$200k Mystic Lake Derby headlines June 22 program that includes five stakes
Nominations closed Friday for five stakes races that will be run at Canterbury Park Saturday, June 22. The five stakes making up the Mystic Lake Northern Stars Racing Festival will pay a total of $500,000 in purse money, with the eighth running of the Mystic Lake Derby offering $200,000 alone.
Twenty-one 3-year olds were nominated to the Mystic Lake Derby, a one-mile turf race. Nominations include Spectralight, trained by Brian House, who is cross-nominated for the Lady Canterbury Stakes. She is the only filly to be nominated to the derby following a strong workout on the Canterbury turf June 13. Spectralight, bred in Ireland, has raced exclusively in Italy winning two stakes on the turf in 2018. Winning Number, also trained by House, has been nominated. He is undefeated in two dirt sprint races.
The $100,000 Lady Canterbury, at one mile on the turf for fillies and mares, is being run for the 27th time. The $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile, also on turf, attracted 49 nominations.
“There are many quality horses nominated again this year,” said Stakes Coordinator Amber Fontenot. “We have had strong interest both locally and nationally. Full fields will make for an exciting night of racing under the stars.”
The $50,000 Dark Star Cup has 21 nominations and the $50,000 Hoist Her Flag Stakes has 26. Nominations include mare Puntsville, who has won the Hoist Her Flag the past two years.
The Mystic Lake Derby was first run in 2012 following the signing of a cooperative marketing and purse enhancement agreement earlier that summer between Canterbury Park and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, owners and operators of Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. The agreement calls for SMSC to contribute more than $70 million to horsemen purses over 10 years and has more than doubled the annual purse payments.
Entries for June 22 will be taken this Wednesday for the 11-race card that will have a special 5:00 p.m. first post.
