Post time: 6:30 p.m. Best bet: Ensign Eli (10th race). Best play: 50 cent-Pick 4, Race 7, (1,2,3,5,6,8/3,4,5/1,2,3,4,7,8/6) $54.
Johnny Love's Thursday Canterbury Park line
1 300 yards. Open. 2-year-olds. Maiden. Purse: $11,500.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds
1: Mga Lil Kool Wilena (Suarez Ricardo, Willis)122/6-1
2: La Mos Pyc (Clark, Harris)122/20-1
3: Soul Kissed (Smith, Hunt)122/10-1
4: Haulin Freight (Cruz, Pride)122/20-1
5: Chrism (Montoya, Hardy)122/8-1
6: Let There Be Lite (Velazquez, Tracy, Jr.)122/12-1
7: Catch This Train (Goodwin, Hybsha)122/3-1
8: Mm Captain Fletch (Torres, Charette-Hill)122/2-1
9: Goodness and Mercy (Swiontek, Livingston)122/15-1
10: Lwr Borntorun (Delorme, Hunt)122/12-1
11: Front Me Money (Velazquez, Olmstead)122/8-1
12: Kowboy Jim (Pinon, Frey)122/6-1
CATCH THIS TRAIN was much improved in second start just missing the win after long fought duel. MM CAPTAIN FLETCH should enjoy cutting back half a football field after weakening late last out. SOUL KISSED has a couple of poor starts and could move forward with clean break.
2 350 yards. 3-year-olds and up. Maiden. Purse: $11,500.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Sprinkled Ivory (Pinon, Johnson)124/8-1
2: One Dashin Man (Goodwin, Frey)124/3-1
3: Love James Bond (Torres, Charette-Hill)124/5-2
4: Hal Merry (Cruz, Pride)124/15-1
5: Expensive Paint Job (Velazquez, Olmstead)124/6-1
6: Pyc Royal Wagon (Delorme, Wessels)124/20-1
7: Cjb Teller Cyclone (Montoya, Hardy)124/12-1
8: Last Sweetheart (Smith, Hunt)124/8-1
9: Tempting Chicks (Clark, Jr., Wessels)124/15-1
10: Foxy Awesome (Clark, Harris)124/10-1
11: Eye Can See (Swiontek, Livingston)124/20-1
12: Flashin Reward (Pinon, Johnson)124/15-1
LOVE JAMES BOND has been paying dividends on a regular basis but yet to break maiden. ONE DASHIN MAN has been second best four out of six starts. EXPENSIVE PAINT JOB dueled throughout last effort but ran out of gas at the end for third place finish.
3 7½ furlongs. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $10,000. Purse: $17,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Stormy Holiday (Carreno, Robertson)119/8-5
2: Battle On (Mojica, Bends)119/8-1
3: Corporate Chapel (Bethke, Bethke)119/6-1
4: Seven Tuff (Butler, Bolinger)119/10-1
5: Gentle as a Breeze (Velazquez, Silva)119/7-2
6: Callingahardten (Franco, Lund)119/6-1
7: Flyby Dubai (P. Canchari, L. Canchari)119/20-1
8: Yes by Gold (Goodwin, Sheehan)119/12-1
GENTLA AS A BREEZE will be my top choice if race is taken off the turf with showers predicted. The seasoned veteran had two front running style wins on the local track last summer on the off track. STORMY HOLIDAY is proven at this level coming off the four month layoff and supports strong work tab for return. Trainer knows where to spot his runners off the layoff. CORPORATE CHAPEL is talented enough on or off the turf and is a interesting alternative at a price if you don't like top two choices.
4 1 mile 70 yards. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $20,000. Purse: $19,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Rules of War (Butler, Diodoro)123/3-1
2: Sioux Hockey (Rosier, Sharp)119/5-2
3: Hyper Drive (McNeil, Oberlander)119/9-2
4: Grayson Road (Mojica, Shaw)123/12-1
5: Parlay Ponti (Martin, Jr., Brinson)119/9-2
6: Jerrys Two Tickets (Joubert, Keller)123/15-1
7: Anxious Dreams (Delorme, Diodoro)119/8-1
8: Alternative Use (Velazquez, Berndt)123/12-1
HYPER DRIVE ran his best career speed figure last out on the off track and can't take lightly with repeat of that performance. RULES OF WAR drops from allowance race sprinting on the dirt and will be forwardly place off the rail with Butler aboard. Had a ugly run last out but can't be overlooked. SIOUX HOCKEY gets the nod if race stays on the turf. Got pushed up for first last out after winner was brought down by DQ against tougher and is in first time for a tag.
5 About 7½ furlongs. 3-year-olds and up. Allowance. Purse: $30,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Trick City (Velazquez, Biehler)119/8-1
2: Beach Flower (McNeil, Robertson)119/4-1
3: Scent of Gold (Rosier, Sharp)123/7-2
4: U'll Love This Cat (Franco, Shaw)119/6-1
5: Ms. Bubbette (Butler, Bravo)123/9-2
6: Classy Teacher (Martin, Jr., Sharp)123/4-1
7: Eyesadreamin (Hernandez, Lund)119/10-1
8: Lauren's Powerplay (Delorme, Spencer)123/15-1
BEACH FLOWER won last out under a hand urging ride as the favorite and will be part of the pace battle from the start. Like to see jockey McNeil sit off the expected pace battle with a ringside seat for first attack. SCENT OF GOLD was super impressive last out winning by five lengths at today's distance. CLASSY TEACHER has three consecutive bullet drills coming in shipping up from Churchill Downs for the Sharp barn, looms late closing threat if things get too hot up front.
6 6 furlongs. 3-year-olds and up. Maiden special weight. Purse: $28,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Oheka (Rosier, Sharp)119/5-2
2: I Have a Secret (Mojica, Bravo)119/9-2
3: Fully Equipped (Martin, Jr., Brinson)119/8-1
4: Blue Key Rosie (Joubert, Hanson)119/8-1
5: Brilliant Notes (Butler, Bravo)119/3-1
6: Pass On Command (Franco, Lund)119/4-1
7: Vita Luna (Swiontek, Weidner)119/12-1
Wide open maiden race with many ways to look at it. OHEKA returns off the extended layoff with a few quick drills and could be a key factor on the front end with the inside draw. This filly wasn't a cheap purchase so must consider for win honors. I HAVE A SECRET and BLUE KEY ROSIE have been training smartly for their presentation to racing. Wouldn't be shocked to see either one win first out. PASS ON COMMAND appears to be the one to catch to get the win.
7 5½ furlongs. 3-year-olds and up. Maiden claiming: $50,000. Purse: $23,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Poverty Flats (Jimenez, Anderson)123/10-1
2: Who Let Dacat Out (Butler, Fauchald)119/7-2
3: Dark Captain (Carreno, Diodoro)119/4-1
4: Sweet Pitch (Delorme, Walker)119/12-1
5: Direct Impact (Martin, Jr., Diodoro)119/9-2
6: King of Boyd (Ortega, Robertson)119/4-1
7: Be Real Quiet (Lopez, Jr., McFadden)119/20-1
8: Dancin With a Song (Bethke, Bethke)119/8-1
9: Touch Vision (Castro, Riecken)119/10-1
WHO LET DACAT OUT ran decent off the bench to get paid a skinny share and should progress second time out, not facing a group of monsters here. Robertino Diodoro sends out two newbies with DARK CAPTAIN and DIRECT IMPACT. Neither have been training lights out but Diodoro excels at winning first time out, tough read. KING OF BOYD has been training smartly for debut and is a must use out of the Robertson barn.
8 1 mile. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $6,250. Purse: $10,500.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Fleeta (Goodwin, Rarick)123/20-1
2: Smoken Danni (Delorme, Sheehan)118/15-1
3: Only One Wish (Rosier, Sharp)118/7-2
4: Connors Gal (Martin, Jr., Craddock)118/3-1
5: Manhattan Cat (McNeil, Robertson)123/2-1
6: Aura's Star (Jimenez, Thompson)123/20-1
7: Mango Reward (Escobar, LaZarre)123/15-1
8: Andrea's Josie (Hernandez, McKinley)123/20-1
9: Lady Brighton (Butler, Rhone)123/5-1
ONLY ONE WISH broke maiden two back in front running fashion on a muddy course, must rate higher with moisture on the track. CONNORS GAL has never raced this cheap dropping for over half the price. Light on winning form but always gives a solid effort. MANHATTAN CAT switches surfaces while dropping in class and is confirmed closer who will come rolling late.
9 1 mile. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $6,250. Purse: $12,500.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Tactical Girl (Franco, Litfin)123/4-1
2: Miss Taylor K (Delorme, Kirby)123/12-1
3: Oltimate Broad (Butler, Walker)123/5-1
4: My Max Regal (Rosier, Diodoro)123/5-2
5: Legend in Time (Velazquez, Brinson)123/8-1
6: Hugsforhennyhall (P. Canchari, Oliver)123/10-1
7: Dakota Eyes (Mojica, Rarick)123/9-2
8: Linda's Kitten (Martin, Jr., Brinson)123/8-1
OLTIMATE BROAD returns to main track after failed effort on the lawn last out. Will be involved early and will try to carry her speed to the stretch run. MY MAX REGAL ran flat last two outings at Turf Paradise and could turn things around with change of scenery. TACTICAL GIRL overcame adversity last out from the start but finished strong, changes hands to hot barn.
10 6 furlongs. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $20,000. Purse: $19,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Nesterenko Ridge (Franco, Rengstorf)123/5-1
2: Finance Account (Mojica, Bravo)123/8-1
3: Wildcard (Goodwin, Riecken)123/12-1
4: Joe Dunk In (Carreno, Diodoro)119/6-1
5: Visitation (Butler, Diodoro)123/2-1
6: Ensign Eli (Delorme, Padilla)123/8-5
ENSIGN ELI is deserving favorite and could prove tough if gelding can transfer his form from the grass to the dirt. Scrapper is the class of the field and has two swift drills coming in. VISITATION is all about speed and will try to be long gone if goes unchallenged. NESTERENKO RIDGE was in deep water last out in stakes race and should enjoy facing similar company tonight, alert gate breaker will be key factor on front end.
about the writer
Conley, Gobert experienced emotional nights returning to places they called home for several seasons.