Equinics – Canterbury Park Mile

It’s a showcase for 3-year olds here in the Equinics Canterbury Park Dirt Mile. This is a very competitive distance in the open 3-year old division and should make for a highly entertaining race.

1 –Shot Sheriff CH(JPN)– chevry – 16/1

Sire-French Deputy

Representing the race sponsors from Minnesota Downs, is this two-time stakes winner and graded-placed colt. His top two career races have been at this one mile distance and produced a couple of 100+ speed figures. The horse has struggled a bit in his last two outings, but both were on sloppy tracks, so it’s difficult to read too much into those efforts. If he gets a dry track and shows some improvement off his Bluegrass Derby Trial effort (2nd, 102spf) from 3 races ago, he could be a contender as they turn for home.

2 – Clinton’s Ditch(KY) – noles02 – 6/1

Sire-Smart Strike

This colt, representing the Vermont Residency, has been near the head of this crop for his entire career. As a juvenile, he won the Grade 1 Sparkling Wine at this same distance and came 3rd in the Breeders Bowl Juvy. He has spent most of his 3-year old season running classic distances, including an 11th in the Bluegrass Derby. He ran a career best 110spf for second place in the G2 Flatland Derby last time out at 8.5 furlongs and it would appear he is more comfortable with slightly less distance. If he doesn’t bounce, this one is a real threat on Saturday.

3 – Magisterium(KY) – mtkgrs2 – 14/1

Sire-Distorted Humor

Representing the Blazing Saddles Residency, we have this stakes winning, graded placed colt. He has been running slightly longer and may just be coming back to his best distance in this one. This lightly raced (only 6 career races) will need to show some improvement on his career best 102spf to factor, but if he does, his stalking running-style could be ideal for this race.

4 – Proust(KY) – bobilo – 13/1

Sire-Zensational

This colt, representing City-Race Rhein-Main Turf Club Residency, is extremely accomplished. He has three career graded wins, including two grade one victories this year (Winter Is Coming and Sand Castle Derby). He finished 8th in the Bluegrass and struggled home 12th in the Middle Jewel, after which he has been on an extended break. That leads us to the real question with this colt: how will he perform in his first race off an extended layoff. We know he has the class, but there are questions.

5 – Royality Note(KY) – pick6king – 11/1

Sire-Tiznow

Representing the Empire State Racing Residency is this front-running colt who has shown some real talent. His most impressive result to this point would be a 2nd place run in the Dubai 2000 Guineas, one of only two previous graded attempts for this youngster. Though he hasn’t spent a lot of time against the highest level of competition, this colt has 6 wins in 10 races and popped a 107spf, winning a listed stake in his final prep. Keep an eye on this one running near the lead early and working to hold on late.

6 – Last Stop(KY) – adschus06 – 25/1

Sire-Henny Hughes

This colt, one of two Testbarn representatives in this race, has run amongst some classy horses and held his own. His issue is that in the graded fields he has challenged himself with, he has been respectable (4ths and 5ths), but not truly a threat. He ran a career best 100spf two-races back and will need to show improvement on that effort to be in it down the stretch with this group.

7 – Golden Impact(JPN) – sticks1 – 7/1

Sire-Deep Impact

This colt, running for the Queensland Residency, has 5 wins in 8 lifetime starts and has popped some very impressive speed figures. In allowance and listed stakes competition, he has run two 106’s and a 108. These numbers put him amongst the best this field has to offer. On the downside, he struggled home 9th last time out in the G2 Flatland Derby, his first graded attempt. The guess here is that his last out was a bounce race off three straight big numbers and he will come back strong in this one…or I could be wrong and it could just be that the step up in class was/is too much. Depending on which theory is correct, this one could be winning or an after-thought.

8 – Flip Flop Tip Top(KY) – ramo – 14/1

Sire-Henny Hughes

This colt, representing the EWC, is one of the most experienced in the field, having run 19 times in his career. He has placed in graded stakes multiple times and seems to be a true competitor, fighting to the finish at a variety of distances against some very tough fields. He ran a career-best 102spf last time out at the same 8 furlong distance they will be covering today, so a similar or slightly improved run could see Flip Flop in the mix as they battle down the stretch in this one.

9 – Lute’s Wish(KY) – stormyhk – 16/1

Sire-Midnight Lute

This colt, representing the Testbarn Residency, seems to be coming back to his best surface and distance after a few races trying longer and the turf. He best victory was in the G3 UFO Stakes at 8.5 furlongs and it appears the mile distance here will suit him equally well. If he is able to improve off recent races, look for this colt to be charging from the middle-back of the pack late in the race, making himself a factor in the stretch.

10 – Lazy(KY) – malekfarms – 16/1

Sire-Street Cry

Representing the Delpenn Residency, we have a colt who is long on consistency, but has not proven his brilliance. He is 11 of 12 in the money, seems to always give a game effort and has recently seen an uptick in speed figures to get over the 100 mark two of this last three. The challenge here is that his only stakes attempts resulted in a 3rd and a 13th. This horse is certainly improving, but will have to take another significant step forward in this one to challenge this field.

11 – Rib Tickler(KY) – punter69 – 10/1

Sire-Tiznow

This colt, representing the NWRC, has been brought along slowly, only picking up his first stakes win three races ago. Since then however, he picked up a second listed stakes win and a strong second in the G3 Affirmative at 8.5f. His last three speed figures in those stakes attempts have been 100, 102, and 104. If he keeps climbing that ladder, he could be hanging with the leaders as the stretch run unfolds.

12 – Interes Personal(ENG) – xpletivist – 25/1

Sire-Oasis Dream

This runner, representing the Hispano Parlante Residency, has 6 wins in 7 career starts. This is impressive, but it also makes it difficult to speculate about how he fits in this field. None of the wins are against stakes horses and the one 4th place finish came in the horses’ only stakes attempt. He has won easily with high 90’s figures in his two races at this distance, but I suspect the jump in class will be a bit too much for this one to handle.

13 – Hawesome(KY) – psyduck130 – 20/1

Sire-Pulpit

This colt, representing the Comedy Central Residency, has improved rapidly in recent starts and could be a real surprise package. He has never even entered a stakes race, but has speed figures of 100 and 104 in his past two races, after not breaking 80 until March. His rapid improvement could mean a new best is coming, but the huge step up in class could mean a major flop is coming. This is one who could finish absolutely anywhere in the field. Your guess is as good as mine.

14 – Wild Out(KY)– spain – 15/1

Sire-Any Given Saturday

The Kentucky Horsemen send this improving colt to represent them here. He has a listed stakes win and a couple of recent thirds to his credit. The most encouraging thing for the connections of this one have to be the pair of 100+ speed figures in his past two races. If he can take another step forward in this one, he could challenge the top horses in this field. If not, he seems destined for a mid-pack finish.

15 – Deputy of Death(AUS) – jonsnow2 – 10/1

Sire-Hussonet

This colt, running for the GR Simsters, has been extremely consistent and may just be sitting on a big race. He is a Grade 3 winner (Buccaneer Derby) who loves to come charging down the stretch. Expect this one to be 12+ lengths off the lead and to be charging like a freight train late. He has four straight races with 100+ speed figures and if he improves off that plateau, he could run by ’em all as they come to the wire.

16 – Zen Kitty(KY) – bigcoleman – 8/1

Sire-Zensational

This colt, representing the URC, has won just one race in his 3-year old season. The good thing is that it was the G3 Trial By Night, which was his last race, and it was at the same distance they are running here. His two best career races are at this 8 furlong distance (2nd/107sf in the Good Cow, 1st/105sf in the TBN) and there is no doubt that he will be charging from the back of the pack and factoring in the outcome down the stretch, if he runs to his potential.

17 – Kali Strike(IRE)– bentakai – 99/1

Sire-Kalanisi

This colt, representing the Saltire Residency, appears on paper to be somewhat overmatched. While he is certainly a solid colt that most of us would like to have in our barns, his career-best 90spf doesn’t match up favorably with the rest of this very tough field. He may be a factor in pushing the pace early, but if he hangs around late it will be a massive surprise.

18 – William’s Dream(ENG)– montanarox – 19/1

Sire-Oasis Dream

This colt, representing MIDAS, didn’t look like a future Equinics runner in his first couple of races on the turf, but the switch to the dirt track has been very good to him. He is 6-for-6 in the money with 4 wins and ran an impressive 104spf in a listed stake last time out. Because we have yet to see this colt against top-notch competition, it is difficult to say how he’ll fare,  but the talent is there and his stalking style could be advantageous in a race like this.

Well, there you have it. A truckload of talent and a boatload of uncertainty should make for a great race to watch. Good luck to all those involved in this Equinics battle.

My prediction: 2-5-15-11 (disclaimer: there is virtually no chance of this being correct)