Cupids Crush seized the lead at the start of the $50,000 Princess Elaine and never looked back for a 7 1/4-length victory over 3-5 favorite Midnight Current on Saturday night at Canterbury Park.
It was a head back in third to Let’s Skedaddle.
The race was one of six divisional Minnesota-bred stakes on the card. Purses for the annual Minnesota Festival of Champions totaled $350,000.
Cupids Crush ($7.20) controlled the pace from the outset under jockey Serafin Carmona, putting up fractions of 24.96 for the opening quarter, 49.68 for the half-mile and 1:12.66 in the 1 1/16 miles turf race for fillies and mares. She went on to cover the distance on firm ground in 1:42.22.
Midnight Current, who had won the last two runnings of the Princess Elaine, was making what was scheduled to be the final start of her career. She was honored as the Minnesota Thoroughbred Association’s champion older mare of 2023 earlier on the card, while Cupids Crush received the organization’s award for champion 3-year-old filly of 2023.
Cupids Crush was winning the third stakes race of her career and is now 7 for 14 for earnings of $302,935 for the Xtreme Racing Stable of Mike and Vicki McGowan. Vicki McGowan said in a post-race interview broadcast by Canterbury that the Princess Elaine win Saturday was her favorite race to date from Cupids Crush.
“It was a lot of fun to watch,” she said. “She had the lead and I’m like ‘Keep it up keep it up,’ and she did and I’m so proud of her. This was my favorite race, by far.”
Mac Robertson trains Cupids Crush, who gave him a 41st Minnesota Festival of Champions stakes win in what is a record at Canterbury.
Triple for Quinonez
Jockey Alonso Quinonez won three stakes races on the card, beginning with the $50,000 Blair’s Cove with Half Brother ($4). He rallied for a head win over Found Jordan, while covering 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:44.05. Sugarland Thoroughbreds bred and owns the son of Half Ours, who is trained by Gary Scherer.
Quinonez guided Where’s Marilyn ($36.60) to a 2 1/4-length win over Flatter Me Baby in the $75,000 Northern Lights Debutante. The winner covered six furlongs on a fast track in 1:13.11. Bruce Riecken trains the daughter of Flameaway for Anthony Didier.
Quinonez then closed out the card by taking the $50,000 Minnesota Sprint with Thealligatorhunter ($4.80), who won by a neck over Sir Sterling. It was another 6 1/2 lengths back in third to the previously unbeaten Street Warrior. The winner covered six furlongs in 1:10.22. Pete Mattson, who owns the son of Overanalyze, bred him in partnership with the horse’s trainer, Tim Padilla.
*** Mattson and Padilla were winning their second stakes of the night. Earlier on the card, the men accounted for the $50,000 Distaff Sprint with She’s My Warrior ($30.20). She was strong on the front end, for a 1 1/4-length win over Lover Girl. Constantino Roman was aboard the daughter of Warrior’s Reward, who covered the distance in 1:11.01. Mattson owns She’s My Warrior, and co-bred her with trainer Padilla.
*** Able Seaman ($47.60) closed from last for a 1 3/4-length win over Arjun for Karz in the $75,000 Northern Lights Futurity. Guillermo Rodriguez was aboard the winner, who covered six furlongs in 1:13.62. Michael Biehler trains the son of Midshipman for Richard Bremer and Barry Butzow.
*** Other MTA award winners honored Saturday night were Doctor Oscar, champion older male of 2023; Jose Patio, 3-year-old; Frosty View, 2-year-old; A Primera Vista, 2-year-old filly; Kela, stallion; and Dazzling Sweetheart, broodmare.
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