Canterbury Park will host the $29,000 North Star State Futurity and the $29,000 North Star State Derby for statebreds on Tuesday evening's program.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

SHAKOPEE, MN–JUNE 7, 2025–Canterbury Park will showcase the rising stars of Minnesota-bred Quarter Horse racing on Tuesday, June 11, with a compelling double feature: the $29,000 North Star State Futurity and the $29,000 North Star State Derby.

Both races, restricted to state-bred juveniles and sophomores, respectively, highlight the strength of the local breeding program and offer fans an evening packed with promising talent and competitive fields under the lights at the Shakopee oval.

North Star State Futurity Draws Competitive Field for June 11 at Canterbury Park

A field of promising two-year-old Quarter Horses will line up under the lights at Canterbury Park on Tuesday for the running of the $29,000 North Star State Futurity.

Carded as Race 9 with a post time of 9:10 PM CDT, the 300-yard dash is open to registered Minnesota-breds and serves as a key early test for juveniles bred in the state.

The purse includes contributions from the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association (MQHRA) and the Minnesota Breeders’ Fund.

Leading the field as the morning line favorite at odds of 5-2 is Sophey, a homebred filly racing for Bruce Lunderborg’s Lunderborg LLC. Trained by Jason L. Olmstead and ridden by Armando Alvidrez, the daughter of for-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Sweet Carol Line by Moonin The Eagle made her racing debut at Remington Park on May 10.

She finished third in a maiden event, earning a Speed Index of 81 and a check for $2,481. In that start, Sophey battled gamely throughout the stretch before being edged out in a tight finish. She has recorded three workouts this spring, including a sharp :12.06 drill in early March at Will Rogers Downs.

The second choice on the morning line at 3-1 is Del Cartel, a homebred gelding owned and bred by Cesar Albino Martinez. The son of multiple stakes sire Five Bar Cartel out of Make Me a Mojito by Make It Anywhere comes into the futurity with the most racing experience in the field, having made three starts.

He broke his maiden in his most recent outing on May 28 at Remington Park, drawing clear in a professional effort under jockey Fernando Fonseca-Soto to win a $20,000 Maiden Claiming. Del Cartel is trained by Haley Hobbs and has earned $10,015 thus far.

Rounding out the top three contenders on the morning line is Holy Dynasty, listed at 9-2. Bred and owned by Daniel Kjorsvik, the sorrel gelding is by FDD Dynasty and out of the Thoroughbred mare Holy White Socks, a daughter of Polished Brass.

Holy Dynasty made his debut on May 10 at Remington Park in the same race as Sophey, finishing sixth in a ten-horse field. Trained by Patrick Swan and to be ridden by Alfredo Triana Jr., Holy Dynasty has a modest bankroll of $365 but turned in a solid 330-yard work at Remington on May 25, suggesting improvement is possible with experience.

The North Star State Futurity is limited to ten starters and gives preference to horses with the highest earnings at time of entry. The winning owner will receive 45% of the purse, with distribution extending to tenth place.

The race is expected to showcase emerging Minnesota-bred talent, and with several runners making their second career start or debut, it promises to be a highly competitive event. Full results will be available on StallioneSearch.com shortly after the race.

Da Lie Lah, Jjs Sweet and Sassy, L Conejo Headline Tuesday’s $29,000 North Star State Derby

A trio of standout Minnesota-bred 3-year-olds are set to face off in Tuesday night’s $29,000 North Star State Derby at Canterbury Park. Scheduled as Race 8 on the card with a post time of 8:40 PM CDT, the 400-yard contest is limited to ten starters and offers state-bred sophomores the opportunity to showcase their speed in one of the marquee local events of the season.

Leading the field as the 3-1 morning line favorite is Da Lie Lah, a sorrel filly owned and bred by Bruce Lunderborg of Lunderborg LLC. Trained by Jason L. Olmstead and set to be ridden by Armando Alvidrez, Da Lie Lah brings a record of six starts in 2024, including a win, a second, and a third-place finish.

She has earned $25,361, nearly all at Canterbury Park, and is by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of the stakes-winning mare Paint Or More, a daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon.

She was second in the $40,000 Minnesota Futurity and a finalist in the $80,000 Northland Futurity last year. This race will be her 3-year-old debut.

A sharp recent work over 220 yards in :11.87 on May 28 indicates she may be ready to fire her best shot on Derby night.

Drawn just to her outside and installed as the 5-2 second choice is Jjs Sweet And Sassy, a homebred filly racing for owner-breeder Jerry Oxner. The black filly by champion sire One Valiant Hero out of April Is Special, by One Sweet Jess, enters off a hard-fought win in a Remington Park allowance event on May 1.

Trained by Tyler Stein and piloted by champion jockey James Flores, she narrowly prevailed in that race, stopping the clock in16.684 over 330 yards while recording a 93 Speed Index. With two wins, a second, and a third from five starts, she brings total earnings of $30,435 into the Derby. Her juvenile campaign included a runner-up effort in the North Star State Futurity and finalist in the Minnesota Futurity.

The 7-2 third choice is L Conejo, a consistent gelding owned and trained by Haley Hobbs. Bred by Jaqueline Moreno, L Conejo is by One Sweet Jess and out of Bunny Run Now, a daughter of I Want It Now. With ten career starts under his belt, L Conejo has one win, three seconds, and two third-place finishes for earnings of $29,269.

He was narrowly beaten in a 400-yard $30,000 Claimer at Remington Park in April, clocking a fast time and earning a Speed Index of 86 in defeat. A familiar face at Canterbury, he was also a finalist in the Northland Futurity and Minnesota Futurity picking up a win and a pair of placings during the 2024 meet.

The North Star State Derby is restricted to Minnesota-bred Quarter Horses foaled in 2022, with weight assignments set at 125 pounds. The $29,000 purse includes contributions from both the Minnesota Quarter Horse Racing Association and the Minnesota Breeders’ Fund. Prize money will be distributed among the top ten finishers, with 45% going to the winner. Preference in the field was given to horses with the highest total earnings at entry time.

Track conditions are expected to be fast on Tuesday evening, with a competitive group of state-bred 3-year-olds ready to line up under the Canterbury Park lights for one of the track’s signature Quarter Horse events.

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