Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge winner Corona Springs will head a full field in the $25,000 Skip Zimmerman Stakes on Friday at Canterbury Park.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN—AUGUST 9, 2018—Jason Olmstead has locked up another leading training title at Canterbury Park and sends out four of the ten entries in Friday evening’s $25,000 Skip Zimmerman Stakes.

The Skip Zimmerman is a 350-yard event open to 3-year-olds and up with preference by earnings in 2017 and 2018.

Olmstead will send out Corona Springs, recent winner of the Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge in July. Current leading Quarter Horse jockey Cristian Esqueda has the call as the 4-year-old Corona Cartel filly will look for her third straight victory. All her three career wins have come at Canterbury; though she has won at 300 yards and 400 yards, she has yet to win at Friday’s distance of 350 yards.

First of 15 will also start for the Olmstead barn, this time with Denny Velazquez aboard. The Apollitical Jess filly made waves earlier this year when she won three consecutive races at Canterbury, including the $34,000 Gopher State Derby, and was second in the $317,000 Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby in April.

First of 15 failed to fire in her last start, the $78,000 Canterbury Park Derby, finishing fifth as the post-time favorite. However, the 3-year-old is six for eight in the money in Minnesota and has earned over $113,000 in her career to date.

Bout Tree Fiddy is the morning-line favorite after an impressive 2018 Canterbury campaign that includes a third-place finish in the $49,000 Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge and second-place finishes in the Dash in a Flash Stakes and in an allowance race. The 4-year-old gelded son of Ivory James has competed in multiple stakes at Remington and Will Rogers, with earnings of $158,294 in 24 career starts and five wins.

Last year’s running of the Skip Zimmerman was won by The Fiscal Cliff, who used the race as a prep for his win in the Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge before continuing to win the Grade 1 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows. His performances in the Skip Zimmerman and regional Championship Challenge led him to receive Canterbury Park Quarter Horse of the Meet honors for 2017.

The $25,000 Skip Zimmerman Stakes is Race 2 on Friday evening at Canterbury Park. Estimated post time is 6:43 pm CT.

The field, by post position, with trainer, jockey and morning-line odds:

1. Olivias Jett, Patrick Swan, Nik Goodwin, 15-1
2. Bye Byefreighttrain, Shawna Manriquez, Roberto Valero, 10-1
3. First of 15, Jason Olmstead, Denny Velazquez, 6-1
4. Gold Diggin Queen, Bob Johnson, Jake Samuels, 6-1
5. Jr Rock Star, Jason Olmstead, Nakia Ramirez, 8-1
6. Bout Tree Fiddy, Patrick Swan, Brayan Velazquez, 7-2
7. Htr Miamor Tequilla, Ed Hardy, Berkley Packer, 9-2
8. La Mos Pyc, Lori Harris, Marcus Swiontek, 15-1
9. Painted Dynasty, Jason Olmstead, Julian Serrano, 12-1
10. Corona Springs, Jason Olmstead, Cristian Esqueda, 5-1
11. Also Eligible: Marfilmio, Vic Hanson, Ismael Suarez Ricardo, 10-1
12. Also Eligible: Eos Wing Man, Ed Hardy, Jorge Torres, 12-1
13. Also Eligible: Fowl Play, Bob Johnson, Jake Samuels, 15-1
14. Also Eligible: Jjsir James, Randy Weidner, Marcus Swiontek, 20-1

The 2018 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse stakes schedule includes 16 stakes races worth over $660,000.

Live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing continues through Saturday, September 15, 2018. The 70-day race meet offers racing on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings at 6:30 pm CT and Saturday afternoons at 12:45 pm CT through August. Quarter horse racing is held at the beginning of each race card.