Trainer Wins Five Festival of Champions Races at Canterbury Park

Trainer Mac Robertson dominated Minnesota Festival of Champions at Canterbury Park on Sunday by winning four of the six thoroughbred stakes and an allowance race, the Shakopee park announced. Robertson has won a record 23 Festival of Champions stakes races, seven more than the trainer with the second most wins.

Only state-bred thoroughbreds and quarter horses are allowed to compete in the 10-race program. More than $500,000 in purse money was awarded at this year's event, which saw a crowd of 15,023, the second largest in Festival history. 

From Canterbury Park:

Robertson’s stakes winners included Somerset Swinger in the $55,000 Bella Notte Distaff Sprint, Heliskier in the $55,000 Crocrock Sprint, Congrats and Roses in the $55,000 Glitter Star Distaff Classic and Coconino Slim in the $55,000 Wally’s Choice Classic Championship. Dear Fay won the final race of the day, a $34,800 allowance, for Robertson who has been leading trainer at Canterbury each season since 2005.

She Can Ski, trained by Francisco Bravo and owned by Henry Hanson of Adrian, MN, was ridden to victory by Dean Butler in the $75,000 Northern Lights Debutante. Butler also won the $75,000 Northern Lights Futurity on Appeal to the King for trainer Robert Johnson and Wayne Simon of Tolstoy, SD.

Jockey Alex Canchari was aboard three of Robertson’s winners: Congrats and Roses and Somerset Swinger, both owned by Bruce and Mary Malkerson of Shakopee, MN, and Coconino Slim who is owned by Catherine DeCourcy of Sunfish Lake, MN.

Heliskier, the 2012 Canterbury Horse of the Meet, is owned by Marlene Colvin of Ethan, SD and was ridden by Justin Shepherd who was also aboard Dear Fay.

Sportwagon won the $34,650 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity, providing owners and breeders Robert and Julie Petersen of Cokato, MN with their fifth win in that race and their ninth Festival victory. Ry Eikleberry was aboard for trainer William Harris.

Trainer Ed Ross Hardy won his record 17th Festival race when V Os Red Hot Cole prevailed in the $32,900 Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby for owner Rodney Von Ohlen of Alpha, MN. Hardy has won at least one of the two Festival of Champions races each of the past seven years. Rusty Shaw rode the winner.