Relentless Rocket has been set as the 9-5 morning-line favorite for the $42,300 Canterbury Park Derby on Thursday.

© Coady Media

By Louanne Wainscott/Stallionesearch

Race 3 – Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby Finals

Post Time: 6:06 P.M. (CDT)
Distance: 400 yards
Purse: $42,300 added

The 9-5 morning line favorite, Relentless Rocket, headlines the field. The Hes Relentless gelding, out of Mai Corona by Corona Cartel, was bred in South Dakota by Tom and Bill Maher. He boasts six wins from fourteen starts with career earnings of $97,395. His résumé includes victories in the 2024 Northlands Futurity, the Valley Junction Juvenile Stakes, and a strong third-place finish in this year’s Prairie Meadows Gold Derby. Trained by Jason L. Olmstead—who saddles five entrants in this final—Relentless Rocket stormed into the trials with a commanding 1 ¾-length victory, the fastest time of the heats. He will break from post two under jockey Ramiro H. Garcia.

Breaking just to his inside, Venetian Cowgirl (Flying Cowboy 123–Venetian Paradise, by Pappasito) enters as the second-fastest qualifier. The filly, conditioned by Fernando Ivan Manriquez and ridden by Miguel J. Ramirez, scored her trial win by a neck and has matured well into her Derby campaign. With four wins from twelve starts and $49,282 in earnings, she’ll look to challenge the favorite from the rail.

With a competitive field of ten, the Canterbury Park Derby Finals promises to be a wide-open test of speed and determination over the classic 400-yard distance.

Race 4 – Northlands Futurity Finals

Post Time: 6:34 P.M. (CDT)
Distance: 350 yards
Purse: $71,300 added

The Northlands Futurity Finals brings together a stellar cast of two-year-olds, led by Ding Dang Dulce, the 2-1 morning line choice. The Dulce Sin Tacha gelding, out of Valiant Strawfly by Valiant Hero, has already built a strong résumé with two wins, including his trial heat, and placings in the (G3) Laico Bird Stakes (2nd) and the (G3) Easy Jet Stakes (3rd). Owned and trained by Haley N. Hobbs, Ding Dang Dulce has earned $43,310 from five starts since being purchased for $10,000 at the Heritage Place Sale. Regular rider Fernando Fonseca-Soto has the call from post four.

Right beside him in post five will be his trial rival, Ur Favorite Tio, the 3-1 morning line second choice. The Uncle D gelding, out of Fernweh by Favorite Cartel, is trained by Jason L. Olmstead and owned by Tom Maher. Purchased for $31,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, he has already captured the $57,000 MQHRA Stallion Auction Futurity and earned $28,748. Gonzalo R. Valles, Jr. will ride.

Adding further intrigue is Holliewood, another Olmstead trainee who enters as the 4-1 third choice. The filly by Hes Relentless out of Apollitical Mogul (by Apollitical Jess) has been nearly perfect in four career starts, winning three and finishing second once. Racing from the rail under Armando Alvidrez for owners Tom and Bill Maher, Holliewood could very well spring the upset.

With ten top qualifiers lining up, the $71,300 Northlands Futurity Finals promises a high-stakes dash where a blanket finish is not out of the question.

The Canterbury Park Races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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