Northlands Futurity Trials Wednesday at Canterbury Park
27 two-year-old quarter horses compete for berth in $98,600 final
Three trial races will be held Wednesday at Canterbury Park with the 10 fastest 2-year-olds qualifying for the Aug. 16 Northlands Futurity that will offer a purse of $98,600, the richest quarter
horse race of the season. The trials and final are conducted at 350 yards. The Aug. 16 final will mark the 36th running of the Northlands, dating back to its inception in 1986. The trials, each offering a $7,000 purse, will be the final three races on the eight-race program that begins at 5:00 p.m. CT.
Canterbury’s eight-time leading trainer and Hall of Fame member Jason Olmstead has 12 entered, four in each trial. Olmstead has won the Northlands four times and last year qualified four to the final. Relentless Bay, owned and bred by Tom Maher, is the likely favorite in the first trial and will be ridden by Olmstead’s go-to jockey Edwin Escobedo.
Trainer Mallory Norton won the Northlands in 2022 with favorite Alotta Oh La La. She has four entered Wednesday including Silver Dakota Moon who breaks from post four. The filly has raced three times, winning a maiden race at Remington Park, but has not run since May 27.
“I’m very happy with the four hole,” Norton said. “She can see everybody from there and it’s a good part of the track.”
Fernando Fonseca-Soto will ride Silver Dakota Moon for owner Randal Schwartz. Fonseca-Soto has won three of 12 starts at Canterbury including the Grade 3 Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge.
Tyler Stein trains Relentlessly Fast, longshot winner of the $69,500 MQHRA Stallion Auction Futurity July 19. Angel Ramirez has the mount. Relentlessly Fast is also owned by Maher.
The Aug. 16 program, scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m., will also include the 400-yard Canterbury Park Quarter Horse Derby.
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