Minnesota Festival of Champions produces longshot winners

Jockey Alonso Quinonez wins three stakes

Saturday’s 31st running of the Minnesota Festival of Champions, an eight-race program restricted to racehorses bred in the state, produced numerous longshot winners with Able Seaman winning the $75,000 Northern Lights Futurity at 22 to 1 odds and Where’s Marilyn winning the $75,000 Northern Lights Debutante at 17 to 1. Jockey Alonso Quinonez rode three winners: Where’s Marilyn, favorite Half Brother in the Blair’s Cove Minnesota Turf Championship and Thealligatorhunter in the $50,000 Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship.

Serafin Carmona guided Cupid’s Crush to an easy front-running victory in the $50,000 Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship, paying $7.20. She’s My Warrior was the upset winner in the $50,000 Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint with Constantino Roman aboard. She’s My Warrior paid $30.20

Trainer Ed Ross Hardy won the night’s first race, the $48,000 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity, with EOS Keep Dreamin. The 2-year-old filly paid $10.40. Favorite Da Lie Lah finished second for trainer Jason Olmstead who won the next race, the $48,000 Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby, with favorite Sugar Rushh. The meet’s leading jockey Armando Alvidrez rode the winner who paid $3.80.

Handle for the eight-race card was $764,782.

 

 

$48,000 Minnesota Quarter Horse Futurity

EOS Keep Dreamin won by 3/4 of  a length over favorite Da Lie Lah. Angel Ramirez rode the winner for trainer Hardy and owner Corey Wilmes. Relentless Deal was third.

$48,000 Minnesota Quarter Horse Derby

The meet’s leading trainer Olmstead trained the top three finishers. Wagering-favorite Sugar Rushh was first by 1 1/2 lengths with Alvidrez aboard. The 3-year-old gelding is owned by Summer Run. Inc. Averys Treasure finished second with jockey Luis Valenzuela. Relentless Minnie was third.

$50,000 Northern Lights Futurity

Able Seaman raced last in the early stages of the eight-horse Northern Lights Futurity. Guillermo Rodriguez guided the 2-year-old wide into the stretch, making up more than seven lengths, passing 31 to 1 Arjun for Karz in deep stretch. He paid $22.80 to win for trainer Mike Biehler and owners Richard Bremer and Barry Butzow. Arjun for Karz held second and Wocka Wocka was third.

$50,000 Blair’s Cove Minnesota Turf Championship

Even-money favorite Half Brother, trained by Gary Scherer, got up in the final stride to win by a head over Found Jordan. Two lengths back was third-place finisher Roses by Liam. Half Brother was ridden by Quinonez for owner and breeder Sugarland Thoroughbreds LLC. The 4-year-old gelding paid $4.00.

$75,000 Northern Lights Debutante

Quinonez and Where’s Marilyn were third by just over a length at the top of the stretch but surged past Flatter Me Baby and Wildcat Minny to win going away by 2 1/4 lengths. The 2-year-old filly is trained by Bruce Riecken and owned by Tony Didier. She paid $36.60 to win.

$50,000 Princess Elaine Minnesota Distaff Turf Championship

The 3 to 5 favorite Midnight Current chased in vain as Cupids Crush tore away to an early lead and maintained a comfortable margin throughout, winning by 7 1/4 lengths and paying $7.20 under apprentice jockey Carmona. Cupids Crush is trained by Mac Robertson and owned by Xtreme Racing.  Midnight Current was second, a head better than third-place Let’s Skedaddle.

$50,000 Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint

She’s My Warrior raced on the lead throughout the six-furlong stake under Roman eventually winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Lover Girl. Favorite Xtreme Diva never posed a serious threat and finished third. She’s My Warrior is trained by Tim Padilla who is also co-owner with Pete Mattson. She’s My Warrior paid $30.20.

$50,000 Crocrock Minnesota Sprint Championship

Trainer Padilla and owner Mattson teamed up again, winning the Crocrock Sprint with Thealligatorhunter, giving Quinonez his third victory. As the betting favorite, the 6-year-old was never headed throughout the six furlongs, holding off a late challenge from Sir Sterling to win by a neck. He paid $4.80. Street Warrior finished third.

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