Under jockey Ramiro Haro Garcia, Relentless Rocket posted the fastest time from two trials this evening for the $42,300 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SHAKOPEE, MN—AUGUST 7, 2025—Relentless Rocket and Venetian Cowgirl posted the two fastest qualifying times in a pair of 400-yard trials held Thursday at Canterbury Park to determine the field for the $42,300 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby final on August 21.

The 10 fastest 3-year-olds from the two heats will return for the stakes finale.

Relentless Rocket broke sharply from the rail in the opening trial under jockey Ramiro Haro Garcia, quickly establishing a clear lead, finishing unthreatened by three-quarters of a length in 20.178, the fastest time of the day.

The multiple stakes winning gelding by champion sire Hes Relentless out of Mai Corona, by Corona Cartel, is owned by Tom Maher and trained by Jason L. Olmstead.

Bred in South Dakota by Tom &/ Bill Maher, Relentless Rocket entered the race off a strong performance at Prairie Meadows  Gold Derby and continued his winning form with Thursday’s decisive score.

He has won six of 14 career starts, including last year's Northlands Futurity at Canterbury Park. He has banked $97,395.

The second trial produced the next-fastest qualifier as Venetian Cowgirl surged late to win by a nose in 20.226. Ridden by Miguel Josue Ramirez, the sorrel filly by leading third-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Venetian Paradise, by Pappasito, tracked the leader through most of the race before getting up in the final stride.

She is owned and bred in Oklahoma by Carl W. Marlow and is conditioned by Fernando Ivan Manriquez. Venetian Cowgirl entered the trials off trial and allowance placings at Remington Park earlier this year. She has four wins and has earned nearly $50,000.

The $42,300 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby final will be contested Thursday, August 21, at 400 yards, with the top 10 qualifiers from today's trials returning to vie for the winner’s share of the purse.

CLICK HERE for the complete list with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

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