Canterbury Park Continues Low Takeout Wagers, Opens Saturday

Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN is back. With it comes the return of the industry low pick 4 and pick 5 wagers. The opening card features 2 stakes races.

Innovative Wagers

One of the separators that makes Canterbury such a great place for bettors is their commitment to pushing the envelope when it comes to wagering options for fans. For the last several seasons Canterbury has had industry low takeout in the pick 5 of just 10%.

The 10% house cut has now been expanded to the early pick 4 as well. The end result is more money back into the hands of the winning players and that should be celebrated by all horse players.

These results caused the track to break records in total handle, average handle, and single day handle during the 2022 racing meet.

All Turf Pick 3

Although not the first to do it, Canterbury Park has continued their pursuit of new betting options by offering an all turf pick 3 during the 54 day 2023 racing meet. This wager will play like traditional pick 3s. However, instead of stringing together 3 straight races, it will be comprised of exclusively turf races.

These bets can be extremely lucrative because the margin for error tends to be much smaller in turf racing and thus leaves the door open for more chaos, and in turn, larger payouts.

Opening Night Full Card Selections

Canterbury Park- Race 1

Post: 5:07 PM CT; $13k Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 7

• #4 N. K. ROCKET MAN (2-1) gets the top selection. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #3 IMA HARLEY TOO (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group.
• #1 JUST BLAZE (12-1) is a price horse and isn't without hope. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one goes out for the Scherer barn and gets Murray in the irons.
• #5 MISHKO (6-1) feels like he’s in with a reasonable chance. He makes sense on speed figures. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 1 – 5

Canterbury Park- Race 2

Post: 5:37 PM CT; $50k 10,000 Lakes S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

The 2023 renewal of the 10,000 Lakes Stakes will have big shoes to fill after the 2022 edition finished with an intense stretch duel that saw Dame Plata and Thealligatorhunter finish in a dead heat.

• #1 DOCTOR OSCAR (1-1) is the top pick. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 THEALLIGATORHUNTER (8-5) is back to defend his co-crown in this spot. He should be forwardly placed in this race and absolutely makes sense based on some of the back speed numbers.
• #2 HOT SHOT KID (10-1) is yet another defending champ in the race. He took down the 2019 and 2020 renditions of the race. It’s been a while since he’s been at that level but these old war horses are what make local tracks such a great place to watch the races.
• #5 XAVEY DAVE (10-1) is a horse that could be in a position to get into the number base on some of the recent efforts he’s put in.

Selections: 1 – 4 – 2 – 5

Canterbury Park- Race 3

Post: 6:07 PM CT; $10.5k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 MY NOAH (8-5) looks best here. He runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Diodoro and Lara.
• #3 BIRDIE MACHINE (9-5) appears to be a major player in this race. He has a very grinding style that should give him options. The 6 furlongs has been a good distance for this runner in the past.
• #2 NEW DICE (9-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 RANGER GUS (6-1) feels like he could become a factor. In a race where a lot of runners are very balanced, perhaps the rail draw can coax a little extra speed and get this one winging on an early lead.

Selections: 4 – 3 – 2 – 1

Canterbury Park- Race 4

Post: 6:37 PM CT; $27k Maiden Special Weight going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #1 RUSSIAN TOTHE WIRE (4-1) gets the top selection. She has the foundation to get the 6 furlongs.
• #5 MIZ CALI (9-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #4 ALLOTROPE (7-2) goes out for the Joel Berndt barn and gets Roman in the irons. The price is a bit short but the horse makes sense.
• #3 CONTATA SONATA (6-1) debuts here for the Biehler barn and gets 2022 champion jockey Harry Hernandez to get the leg up. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 4 – 3

Canterbury Park- Race 5

Post: 7:07 PM CT; $13k Claiming going 1 mile on turf; Entries: 8

• #3 CLUB MESQUITE (2-1) is the top pick. The recent competition says this one should be poised to make a run at this race.
• #6 GOPHER GOLD (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. Harry Hernandez gets the mount here and that is always a good sign.
• #8 CIBERTRUCK (4-1) could be in with a shot in this race. He should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders. This one definitely has the class to compete.
• #2 THICK HAZE (3-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. The price is too short for any type of win wager, but this one should be included in serious horizontal plays.

Selections: 3 – 6 – 8 – 2

Canterbury Park- Race 6

Post: 7:37 PM CT; $28k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #3 BOAT SONG (2-1) looks best here. He shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #4 RECKONING DAY (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #1 WARRIOR BOSS (9-2) seems to fit well enough here. This one goes out for the Berndt barn and gets Roman in the irons.
• #8 ASTRONAUT OSCAR (8-1) has proven he can hit the board under these conditions. He definitely makes sense to include in the underneath positions of vertical wagers.

Selections: 3 – 4 – 1 – 8

Canterbury Park- Race 7

Post: 8:07 PM CT; $12k Claiming going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 9

• #7 JEWEL AZUL (5-2) gets the top selection. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Woolley and Hernandez. This one looks to be the class of the field.
• #6 ELEGANCE N TONIC (3-1) goes out for the Rosin barn and gets Karlo Lopez in the irons.
• #2 MAY DISCO (12-1) is a price horse and will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here. The turf is in really good shape which could help these late runners dig in kick home.
• #1 BARBARA ROHLOFF (10-1) shouldn't have trouble with the 7 1/2 furlong distance. The draw isn’t ideal but will at least offer this runner the chance to save ground every step of the way.

Selections: 7 – 6 – 2 – 1

Canterbury Park- Race 8

Post: 8:37 PM CT; $32k Allowance going 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 12

• #7 OUT RUN'M (6-1) is the top pick. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. I like this one for the mild upset.
• #2 SILVER DASH (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has races good enough to beat this group. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #9 HAPPY HOUR BOBBY (6-1) is trained by Canterbury Park Hall of Famer and 2022 leading trainer Mac Robertson. Mac looks to Harry Hernandez for the ride on a horse with competitive speed figures. It’s hard to leave this one off your ticket.
• #12 ROSES BY LIAM (9-2) seems likely enough. The talent fits with these, but the wide post is a concern when a horse doesn’t otherwise stand above the others.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 9 – 12

Canterbury Park- Race 9

Post: 9:07 PM CT; $50k Lady Slipper S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #10 CHARLIE'S PENNY (7-5) looks best here. She could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #9 READY TO RUNAWAY (4-1) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. This one should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #7 CLICKBAIT (9-2) will likely show early speed and, like Hot Shot Kid earlier in the card, will look to make it a third victory in an opening night stakes. Clickbait won this race in both 2021 and 2022 joining Courtly Kathy, Nidari, Sentimental Charm, and Hidden Gold as the only 2 time winners of the event. If successful, he would become the lone horse to do it three times.
• #1 MOLLY'S ANGEL (8-1) seems to be running for the minor placings in this contest. She has solid early pace figures but just might not be fast enough to keep up with some of these.

Selections: 10- 9 – 7 – 1

Horse Racing Action Around the Country

Looking to play elsewhere this weekend? Not to fear Betting News has you covered with free AI generated handicapping and analysis from tracks around the country. Visit horses.bettingnews.com to see a full list of the handicapped tracks.