Relentless Rocket Rockets to Canterbury Park QH Derby Victory

SHAKOPEE, MN—AUGUST 21, 2025—Relentless Rocket powered home to capture the $42,300 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby on Thursday afternoon at Canterbury Park, stopping the clock in 19.995 seconds for 400 yards over a fast track and earning a speed index of 97 into a 7 mph headwind.

Ridden by Ramiro Garcia for owner Tom Maher and trainer Jason Olmstead, the 3-year-old bay gelding by champion sire Hes Relentless out of Mai Corona by Corona Cartel surged clear late to win by three-quarters of a length.

Bred in South Dakota by Tom and Bill Maher, Relentless Rocket earned $19,035 for the victory. Winner of last year's Northlands Futurity, the gelding has won seven of 15 career starts and earned $116,430.

Rompe Corazonez, a 3-year-old brown filly by leading sire Corona Cartel out of Stars R Blue by Okey Dokey Dale, finished second, just three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

Owned and bred by Balgo Racing Team Inc. in California, trained by Rigoberto Guillen, and ridden by Mark Jasso, she collected $7,191 for her runner-up effort. Winner of the AQRA Turf Paradise Presidents Open Futurity Invitational last season, she has banked nearly $80,000.

Venetian Cowgirl, a sorrel filly by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Venetian Paradise by Pappasito, finished third, another half-length behind the runner-up. Owned and bred by Carl W. Marlow of Oklahoma, trained by Fernando Manriquez, and ridden by Miguel Ramirez, she earned $4,230, boosting her bankroll to $53,512.

Completing the order of finish were L Conejo (4th, $2,961), Da Lie Lah (5th, $2,538), Curlie D (6th, $2,115), Relentless Mogul (7th, $1,692), VF My Favorite Disco (8th, $846), and The Investment (9th, $846). My Heart My Dynasty was scratched at the gate ($846).

Pari-Mutuel Payoffs: Relentless Rocket paid $3.60 to win, $2.40 to place, and $2.20 to show. Rompe Corazonez returned $4.00 to place and $2.80 to show, while Venetian Cowgirl paid $2.60 to show.

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