Minnesota-bred 3-year-old Mr. Jagermeister romps in Victor S. Myers

After Minnesota-bred 3-year-old Mr. Jagermeister finished tenth in the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby on June 23, many racing aficionados assumed, and several competing trainers hoped, the multiple stakes winner might not return on 10-days rest to face state breds in the $50,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes. But trainer Valorie Lund, after assessing the situation and discussing with jockey Leandro Goncalves, determined that it “was a race he should win” and entered Mr. Jagermeister who responded by winning the six furlong sprint by 6 1/4 lengths in a gallop on Wednesday as the prohibitive wagering favorite.

“That’s about as easy as I’ve ever had it,” Lund said of the win.

Mr. Jagermeister dictated the pace from the starting gate and pulled away with ease from his four foes when reaching the top of the stretch, crossing the finish line in 1:09.23. He returned $2.20 for each $2.00 wagered to win.

Now Lund, who co-owns the colt with Kristin Boice and Leslie Cummings, must decide what is next. The one mile 70 yard Minnesota Derby with a $100,000 purse is Aug. 11, but after watching Mr. Jagermeister fade in the Mystic Lake Derby at a mile, a route of ground may not be his best distance. “We have to decide whether to go somewhere else to sprint or to stay here and route,” she said.

One race earlier, Simran won the $50,000 Frances Genter Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths under jockey Leslie Mawing for trainer Roopishwar Rampadarat and his wife Gaitri of Shakopee, Minn. The filly tracked the pace on the outside of the six-horse field before taking control in the stretch. She covered the six furlongs in 1:11.30. Vidira finished second and betting favorite Firstmate was third. Simran paid $8.40 to win.

Kowboy Jim has now won six of seven starts at Canterbury Park after winning the $49,410 Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge. Kowboy Jim is trained by Dean Frey who also owns and bred the 4-year-old. He was ridden by Nakia Ramirez, providing the 23-year-old jockey with her first stakes victory at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack.

“He loves training here,” Ramirez said. “In the morning he’s kicking and squealing on the way to the track.”

Kowboy Jim paid $10.00 to win.

Ajs High, a multiple graded stakes winner, was the prohibitive favorite in the BOA, but had a troubled trip, settling for fourth, two lengths behind the winner. Kowboy Jim covered the 440 yards in 21.743 seconds, 3/4 lengths better than Damn Strait who was second. Bout Tree Fiddy finished third.

Corona Springs won the $34,740 Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge by1/2 length over Gold Diggin Queen, continuing the domination of jockey Cristian Esqueda and trainer Jason Olmstead this summer at the Canterbury race meet. The 4-year-old filly is owned by Thomas Scheckel. Final time for the 400 yards was 19.766 seconds. She returned $7.40.