Last Year's Futurity Winner Sugar Rushh Returns For The Win In The $20,000 North Star State Derby

SHAKOPEE, MN, JUNE 6, 2024–2023–North Star State Futurity winner Sugar Rushh returns to the winner's circle Thursday night at Canterbury Park in his debut start for 2024 in the $20,000 North Star State Derby.

Sugar Rushh hadn't won a race since the Futurity win last year. He placed third in the Minnesota Futurity and fifth in the MQHRA Stallion Auction Futurity. But he broke the cycle with today's victory, adding $10,915 to his pocketbook for a total of $34,088.

Regular rider Armando Alvidrez got the leg up on Sugar Rush for his head victory over stablemate Averys Treasure. The post-time favorite scored his 400-yard victory in :20.688 seconds, which paid $3.80 to win on 9/5 odds.

Darling Farms bred Sugar Rushh in Minnesota out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Candy Coated Paint. Paul Luedemann of Summer Run, Inc. owns the son of One Fabulous Eagle.

"I wasn't thrilled with the hop at the start," Luedemann said. "But I knew the 400 yards wouldn't hurt her."

Runner-up Averys Treasure was ridden by Luis Valenzuela and is owned/bred by Lunderborg, LLC. The son of Moonin The Eagle broke his maiden in the third out of his freshman campaign but has yet to win again from eight starts.

Last year, Averys Treasure was a finalist in the North Star State Futurity, Minnesota Futurity and Northlands Futurity. The gray gelding out of Bbs Pyc Luckycharm by Pyc Paint, Your Wagon, has $24,753 in lifetime earnings.

Leading trainer Jason Olmstead conditions both Sugar Rushh and Averys Treasure.

Redhotmama placed third under the guidance of jockey Rey Hernandez. The daughter of Go To The Gravel has yet to break her maiden from four starts for owner/breeder Ken Quade. Beill Geditz, Jr. trains Redhotmama, who is out of Dancing Tipper by The Big Tipper.

Comeback Darling, Brother Tommy, Streak N Quartz, and Kqs Dreaming round out the order of finish.