Uncle Redheads and jockey Armando Alvidrez post the fastest qualifying time for the $40,000 Canterbury Park Derby on Thursday at Canterbury Park.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SHAKOPEE, MN–AUGUST 6, 2026–Uncle Redheads posted the fastest qualifying time from two trials for the $36,675 Canterbury Park Derby on Thursday at Canterbury Park. The trials were contested at 400 yards for 3-year-old Quarter Horses, with the final scheduled for August 20.

Ridden by Armando Alvidrez, Uncle Redheads won the second trial for owner Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC and trainer Jason Olmstead. The sorrel gelding dueled early before shaking free late to win by a length. He completed the 400 yards in :20.254, earning a 93 speed index over a fast track.

Bred by Charles and Elizabeth Horton, Uncle Redheads is sired by Uncle D and out of the One Sweet Jess mare Redheads Run Hotter. He now has a record of 15-8-4-1 with earnings of $254,487.

An experienced stakes runner, Uncle Redheads has already captured multiple stakes events, including the Grade 3 Mr Master Bug Stakes and Grade 3 Valley Junction Futurity.

Ding Dang Dulce recorded the second-fastest qualifying time after winning the opening trial under Fernando Fonseca-Soto. The sorrel gelding took command near mid-stretch and held off a late bid from Holliewood to prevail by a neck in :20.265, earning a 92 speed index.

Owned and trained by Haley Hobbs, Ding Dang Dulce is a $10,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate. Bred by Neff Hogue Farm LLC, he is sired by champion Dulce Sin Tacha and out of the winning Valiant Hero mare Valiant Strawfly, a half-sister to Grade 2 Dash For Cash Derby winner Captain Strawfly ($166,129). His third dam is three-time champion AB What A Runner ($1,342,389).

Ding Dang Dulce has compiled a record of 13-6-2-1 with earnings of $93,292. A winner of last year's Northlands Futurity, he is seeking his first stakes victory of the season. He has also placed in multiple stakes events, including the Grade 3 Laico Bird Stakes and Grade 3 Easy Jet Stakes.

Holliewood finished a neck behind Ding Dang Dulce to record the third-fastest qualifying time of :20.314 with a 91 speed index. After vying early, the filly drifted out in mid-stretch before re-bidding gamely and narrowly missing the win.
Also ridden by Alvidrez, Holliewood is trained by Jason Olmstead for breeder Tom Maher, who co-owns the filly with Bill Maher. A $31,000 repurchase at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale, she is sired by champion Hes Relentless and out of stakes winner Apollitical Mogul ($234,508), by Apollitical Jess.

Holliewood has a record of 8-3-2-1 with earnings of $39,432. Still seeking her first stakes victory, she finished second in the MQHRA Stallion Auction Futurity and third in the Northlands Futurity.

The $40,000 Canterbury Park Derby final is scheduled for Thursday, August 20.

VIEW FULL LIST OF QUALIFIERS HERE. 

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