For friends and family, two of our horses that have already won once at Canterbury this year, run against each other tonight. Minnie Soda Nice and Samstar should lock up again in a fun race.

Saturday our 2 year old Blazing Angel debuts. I bought her at last year's MTA auction as a yearling. Her conformation was so outstanding in my book that I had to have her in the stable, and I felt she was a bargain. I guess I'll see tonight and don't know what to expect. She has a real nice base and has worked well. We have to run her short at 5 1/2 furlongs because Canterbury has never made a condition book for better two turn two year olds that should have two turn options for those horses late in the summer season, just like they do at major tracks. She is likely a very good two turn horse and as a result will likely have to run at other tracks. Top rider Dean Butler is aboard this "baby" so if you have followed handicapping suggestions in the past, you know what that means.

Sunday Demonte runs in his 3rd race as a two year old. He finished a strong MSW 4th and gets Alex Canchari who just came in recently to ride. Alex is a top rider anywhere he goes. Also BJ's Angel runs and we get an old favorite aboard. Known at Canterbury as "the turf doctor", Paul Nolan should have some fun on BJ. Only Paul and I may have been around long enought to know what this means but "Pauli, just channel your old inner Blue Dancer/Demiparfait technique and we'll see you in the circle". BJ is a combination of both in running style.

After racing Sunday, the MTA Auction begins at the Scott County Fairgrounds with preview showings. We are selling HIPs 76 and 77, and Rick and Joyce Osborne are presenting them for sale. HIP 76 is a real nicely muscled yearling and a "full brother" the six figure stakes winning and black type stakes placed BJ's Angel. If the reserve is not met on this colt I will happily keep this boy in the racing stable next year. Hip 77 is a nice looking full sister to Demonte and Minnie Soda Nice. 

There are just a few breeders/racing owners like me in Minnesota, who always consider buying and selling based upon the economics of the deal. That's one of the reasons I've sold bred horses that have ended up stakes horses for other owners (Sugar Business, Sue's Stormy), and kept some that ended up being stakes winners for us like BJ's Angel.

The MTA sale actually takes place on Monday and I hope to see you there or at the racetrack this weekend.

Stormy Business was purchased to be competitive as a sire here in Minnesota. He stands locally for mare owners who want to breed to a strong pedigreed Storm Cat line sire, but do not want to ship their mares and foals to other states for breeding. He is an exceptional alternative for breeding in Minnesota.

Now with 31 foals from 5 crops, he has 24 starters and 16 winners. The 16 winners from 24 starters is very solid (67%), and so are his 16 winners from 31 total foals (52%). Not only are those percentages competitive in Minnesota but elsewhere. Now for the 3rd year in a row, Stormy Business leads all 2015 standing Minnesota sires in “Minnesota Bred” winners and earnings! His foals have also generated more Minnesota Bred winners and earnings than any other sire in North America over the last three years!

For Newer Owners, Tip Number 1:
Why are actual “Minnesota Bred” winners and earnings important? Because it proves that Stormy’s stud ability equates to success at Canterbury Park. Canterbury is the only place in the world where you can run MN breds in "State Restricted Races" for big money purses ($32,500 for Maiden Special Weights)! You see, every track is unique, from the speeds generated to the racing surfaces. Canterbury has a generally faster dirt racing surface and a turf course which many racetracks do not.

For Newer Owners, Tip Number 2:
Stormy’s versatility has produced “Minnesota Bred” sprint winners, route distance winners, juvenile 2 year old winners, older horse winners, stakes winners, a 2 year old race record setting Black Type Stakes winner and very importantly turf surface winners. It’s almost unheard of to accomplish this “proof” of versatility with only 24 starters!

For Newer Owners, Tip Number 3:
Versatile horses allow owners and trainers to fully utilize multiple conditions. They can find good races for their horses, but not if they can only sprint, or only route, or only run on dirt, for example. This is extraordinarily valuable to owners looking to establish an "economically effective stable" in Minnesota, and versatility makes Stormy’s foal success probabilities just that much greater. 

For All Owners, Tip Number 4:
Don’t miss his two yearlings (HIPs 76 & 77) being sold in the August 17, 2015 MTA sale.