Fantastic Feelyn (#3) was declared the winner of the $55,900 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity on Sunday after Fly With A Buzz was disqualified and placed fourth for interference.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN – SEPTEMBER 2, 2018 - The day after his 2018 induction into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame, owner and breeder Rodney Von Ohlen was in the winner’s circle again, this time to celebrate the win of his Fantastic Feelyn in the $55,900 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity.

It was a Von Ohlen exacta in the second of two Minnesota-bred stakes races on Festival of Champions Day at Canterbury Park on Sunday afternoon. Von Ohlen also bred the runner-up and morning line favorite, Ali Returns.

Fantastic Feelyn ($19.00) was the higher price of the two Von Ohlen horses. Jockey Nik Goodwin had the call for trainer Ed Hardy, and the pair covered the 350-yard distance in 18.729 to earn a 72 speed index.

Fantastic Feelyn is a 2-year-old daughter of Fantastic Corona Jr and is out of Fly Eyeann, by Fly Jess Fly. Fly Eyeann also won the Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity in 2012.

Tiffany Leggett, daughter of Canterbury Park Hall of Fame jockey Tad Leggett, presents the winning connections of Fantastic Feelyn the Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity stakes trophy.
© Coady Photography

Ed Hardy trains for the Von Ohlens and conditioned both Fantastic Feelyn and Ali Returns. It was the 11th win in the Minnesota Futurity for Hardy, who is also in the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame and introduced Von Ohlen in Saturday night’s induction ceremony.

Of the winning gelding, Hardy remarked that he “liked this horse most, but had some issues early and we had to go slow with him.” The gelding had only raced once prior to Sunday’s win, finishing second in hand to Holy Storm, who returned to run alongside Fantastic Feelyn in the Futurity.

Ali Returns had public support after breaking her maiden in her third and most recent start and defeating several horses who returned to run in the Futurity. The High Rate of Return filly is out of the Shazoom mare Alikazam.

The connections had to sweat out the win, however. The unofficial first place finisher, Fly With a Buzz, was eventually disqualified and placed fourth for interference with Runnoft, who was moved up to third.

Runnoft, from the Lexon Backhaus barn, is owned by Briannah McDaniel. The 2-year-old gelding was bred by Dennis Dallman, by Bp Phoenix Reign and out of Max Seen, by The Grinder.

Completing the field were Fly With a Buzz, Haute Wagon, Lil Miss Hott Pants, Holy Storm and Trs Boy Named Sue.