Hall of Fame trainers Olmstead and Hardy look for fast start
With seven thoroughbred race days already in the books, Canterbury Park will begin the mixed meet portion of its 51-day season Wednesday. Nine races have been carded, seven for thoroughbreds and two for Minnesota bred quarter horses, the $29,000 North Star State Futurity and the $29,000 North Star State Derby. Racing begins at 5:10 p.m. central.
Canterbury Park’s top quarter horse trainers by all-time wins and purse earnings, Jason Olmstead and Ed Ross Hardy, will be represented with Olmstead saddling three in the Futurity and two in the Derby. Hardy has one entered in the 400-yard Derby, Eos Keep Dreamin, winner of last year’s Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity.
The North Star State Futurity and Derby will be run for the fifth time. Olmstead has won each three times. Hardy won the 2023 North Star State Derby. Trainer Pat Swan who won the Futurity last season, will saddle Holy Dynasty in that race Saturday.
Jjs Sweet and Sassy, trained by Tyler Stein, is the morning line favorite in the Derby’s field of eight at 5 to 2 odds. The filly, who most recently won a conditioned allowance at Remington Park at 45 to 1, will be ridden by James Flores.
Eos Keep Dreamin, 5 to 1, has not raced since the win last year. Angel Ramirez, aboard for each of four career starts, has the mount for Hardy.
Da Lie Lah, often plagued with trouble at the start, draws the rail for Olmstead with Armando Alvidrez riding. The sorrel filly, owned and bred by Lunderborg LLC, is a full sister to many
accomplished state breds including Dickey Bob, the all-time leading Minnesota bred money earner with $512,719 in purses. Olmstead also trains Shes Hell Bent who will make her seasonal debut after a win and a third-place finish from two starts at Canterbury in 2024.
Del Cartel, trained by Haley Hobbs, is the only winner of the eight entered in the 300-yard North Star State Futurity. Three will make their first starts and the other four have run just one race each. Del Cartel’s win came in his third career start at Remington Park at 19 to 1 odds. He will be ridden by Fernando Fonseca-Soto.
The Futurity morning line favorite at 5 to 2, Sophey, will break from the rail under Alvidrez for Olmstead. Lunderborg LLC is the owner and breeder of this filly who finished third in her only start at Remington Park.
Holy Dynasty is a half brother to last season’s winner Kiss My White Socks, both out of the dam Holy White Socks. He is owned by breeder Dan Kjorsvik. Jockey Alfredo Triana, Jr., aboard the 2024 winner, has the mount on Holy Dynasty.
Quarter horse races will be conducted on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the season with the final races, the Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby and Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity, Sept. 6. Canterbury’s season began with thoroughbred racing May 24 and will conclude Sept. 20.
By The Numbers at Canterbury Park
Ed Ross Hardy – 1,592 starts – 365 wins – $4,120,733 earnings – 12 leading trainer titles
Jason Olmstead – 1,214 starts – 234 wins – $4,515,674 earnings – 10 leading trainer titles
