Canterbury Park Saturday: Festival of Champions Analysis

Canterbury Park ranks up there among the industry leaders in horseplayer friendly tracks. On Saturday the park will host its championship festival.

Canterbury Successes

Canterbury Park does not have the quality of horses that the bigger tracks like Del Mar, Saratoga, and Keeneland get. However, the track has carved out a nice niche by producing a great product and player friendly wagers.

Industry Low Takeout

For the last several years Canterbury has explored lowering takeout rates on the very popular pick 5 wager. Their 10% takeout was the lowest in any wager anywhere in the country.

In 2o22 they extended the 10% takeout to also include the early pick 4 in thoroughbred races 1-4. The end result is bigger pools and more money back in the pockets of winners.

Canterbury Park- Race 1

Post: 4:10 PM CT; $22k Maiden Claiming going 5 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 11

• #6 PROTONIC AND GIN (5-2) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #1 BURNING LEAVES (4-1) debuts here and has to be respected going out for the combination of Berndt and Quinonez.
• #3 NOTORIOUS MRSECRET (9-2) looks like a reasonable first time starter to be in the number.
• #4 LEAOFLITTLEFAITH (6-1) is a pedigree play on debut.

Selections: 6 – 1 – 3 – 4

Canterbury Park- Race 2

Post: 4:41 PM CT; $35k Maiden Special Weight going 5 furlongs on turf; Entries: 8

• #4 SUMMER FIREFLYS (2-1) should be sitting in the second tier of runners and looking to make one well timed run at the leaders.
• #8 BAILOUT KELA (9-5) has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #6 CHAPLAIN (5-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #3 CHOCOLATE FRECKLES (9-2) should really like turf sprinting and should be able to carry her speed over the distance.

Selections: 4 – 8 – 6 – 3

Canterbury Park- Race 3

Post: 5:12 PM CT; $100k Northern Lights Debutante S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 5

• #3 THUNDERS ROCKNROLL (3-5) should improve off the first start and looks best here.
• #1 CUPIDS CRUSH (2-1) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures.
• #5 LOVER GIRL (6-1) runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #4 CHECKCASHINGCONNIE (8-1) comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 5 – 4

Canterbury Park- Race 4

Post: 5:43 PM CT; $36k Allowance going 7 1/2 furlongs on turf; Entries: 10

• #2 LORING PARK (5-2) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #7 ANGEL'S MAGIC (9-2) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #9 NORTH ARM BAY (12-1) is a price horse and projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #8 MR. D'S LEGEND (8-1) will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run.

Selections: 2 – 7 – 9 – 8

Canterbury Park- Race 5

Post: 6:14 PM CT; $22k Maiden Claiming going 5 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #10 ELLE'S LIL DIVA (9-2) should improve off the first start. The debut appears a productive one.
• #5 SHARPENED (5-2) should be part of the early pace in this spot.
• #9 TATUM'S JOURNEY (7-2) is well bred for this spot.
• #1 JOMAMA SASSY (10-1) has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 10- 5 – 9 – 1

Canterbury Park- Race 6

Post: 6:45 PM CT; $100k Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship S. going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 8

• #3 MIDNIGHT CURRENT (6-5) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #5 LET'S SKEDADDLE (4-1) could get the right setup in this race.
• #4 SCENT OF SUCCESS (7-2) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #2 MOLLY'S ANGEL (6-1) projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 4 – 2

Canterbury Park- Race 7

Post: 7:16 PM CT; $100k Blair's Cove Minnesota Turf Championship S. going 1 1/16 miles on turf; Entries: 12

• #12 HOT SHOT KID (12-1) is a price horse and has to be respected going out for the combination of Robertson and Eikleberry.
• #1 TWOKO BAY (4-1) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #9 BENS MALICE (8-1) will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #6 ZOE'S DELIGHT (6-1) seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 12- 1 – 9 – 6

Canterbury Park- Race 8

Post: 7:47 PM CT; $100k Northern Lights Futurity going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #1 IT'S BOBS BUSINESS (7-5) should improve off the first start and is the top pick. He has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #5 HAND PAY (10-1) comes into the race in really good form.
• #7 SCATAMARAN (9-2) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 SIR STERLING (6-1) should be part of the early pace in this spot and got foundation off the debut.

Selections: 1 – 5 – 7 – 4

Canterbury Park- Race 9

Post: 8:18 PM CT; $100k Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #3 THEALLIGATORHUNTER (2-1) looks best here. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #8 LOVE THE NEST (7-2) has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #1 DAME PLATA (5-1) may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #7 DOCTOR OSCAR (4-1) seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 3 – 8 – 1 – 7

Canterbury Park- Race 10

Post: 8:49 PM CT; $100k Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint Championship S. going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #5 CHARLIE'S PENNY (7-2) gets the top selection based on recent form.
• #2 READY TO RUNAWAY (2-1) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #1 CLICKBAIT (7-5) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #6 STAR OF THE NORTH (15-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.

Selections: 5 – 2 – 1 – 6

Canterbury Park- Race 11

Post: 9:20 PM CT; $70k Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity going 350 yards on dirt; Entries: 10

• #2 BEEP BEEP REV REV (8-5) has races good enough to beat this group.
• #6 RELENTLESS FLASH (9-2) draws well from the middle.
• #1 BLU BYE U (10-1) seems to fit well enough here.
• #8 PEACEFUL REIGN (8-1) could break well and be in with a shot.

Selections: 2 – 6 – 1 – 8

Canterbury Park- Race 12

Post: 9:50 PM CT; $60k Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby going 400 yards on dirt; Entries: 10

• #7 RELENTLESS LEGACY (9-2) looks best here on the numbers.
• #10 RELENTLESS COURAGE (4-1) has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #9 MICHAEL B (5-1)seems to fit well enough here.
• #2 TRIPPIN GUNS (3-1) comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 7 – 10- 9 – 2