Canterbury Park Wednesday: Mystic Lake Derby Analysis and Selections

Wednesday night racing at Canterbury Park begins at 6:10 pm ET and features the Mystic Lake Derby. The midweek racing festival has drawn many recognizable names in racing to the Shakopee MN. Among these are trainers like Mike Maker, Steve Asmussen, and Belmont Stakes winning trainer, Brad Cox.

Wednesday Night’s Canterbury Park Racing Card

The Wednesday night card features 10 races including a string of 6 consecutive listed stakes races.

Canterbury is running a balanced card of races including 5 on their dirt course and 5 on their turf. The distances are also split down the middle with 5 sprints and 5 route races.

New players may recognize the voice of track announcer Paul Allen who is also the long-time radio play by play voice of the Minnesota Vikings.

Watch and Wager on Canterbury Park

The first race goes off 6:10 pm ET. Players hoping to watch and wager on the races can do so from race tracks around the country or on the family of Fox Sports Network as part of their program “America’s Day at the Races”.

To wager on the races players can open an account with a major online wagering platform such as TVG, NYRA Bets, or Twinspires. Almost all of the wagering platforms provide incentives for new players so review each provider to see which will give you the best benefit to join.

The Mystic Lake Derby

The Mystic Lake Derby is Canterbury Park’s crown jewel and is set to go off around 9:40 pm ET. The race is run at 1 mile on turf. The race is run for a purse of $150,000. Much of the money comes from a partnership with local casino, Mystic Lake.

This year’s running features a number of talented runners from across the country. T D Dance was installed as the 5-2 favorite. The three year old colt runs for Brad Cox and will be ridden by Florent Geroux. The horse last showed an amazing turn of foot in a listed stakes race at Pimlico, blowing the doors off the competition.

Analysis of the Canterbury Park Card

Most Wide Open Race

Race 1 looks on paper to be the most wide open of the day from top to bottom. Although this claiming sprint on the dirt for older fillies and mares only has 6 runners, it genuinely looks like a race where almost everyone has a chance.

This race looks to have a lot of front running speed signed on including the favored runner #5 A Roze and Wine. She will have to deal with another speed ball just to her outside and has a quick tactical horse just to her inside.

If the pace really gets cooking up front, the race could set up for one of the off the pace runners. However, if the leaders back it down and save the running for the end, it could very well be a merry-go-round.

A lack of clarity in the pace scenario makes this race a really tough one to peg.

Best Bet of the Day

• Race 5: #6 Star of the North (9/5) is one of the few in this race with bonafide racing credentials. The race is a bit tricky because it combines so many lightly raced runners. Some are maidens while others, including the favorite, have multiple victories. I’m leaning on experience to carry the race.

Live Long Shots

• Race 2: #6 Off Sixes (8-1) Luis Negron is on fire winning 27% of his races and hitting the board in over half of those. The 5 year old narrowly missed against this level last out.
• Race 3: #4 Heart Full of Soul (8-1) is in the care of Canterbury Park’s top connections with Luis Negron and Mac Robertson. The trainer is 21% on grass and the breeding suggests that the horse could take to it.
• Race 6: #7 Best Kept Secret (8-1) returns to the barn of Robert Cline where she won her last two turf starts before switching trainers. The recent speed figures are dirt, but they are competitive with the field and 8-1 it is well worth the risk.
• Race 9: #6 Just a Kiss Away (8-1) makes her 2nd start after winning on debut. Horses frequently improve significantly off their first start. If she jumps forward off of her first effort she will be very competitive here.

Canterbury Park Expert Selections

Understanding the Picks

Horses are listed in order of preference.

• * Indicates the best bet of the day
• (LS) Indicates live long shots

Selections

• Race 1: 4-5-6-3
• Race 2: 6 (LS)-1-8-3
• Race 3: 9-5-4 (LS)-3
• Race 4: 7-8-5-1
• Race 5: 6*-3-5-7
• Race 6: 8-5-7 (LS)-6
• Race 7: 3-1-9-4
• Race 8: 6-2-8-5
• Race 9: 1-7-6 (LS)-3-8
• Race 10: 4-7-8-5

Canterbury Park Late Pick 5

Canterbury Park offers the lowest takeout in the country on pick 5 and pick 6 wagers. This means more money goes back to bettors.

Playing these wagers sends a strong message to the industry to lower a really challenging takeout rate for players to beat. Considering using the ticket below to support player-friendly wagers this Wednesday night.

Late Pick 5 Ticket

Legs or races are separated by slashes. The bet begins in race 6.

• 5,7,8/1,3,4,9/2,6/1,3,6,7/4,7 ($96)

Canterbury Park will run Tuesday night, Thursday night, and Sunday afternoon in addition to the Wednesday night stakes card.