A Muddied Northern Stars Turf Festival Produces Longshots and Favorites
Jockey Alonso Quinonez wins two stakes
Rain fell overnight and again mid-afternoon in Shakopee forcing the five turf stakes making up Saturday’s Northern Stars Festival to be run on the sloppy, and eventually muddy, main track. Fifteen of the 65 horses entered in the eight-race program were scratched. Rain ceased prior to the 5:10 p.m. start of the card.
Tour Queen pressed the pace and dueled with second-place finisher Hattie Bloom in the stretch to win the $40,000 Curtis Sampson Oaks, run at one mile, by one length. The 3-year-old filly was ridden by leading jockey Luis Fuentes and is trained by Ty Garrett for owners Jason Hall Stables and Stephen Baker. Tour Queen paid $18.20 to win.
Thunders Rocknroll was a gate to wire winner in the three-horse $50,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes paying $3.20 as the favorite. Thunders Rocknroll, pictured above, was bred in Minnesota by her owner Bob Lindgren. Alonso Quinonez was aboard.
“It was pretty easy to figure out,” Quinonez said. “I was the only speed in the race. I was just hoping for a nice and clean break. I was pretty sure I’m going to be all alone on the front.” He was, virtually unchallenged, covering the mile in 1:38.41.
Quinonez scored again in the $40,000 Dark Star Sprint aboard Thealligatorhunter who is owned by Pete Mattson and trainer Tim Padilla. Thealligatorhunter battled between horses up the backstretch, collaring Twentyone N Change at the top of the stretch and pulling away late to win by a length. He paid $3.20.
Unified Dream was entered in the $50,000 Brooks Fields Mile as a Main Track Only and only drew into the race when it was moved off the turf. His presence was not lost on the betting public as the 5-year-old left the starting gate as the favorite. Jockey Fausto Da Silva sat in stalking position just off the pace and asked for run in the turn. He drew off in the stretch to win by 2 1/2 lengths over a late charging Tonka Warrior. Unified Dreams is trained by Gary Scherer and owned by Patrice Sutherland.
The fifth stake of the evening, the $50,000 Canterbury Derby, went to Flat Hanby and jockey Eduardo Gallardo. The six-length winner is trained by Boyd Caster for owners JT Stables, LLC. Flat Hanby paid $21.80.
“A rush, I’m hoarse, I was yelling. Caster said. “I’m just full of excitement. It’s a big thrill. This racing, you’re up, you’re down and when you do something like this it makes up for all the downs.”
Handle for the eight races was $1,032,409.
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