Danjer, under jockey Cody Smith, sets a new track record while winning this third consecutive $50,000 Bank of America Canterbury Challenge Championship(G3) on Thursday.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN–JULY 14, 2022–Reigning AQHA Racing Word Champion Danjer seems to be on the same championship path as last year. 

Coming off a win in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship at Remington Park May 28th, he set a new track record Thursday night while winning his third-consecutive $50,000 Bank of America Canterbury Challenge Championship(G3).

A wire-to-wire winner under regular rider Cody Smith, Danjer's 2-1/2 length winning time of :21.070 seconds, equaling a 119 speed index with a 20 mph tailwind, establishes a new 440 yard track record at Canterbury Park. The more than decade old record of :21.162 seconds was set by Jess A Runner on July 24, 2011.

"Anytime you get to ride him, it’s a thrill. He got away with them tonight and basically it was just a good work for him. I just let him cruise," Smith said following the win. " He just keeps rolling and getting faster. As soon as you think he’s as good as one can get, he shows you something a little more."

Winning trainer and co-owner Dean Frey and jockey Cody Smith accept the Bank of American Canterbury Park Challenge Championship trophy Thursday night.
© Coady Photography

Danjer, a son of three-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty, broke his maiden in his third career start at Canterbury Park as a 2-year-old on July 1, 2018. 

His next appearance at Canterbury Park came in 2020 when he won the Bank of America Canterbury Park Challenge Championship(G3), a feat he repeated again in 2021.

Conditioned by trainer-breeder Dean R. Frey, Danjer races for the partnership of Frey, Downtime Enterprises LLC and Billy G. Smith. He has compiled a (29) 17-6-3 record and tonight's $26,000 winner's purse boosted his lifetime mark to nearly $1.7 million.

Bred in Oklahoma, from the Take Off Jess mare Shez Jess Toxic, Danjer is a five-time AQHA Racing Champion and AQHA Supreme Race Horse.

Tom Maher and Stephen Williams Juice Is Loose bested the rest of the field to earn $11,500 for second. Canterbury Park Hall of Fame trainer Jason Olmstead conditoins the graded stakes winning son of One Fabulous Eagle from the FDD Dynasty mare Miss Southern DD.  Edwin Escobedo rode the $173,959 earner. Sam Green is the breeder.

Apollitical Hero, a 4-year-old son of leading sire Apollitical Jess, finished 1-1/4 lengths back to pick up $5,750 for third. Also trained by Olmstead, the sorrel gelding races for Tom Maher, Paul Luedemann and Richard Tobin. Canadian River QH LLC bred Apollitical Hero in Oklahoma from the Valiant Hero mare Belle Of Valor.  Luis Valenzuela rode the multiple graded-placed earner of $93,758.

Cr Appollitical Joe and Fly The Coup completed the field.