Distorted Pro will attempt to nail down his first stakes victory Saturday, when he takes on three past winners of the 10,000 Lakes in this year’s renewal of the $50,000 stakes staple at Canterbury Park.
The six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up shares a card with the $50,000 Lady Slipper for fillies and mares at the same distance. Both races are restricted to horses bred in Minnesota. First post for the card is an early 4 p.m. Central.
The 10,000 Lakes field of five includes defending winner Sir Sterling, 2023 winner Doctor Oscar, and 2022 winner Thealligatorhunter.
:: Access morning workout reports straight from the tracks and get an edge with DRF Clocker Reports
Distorted Pro, who will start from post 5, is a talented sort and upon researching his credentials it’s a bit surprising to learn the 5-year-old has not yet won a stakes race. But at the same token, his division has been a tough one at Canterbury.
“I think he’s improved a little bit every year,” trainer Mac Robertson said. “They’ve had a few Minnesota-breds just a little bit better than him the last couple of years, but maybe he’ll be a little bit better than them this year.”
Distorted Pro owns the field’s best last-race Beyer Speed Figure, an 85 for a win in a first-level allowance sprint Feb. 23 at Oaklawn. He covered six furlongs in a quick 1:10.
“He’s doing really well,” said Robertson, who trains Distorted Pro for breeder Novogratz Racing Stables. “He dead-heated for that win at Oaklawn and obviously, being a Minnesota-bred, I just kind of waited for the meet [at Canterbury]. But he worked great the other day, and I thought he got a good post. I’m happy.”
Distorted Pro covered five furlongs in 59.80 seconds on May 30, which was the fastest of 12 moves at the distance that morning at Canterbury. From eight starts over the local strip, he’s run first or second five times. Overall, the four-time winner has run first, second, or third in 12 of his 17 career starts, for earnings of more than $200,000.
“He still runs good when he gets beat,” Robertson said. “He’s been a pretty hickory horse. He’s had a lot of good races.”
Harry Hernandez has the mount on Distorted Pro.
Lady Slipper
Robertson will send out top contenders Cupids Crush and Xtreme Diva in the Lady Slipper. They are part of a field of six that includes defending winner Thunders Rocknroll.
Cupids Crush, a $40,000 yearling purchase in Minnesota, is 9 for 20 for earnings of $423,630. She is a three-time stakes winner. Xtreme Diva, a $35,000 yearling purchase in Minnesota, is 5 for 11 for earnings of $308,368. She is a two-time stakes winner.
“They’ve been great advertisement,” Robertson said. “Both were bought really reasonably and they’re pretty good horses. It’s hard to get horses that can run anywhere and they’re Minnesota-breds, so they’re good advertising for themselves.
“They’ve won at Keeneland, won at Oaklawn, run well at Fair Grounds. They’ve been really nice horses to have.”
Cupids Crush will break from the rail, and Xtreme Diva will start from post 5. They both are owned by Xtreme Racing Stables.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.