SHAKOPOEE, MN—JULY 6, 2021—Multiple graded stakes winner Ms Esther picked her 11th career win Tuesday at Canterbury Park when she defeated Sw Artemisia in the $25,432 AQHA Canterbury Park Distance Challenge.

Forced in at the start, jockey Andrew Samaniego put the 7-year-old mare on the inside rail where she blew past early leader Sw Artemisia, while turning for home, to win going away by 5-˝ lengths. The daughter of Afrashad (TB) completed the 870 yards over a "muddy" course in :45.375 seconds, equaling a 103 speed index.

Trainer Victor Hanson saddled the Oklahoma-bred mare for owner Jordan Baumann. The $12,716 payday boosted her earnings total to $244,668. Duwyne and Janice Pfeifle bred Ms Esther from the Tres Seis mare Tres Down The Cash.

The win also earned Ms Esther her third consecutive trip to the Grade 1 $100,000-est. AQHA Distance Challenge Championship to be contested October 23rd at The Downs at Albuquerque. In 2019 she finished second that race.

Making her first start since finishing sixth in the Remington Park Distance Challenge(G2) on April 25th at Remington Park, runner-up Sw Artemisia earned $5,468 for second. Jason Pascoe sent out the daughter Second Painted Sign for owner Milena Kwiecien. Sherry Wingfield bred the graded stakes-placed 4-year-old in Oklahoma from the Snowbound (TB) mare Snowbound Lady Bug. Nik Goodwin had the riding call aboard the $60,084 money earner.

Cold Brewster stepped up from an option claiming win May 13th at Remington Park to finish third, 4-˝ lengths off Sw Artemisia. Durk Perry trains the 4-year-old Im A Fancy Pyc gelding out of Crescent Shore (TB) by Aragorn (TB). Jockey Salvador Martinez rode the bay Oklahoma-bred for owner Austin Watterson. Bred by Dustin Cox, Cold Brewster earned $2,798 for the effort.

Faster Than Hasta completed the field. Hocks On The Move and Sw Bullet Proof were both scratched.

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More information about Canterbury Park is available at canterburypark.com.