Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity winner A Jordan Reed will head the first trial on Sunday for the $78,450 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN—JUNE 22, 2018 —On the heels of its biggest day of the Thoroughbred meet, Canterbury Park will hold trials for the $78,450 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby on Sunday (Jun 24). The final is scheduled for Sunday, July 8, as is the $145,000 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity.

27 3-year-olds have been split into three 400-yard trials to determine this year’s field. Trials begin in the second race with a post time of 1:18 pm CT. There will be an all-Quarter Horse Pick 4 starting in the first race through the last trial; post time for the first race is 12:50 pm CT.

The first trial features a deserving 4-5 morning line favorite: A Jordon Reed. The Jumpn Chic gelding won the 2017 $167,600 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity at Canterbury Park, giving trainer Ed Hardy his seventh career win in the futurity.

The gelding also won the $289,830 Valley Junction Futurity at Prairie Meadows last fall. He has won five of his 10 lifetime starts and earned $226,843.

Owned and bred by the Kendrix Brothers in Oklahoma, A Jordan Reed is out of the Corona For Me mare Parr for Me. Berkley Packer will have the call on Sunday.

Also of note in the first trial is Painted Dynasty (4-1), ridden by Cristian Esqueda for Jason Olmstead. The FDD Dynasty filly was last seen running second in the $34,000 Gopher State Derby as the fastest qualifier.

Owned by Tom Scheckel, Painted Dynasty was bred in Oklahoma by Michael Teel out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Tygers Painted Girl.

The horse who defeated Painted Dynasty in the Gopher State, First of 15 (2-1), returns in the second trial. First of 15 dominated in that race as the second fastest qualifier, cruising home by over two lengths over a sloppy track. The Jason Olmstead/Cristian Esqueda duo returns for owner Richard Tobin.

First of 15 has earned over $105,000 in her career, including a second place finish in the $317,000 Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby. The Apollitical Jess filly is out of the Corona Cartel mare Tinys Corona Queen and is a full sister to graded stakes winner Lynnder 16.

The second trial includes several other horses with notable dams. High Valley Girl (12-1) is out of Huckleberry Mojito, who won multiple stakes at both Canterbury and Remington. Agent Carter (8-1), the runner up in last year’s Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity, is out of Lotta Love for Robyn, who was fourth in the 2011 All American Futurity (G1).

The final trial includes the One Famous Eagle colt Eagle Deluxe (2-1), who won two stakes at Canterbury in 2017 and has never been out of the money at the Minnesota track. Winless in 2018, his starts include two placings against older allowance company and an appearance in the $363,790 Heritage Place Derby (G3).

Patrick Swan brings Olivias Jett (3-1) back to trials at Canterbury; the Desirio filly was the fastest qualifier to last year’s Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity. A new face in the Bob Johnson barn, California Blossom (6-1), will make her Canterbury Park debut following nine career starts at Los Alamitos. Marfilmio (6-1), second in last year’s NCQHRA Futurity behind Eagle Deluxe, will attempt to qualify for his third career stakes race for trainer Vic Hanson.

On Saturday, June 23, there will be no Quarter Horse racing as Canterbury holds the Northern Stars Racing Festival, including $500,000 in Thoroughbred stakes. The track is also host to the annual Jockeys and Jeans event to benefit the PDJF. Among the Hall of Fame riders and PDJF representatives scheduled to be in attendance is Canterbury Park Hall of Fame Quarter Horse jockey Tad Leggett.

The 70-day Canterbury Park meet offers racing on Thursday and Friday evenings at 6:30 pm CT and Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 12:45 pm CT. in June and July. Quarter horse racing is held at the beginning of each race card.