Racing


Lotta James Steps Up In Dash In A Flash Stakes
Lota James (#5) gets up at the wire over Diva Candy Girl (#6) in the $17,500 Dash In A Flash Stakes Saturday afternoon at Canterbury Park.

© Coady Photography
Lotta James Steps Up In Dash In A Flash Stakes

SHAKOPEE, MN—JULY 15, 2017—Lotta James, who two races back started for a $12,5000 tag at Remington Park, prevailed over Divas Candy Girl to win the $17,500 Dash In A Flash Stakes Saturday afternoon at Canterbury Park. Posttime-favorite Bye Byefreighttrain finished a neck back in the blanket finish to take third.

Ridden by jockey Nik Goodwin, Lotta James scooted over the 110 yards in a quick :6.987 clocking into a 15-mph headwind to earn a 98-speed index. It was the fifth career win in 17 starts for the son of multiple stakes sire Ivory James.

Saddled by trainer R. Allen Hybsha, Lotta James picked up $8,850 to boost his career mark to $46,044. The brown gelding races for owner Whiting Ranch. Steve Holt bred Lota James in Oklahoma from the Shazoom mare Lotawatah.

The winning connections of Lota James accept the Dash In A Flash Stakes trophy Saturday afternoon at Canterbury Park. © Coady Photography
Nik Goodwin's win in today's Dash In A Flash stakes makes him the all-time leading Quarter Horse jockey by wins at Canterbury Park, passing Ry Eikleberry's record. Goodwin, who was the track's leading QH rider in 2016 has 108 wins and 13 stakes victories at the Minnesota racetrack.

Diva Candy Girl, a stakes winning sister to four-time champion Spit Curl Diva, picked up $3,540 for her second-place effort. Jason Olmstead conditions the daughter of Spit Curl Jess for owner Thomas Scheckel.

Carl Pevehouse and Ezra Lee bred Divas Candy Girl in Oklahoma from the Some Dasher mare Some Kinda Diva. Danny Velazquez rode the earner of $83,075.

Kasey Willis saddled Bye Bye Freightrain to his third-place effort for owner/breeder L.P. Frank. Also, an Oklahoma-bred, the graded stakes winner by multiple stakes sire Freighttrain B was ridden by Cristian Esqueada. The $2,655 third-place check boosted Bye Bye Freightrain's earnings to $240,153.

Bye Bye Freighttrain is out of the Takin On The Cash mare Bye Bye Bygones.

Fast Eddys Eyeinyou, Dash For Number One, Ms Dynasty, Iowas Texan Tip and Fast Prize Janie completed the field.

Canterbury Park’s 67-day live mixed-breed meet runs May 5 through Sept. 16. The quarter horse season begins May 27 and runs through the Minnesota Festival of Champions Aug. 20. Additional information is available at canterburypark.com.