Dickey Bob, under jockey Denny Velazquez, easily winning the $55,200 Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby Sunday at Canterbury Park.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN—SEPTEMBER 2, 2018—No one was surprised to see Dickey Bob cross the wire first in the $55,200 Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby, but that did not make the win any less impressive. The 3-year-old gelding and jockey Denny Velazquez had the race won as soon as the gate opened and poured it on for the rest of the race to win by two and a half lengths, in hand.

Dickey Bob ($2.40) covered the 400-yard race in 20.307 and earned a 92 speed index. Dickey Bob is by leading sire Apollitical Jess and is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Paint or More.

Jen Perkins, Executive Director of the MQHRA, presents the winning connections of Dickey Bob the Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby stakes trophy.
© Coady Photography

For the last two starts, Dickey Bob has competed in Minnesota-restricted stakes open to 3-year-olds and up, which means that he has had to face his own full brother, 4-year-old Pyc Jess Bite Mydust. Dickey Bob has bested his brother in both starts after Pyc Jess Bite Mydust battled difficult breaks and still hit the board. 2016 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse of the Year Pyc Jess Bite Mydust was the 2017 winner of the Minnesota Derby, winning the race the same day that Dickey Bob won the 2017 Minnesota Futurity.

Dickey Bob is owned and bred by Bruce and Judy Lunderborg, who also bred and own Pyc Jess Bite Mydust and have another full sibling, a yearling, preparing to debut next year. In the post-race interview, the owners agreed that purse supplements for Minnesota-bred horses, due in large part to the track’s agreement with nearby Mystic Lake Casino, made it attractive to continue breeding and racing in the state.

Four-time leading Canterbury trainer Jason Olmstead trains the gelding.

The tight photo for second place separated second-place runner Itinkican Itinkican and third-place finisher Eos Marie Leveau.

Itinkican Itinkican is also trained by Jason Olmstead and was ridden by Marcus Swiontek for Paul and Maren Luedemann’s Summer Run, Inc. They also bred the 3-year-old filly, who is sired by Freighttrain B and is out of the Oak Tree Special mare Moonlight Masquerade.

It was a familiar view for Itinkican Itinkican; she finished second in last year’s Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity, also behind Dickey Bob. She has finished in the money in half of her 13 lifetime starts and has two career wins.

Eos Marie Leveau was edged out to gain third for trainer Ed Hardy and leading Thoroughbred jockey of the 2018 Canterbury Park meet, Ry Eikleberry. Corey Wilmes owns and bred the High Rate Of Return filly, who is out of the Chicks Beduino mare A Dream Chick.

Eos Marie Leveau was fourth in the Minnesota Futurity has posted several second-place finishes in older horse allowance races in 2018.

Completing the field were Polar Xpress, Streak N Sparks, This Trains Rockin and Calamady Jane.