Jay Lietzau’s Canterbury Park line for Sunday, Aug. 4

The Star Tribune handicapper makes his selections for the first Sunday in August.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
August 4, 2024 at 3:06AM

Post time: 1 p.m. Lock of the day: Ha Ha Gloria (6th race). Value play of the day: Ann Alee (2nd race). Big score: 50-cent Pick 5 ticket—Race 4 (1,4,11/1,3,6/7/1,5,6,7/2,3,5), $54.

1. 6 furlongs. Fillies and mares. 3-year-olds and up. Starter optional claiming: $8,000. Purse: $16,000.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: Saint Sarena (Pena, Biehler) 122/2-1

2: O’Babe (Carmona, Scherer) 117/8-5

3: Wings From Above (Harr, Riecken) 122/8-1

4: Vow (Quinonez, Williams) 122/3-1

5: Chasing Shadows (Fuentes, Riecken) 122/5-1

CHASING SHADOWS (5) appears to be the only true closer in a field full of need-the-lead types. Should be able to drop over to the rail from the outside post, save ground and make a move late. VOW (4) has been close in all three local starts this meet for a high-percentage barn. Might be able to stalk the early leaders and pounce late. O’BABE (2) has hit the board in six of seven locally, including three victories.

2. 1 mile on turf. Fillies and mares. 3-year-olds and up. Starter optional claiming: $8,000. Purse: $16,000.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: Betyar Azets (Barajas, Silva) 124/5-2

2: Willowmygirl (Quinonez, Woolley Jr.) 122/10-1

3: Octane (Rodriguez, Silva Jr.) 122/9-2

4: Miz Cali (Harr, Donlin) 122/8-1

5: Jewel Azul (Pena, Woolley Jr.) 122/6-1

6: Dirt Flirt (Da Silva, Silva Jr.) 124/9-5

7: Ann Alee (Roman, Biehler) 122/10-1

ANN ALEE (7) is trying to recapture the form she displayed here last summer on the lawn. Caught a yielding turf in her first start of the meet and then showed some improvement sprinting in last. Trending the right way. DIRT FLIRT (6) comes right back after winning just 10 days earlier. Obviously feeling good right now, so why not run. BETYAR AZETS (1) is 3-for-3 on the Shakopee sod and showed a new dimension when closing in last.

3. 5½ furlongs. Fillies. 2-year-olds. Maiden special weight. Purse: $39,000.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: Gimme Mo Money (Roman, Martinez) 118/5-1

2: Twin Empire (Quinonez, VanWinkle) 118/2-1

3: Regal Majesty (Valenzuela, Berndt) 118/3-1

4: Ruby’s Posse (Rodriguez, Hanson) 118/8-1

5: Thunder Kin (Harr, Berndt) 118/4-1

6: Just Win Baby (Lindsay, VanWinkle) 118/9-2

REGAL MAJESTY (3) battled for the lead in her career debut before tiring late. Should improve from that experience and the barn hits at an incredible 39% in second starts. THUNDER KIN (5) is the other Berndt starter along with the top pick and has a nice string of works for her premier. TWIN EMPIRE (2) showed some interest late in her initial start.

4. 7½ furlongs on turf. Fillies and mares. 3-year-olds and up. Allowance. Purse: $30,000.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: Shy Shy (Carmona, Robertson) 114/8-1

2: Diamond Dee (Morales, Lund) 119/15-1

3: Fashion Idol (Fuentes, Velazquez) 124/3-1

4: Midnight Lane (Roman, Berndt) 124/9-2

5: Hattie Bloom (Quinonez, Scherer) 119/5-1

6: Goddess of War (Da Silva, Lund) 124/15-1

7: Miwoman (Fuentes, Riecken) 119/7-2

8: Master Jane (Rodriguez, Rushton) 119/10-1

9: Church Service (Harr, Cline) 124/12-1

10: Smooching (Valenzuela, Kenney) 119/10-1

11: Jocasta (Pena, Scherer) 119/4-1

JOCASTA (11) ran evenly in her meet debut while finishing third. Faced some classy foes this winter/spring at the Fairgrounds so expecting an improved effort but does have a tough post. SHY SHY (1) returns to the lawn, which is where she broke her maiden last fall. Should be able to save ground from the rail and attack late. MIDNIGHT LANE (4) has hit the board in three straight from tough post positions.

5. 6 furlongs. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $5,000. Purse: $13,500.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: Johnny Up (Carmona, Robertson) 119/7-2

2: Tombi (Da Silva, Rushton) 124/5-1

3: Da Ghost (Arroyo, Roberts) 124/2-1

4: Birdie Machine (Harr, Berndt) 124/12-1

5: Libertarian (Rodriguez, Bethke) 124/6-1

6: Magnet and Steel (Valenzuela, Fields) 124/9-2

7: In Honor of Autism (Pena, Silva Jr.) 124/6-1

JOHNNY UP (1) was 3-for-3 locally last summer. First start this meet was disappointing but probably needed that race to shake off the rust for the top barn. DA GHOST (3) is coming off an impressive 12-length victory routing. Was claimed out of that win and cuts back in distance. MAGNET AND STEEL (6) has won two in a row and the barn has had a nice meet only a with few starts.

6. 5 furlongs on turf. Fillies and mares. 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds. Maiden special weight. Purse: $29,000.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: Mia Is Short (Barajas, Silva) 119/12-1

2: Smarty Be Good (Carmona, Robertson) 114/5-1

3: Tactical Express (Da Silva, Tranquilino) 119/20-1

4: Petit Jean (Roman, Riecken) 124/10-1

5: Red Volta (Harr, Cline) 119/7-2

6: Midship Molly (Quinonez, VanWinkle) 119/15-1

7: Ha Ha Gloria (Fuentes, Rosin) 124/2-1

8: Sending (Lindsay, Cline) 119/10-1

9: Kind Kismet (Valenzuela, Berndt) 119/8-1

10: Miss You No More (Lindsay, Rushton) 119/6-1

11: Thunders Song (Ceballos, Kenney) 119/15-1

HA HA GLORIA (7) returned from a short rest in Chicago two weeks ago and ran second to her stablemate. Has tactical speed to be involved early and wear them down in the stretch. KIND KISMET (9) makes her career debut but is well bred for this surface/distance and her last workout indicates her readiness. Needs to break cleanly from the outside. SMARTY BE GOOD (2) comes from a hot barn and posted a good speed figure two back.

7. 1 mile on turf. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $10,000. Purse: $16,500.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: West Island (Fuentes, Donlin) 124/9-2

2: Glendale (Valenzuela, Roberts) 124/10-1

3: Super Wise (Roman, Scherer) 124/6-1

4: Papa Rizzo (Pena, Roberts) 124/6-1

5: Cousvinnysacanuck (Rodriguez, Silva Jr.) 124/4-1

6: Skippy’s Strike (Carmona, Bedford) 119/5-1

7: Stability (Quinonez, Garrett) 124/3-1

8: Fly Nightly (Lindsay, Ramaekers) 124/8-1

STABILITY (7) has two wins over the local lawn and the barn has done well with limited starters. Stretches out after two sprints so should be involved in the early mix. WEST ISLAND (1) posted a career-high speed figure last out while winning by seven lengths. Is 1-for-1 on the surface but steps up in class in this one. SKIPPY’S STRIKE (6) has run evenly over the grass in last two and switched pilots.

8. 6 furlongs. Fillies and mares. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $5,000. Purse: $13,500.

#: Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt./Odds

1: Folk Hero (Arroyo, Gomez) 124/12-1

2: When Judy Calls (Barajas, Silva) 124/2-1

3: Bebop Baby (Da Silva, Roberts) 124/3-1

4: Brahms Is Who (Pena, Tranquilino) 124/12-1

5: Mighty Gin Gin (Roman, Padilla) 124/9-5

6: Chama (Lindsay, Sheehan) 124/12-1

7: Angie’s Revrac (Harr, Muckey) 124/10-1

MIGHTY GIN GIN (5) goes from two turf sprints to sprinting on the main track, which is where all three of her career wins were achieved. The slight drop in class should benefit her. BEBOP BABY (3) has been consistent recently posting similar speed figures that fit with this group. Needs to take another step forward. WHEN JUDY CALLS (2) drops drastically in class for a sneaky good barn. Her tactical speed is a plus.

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