Jess Wagon P, under jockey Froylan Ramirez, winning the $78,050 Canterbury Park Derby Sunday afternoon.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN—JULY 7, 2019—The all Quarter Horse card at Canterbury Park on Sunday included the meet’s biggest race for open 3-year-olds, the $78,050 Canterbury Park Derby.

Trainer Stacy Charette-Hill won the race for the fifth time and did so with an upset: Jess Wagon P crossed the finish line first at odds of nearly 20-1. Stacy and Randy Hill also own the filly.

Charette-Hill was quick to credit her staff for their success. “I couldn’t do it without my staff. I am blessed with wonderful help.”

Jess Wagon P ($41.60) was ridden by Froylan Ramirez. She was the seventh fastest qualifier from four trials held on June 23, and was second in the trial behind Heza Blues Man, who finished third in the final.

The final time for the 400-yard event was 20.041, and the winner earned a speed index of 90.

Jess Wagon P was bred by Michael Pohl in Texas, by Mr Jess Perry and out of Ride My Wagon, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. She broke her maiden at Prairie Meadows as a 2-year-old and did not make a start at Canterbury until the trial in June.

The winning connections of Jess Wagon P accept the Canterbury Park Derby trophy Sunday afternoon.
© Coady Phtography

Fastest qualifier Apollitical Mogul finished just a head behind Jess Wagon P with Cody Smith aboard for trainer Jason Olmstead.

Apollitical Mogul was the post-time favorite in the race after an impressive trial victory last month. The daughter of Apollitical Jess has never finished worse that second in her six starts at Canterbury, including a second-place finish in the 2018 $45,000 NCQHRA Futurity. She also ran third in the $251,000 Valley Junction Futurity at Prairie Meadows.

Tom and Bill Maher own Apollitical Mogul, who was bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LLC, out of the Corona Cartel mare Cash Cartel.

Another head separated third-place finisher and third fastest qualifier Heza Blues Man from the leaders. Heza Blues Man won his trial over Jess Wagon P in his first Canterbury effort. Ry Eikleberry had the call for both the trial and the final for trainer John Hammes; he is owned by the estate of Thomas Bradbury.

Heza Blues Man was bred in California by Steve Burns DVM, by Favorite Cartel and out of Eyesa Blue Girl, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner and two-time champion Blues Girl Too.

Heza Blues Man was fifth in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1) in February.

Completing the field were Spy for the Senate, The Bald Eagle, Its No Sin to Win, Sweet Bab of Return, Stripper Dust, Hr Back N the Day and Jess Doin Time.