of course.

Trainer Gary Scherer has been wearing his New Orleans Saints cap proudly most of the meet and had it on Saturday.

He wished he had gotten an opportunity to visit the winner’s circle with his cap early in the race card when the cheerleaders were present.

Sampson had other ideas on the matter.

Encountering Scherer later on in the day, he told him that his cap would have become mush underfoot had he shown up with it as he wished.

Vikings fans can’t wait.

DOES THIS RING A BELL?

Derek Bell did a fine job of handicapping the two mounts he rode on Friday night at Prairie Meadows Racetrack when he talked about them earlier that day.

Bell thought he would win with the two-year-old filly he was on. He wasn’t certain about the other mount, a Claiming Crown horse. He thought he might need the out and figured the race was a good prep for the Claiming Crown.

Just as he analyzed, Bell won on the two-year-old, Spunkette, in a maiden special weight at 5 ½ furlongs. He finished third on James Wilfred, three lengths back, in the second race.

Bell Heads South After Big Night

by JIM WELLS

Derek Bell was driving down Interstate 35W at mid-afternoon Friday en route to Prairie Meadows Racetrack in Altoona, Iowa.

Bell had mounts in the fourth and seventh races at the Iowa track Friday night, sending a wave of relief through the jockey colony at Canterbury Park.

Bell laughed when that was mentioned to him, but the point wasn't wasted nonetheless.
"Yeah, it was awesome,'' he said.

The reference was to Thursday night's card when Bell rode in six races and won five of them.
"It's been a long time,'' he said, trying to recall that last time he won that many races on a single card. "Oh, I can't even remember, five or six years."

Bell wasn't certain he would win more than two races, much less five on Thursday night.
"I really thought I had a chance to win two. I didn't think they would all run that good,'' he said.
Bell gave notice early in the evening, winning the first three races. He brought in Afleet Indy for owner Anthony Didier and trainer Bruce Riecken in the first race, winning by 3/4 length.

"I was kind of surprised there. I wasn't sure we could outrun Senor Smiley,'' Bell said.

Then he brought in Holly In Summer, a winner in a stretch duel by a nose over Beautiful Insight and Eddie Martin, Jr., for owner Doug Brown and trainer Thad Keller. "I didn't think we would win that one,'' he said. "She kind of hung there and lost the lead but came back.''

Quintons Speedy was next, winning the third race for owner/trainer Myron Kumke over Maywoods Z by 1 1/4 lengths "I was really surprised by that one,'' he said. "That horse reared and we got left.''

The streak ended in the fourth race. Bell finished fourth on Wicklow Gate for trainer Tom McFadden and owner Joyce McFadden.

Bell was back in the winner's circle in race five, riding Our Family Affair to a four-length win over Starlit Castle for trainer/owner Doug Oliver.

"That one I really thought we had a good chance to win,'' he said.
He finished off his stunning evening with a win on Crazy Crown Royal, by a neck over Reds Fine Wine, for trainer Bob Johnson in a quarter horse sprint.

So, how do you celebrate an evening such as that? "I was home by about 11 o'clock,'' Bell said, "so I could put by daughter (7-year-old Haley) to bed.''

Probably wise for a fellow who had to drive to Iowa and race the next day.

Bell figured he had a chance to win one of the races, riding for Dave Wichmann in both, at Prairie Meadows Friday. He wasn't certain about the second. "I really like the two-year-old (Spunkette) in the fourth,'' he said. 'I should have a pretty good chance on that one. I don't know if the other one (James Wilfred) has raced in a while. He's a Claiming Crown horse. This is like a tuneup for him. Yet, he has a lot of back class, so he might win anyway.''

Surely, a few of his local colleagues had to wish him the best, since he was was not in the lineup at Canterbury Friday night.

THE WISDOM OF YOUTH

Kendall Van Winkle, age 10, was at the racetrack last Friday night when the worst accident in track history occurred. Kendall is the daughter of trainer Dave Van Winkle and his wife, Pam, and spends much of the summer doing racetrack things.

After witnessing the spill, Kendall went home that night and came up with an idea.

"I sat down for a while to think,'' she said. "And then I told my mom that we had to do a fundraiser, to help those jockeys that got hurt.''

Scott Stevens, Don Proctor and Paul Nolan were injured in the spill. Kendall knows all of them, but has a particularly special relationship with Proctor. "I babysit his twins,'' she said.
The Proctors have one-year-old twins, Haley and Tucker. "I don't mind babysitting them at all,'' Kendall said. "I like those kids. Haley is very, very cute. A little diva, I would say. Tucker? I would say he's an acrobat. He likes to jump off just about everything and hurt himself.''

In any event, Kendall decided that a fundraiser was in order. So, joined by her sister, Taylor, 12, and 12-year-old friend Courtney, the daughter of trainer Tim Padilla, she set up a table near the giftshop in the grandstand last Sunday and Monday and used a feed bucket to collect donations.

"I called up (HBPA president) Tom Metzen,'' Kendall said, "to see if he could get us a table. He checked for us and said he would need one more day so we didn't do it on Saturday.''

As it turned out, Kendall needed some help. The girls were able to spell one another for occasional breaks during the course of their watch.

The girls no sooner finished that fundraiser and then embarked on another. "We're selling tickets for a spaghetti dinner on July 19 (at the Shakopee American Legion),'' Courtney said.
Kendall, incidentally, was one of the star pupils in the recent Groom Elite Program on the backside that instructs participants on the biology of the horse and how to properly care for a racehorse.

Kendall had a specific reason for taking it. "I asked my dad one time to tell me all the parts of a horse,'' she said. "But he was busy and I guess he forgot. So I took the class.''

Kendall, Courtney and Taylor, meanwhile, collected $1,001 for the injured riders.

"And we're going to get them some more,'' Kendall said.

Look for a KARE 11 piece with Dave Schwartz on the 10pm news Wednesday, July 14 featuring Kendall and Dave Van Winkle.