California Blossom, under jockey Stormy SMith, setting a new track record in Sunday's 25,000 Skip Zimmerman Stakes at Canterbury Park.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN —AUGUST 11, 2019—Defeating an evenly matched field of talented open older horses, California Blossom was a clear winner of the $25,000 Skip Zimmerman Stakes on Sunday at Canterbury Park.

California Blossom ($14.00) broke the track record for 350 yards in the process, setting the new bar at 17.360. She earned a 109 speed index.

Following a win in the 1889 Futurity immediately before the Skip Zimmerman, trainer Bob Johnson and jockey Stormy Smith swept the early double on the card.

California Blossom is a 4-year-old daughter of Desirio, out of Quiero Dinero, by A Classic Dash. She was bred in California by the Parsons Family Limited Partnership and is owned by George Seward.

The winning connections of California Blossom accept the Skip Zimmerman Memorial Stakes trophy on Sunday at Canterbury Park. © Coady Photography

The accomplished mare won the $80,000 Iowa Double Gold Derby last fall at Prairie Meadows; she had also qualified for the Canterbury Park Derby and competed in stakes at Los Alamitos before shipping out to the Midwest.

Three fillies filled out the trifecta in the open Skip Zimmerman, including post-time favorite Fosse in second and graded stakes placed First of 15 in third.

Fosse, ridden by Nik Goodwin for trainer Allen Hybsha, just defeated California Blossom in their most recent race, in which she ran second to Ferrari James. Fosse was bred in California by Paul Jones, by Foose and out of multiple graded stakes winner Check N Fetch. She is owned by Mitch Milliron.

In four starts at Canterbury, she has yet to finish worse than second.

In third place were First of 15 and jockey Cristian Esqueda. One of three entries from the Jason Olmstead barn, First of 15 was a close second in the recent Dash in a Flash Stakes. The Apollitical Jess filly has earnings of over $165,000 after multiple stakes appearances, including a win in the 2018 Gopher State Derby at Canterbury and a second-place finish in the Decketta (G3) at Remington this spring.

First of 15 is owned by Richard Tobin and was bred in Oklahoma by James and Marilyn Helzer, by Apollitical Jess and out of Tinys Corona Queen, by Corona Cartel.

Completing the field were Eagle Deluxe, Quick Dashin Perry, Yes No Yes, Ima Dashin Follie and Painted Dynasty.