Mystic Lake Derby wide open

Giant Payday is the 7-2 morning-line favorite for the $200,000 Mystic Lake Derby on Saturday evening at Canterbury Park, a tepid price that speaks to the composition of this one-mile grass race for 3-year-olds.

The field of 11 has nothing close to a standout. Racing luck and improvement on the night are going to mean everything, though weather also could prove a major factor. The local forecast calls for rain throughout Saturday with an 80 percent chance of thunderstorms during the evening.

The Mystic Lake Derby goes as race 4, post time is 7:35 Central, and it follows two $50,000 turf stakes for older horses.

Giant Payday ships from Kentucky for trainer Ian Wilkes, but has a local connection in owner Bob Lothenbach, a Minnesotan. While Giant Payday has a chance, he does not seem like a horse on which to take a relatively short price. His win mark stands at 2 for 11, and while he comes off a firstlevel allowance victory at Ellis Park, Giant Payday got a favorable setup that day, returns on three weeks’ rest, and was defeated at the same allowance level in his previous start, also at Ellis.

He breaks from post 9 under Chris Landeros, and does at least figure to have pace in front of him.

Part of the speed is raildrawn Siem Riep, who was purchased by Marc Detampel at a July auction for $80,000 and won his first start for trainer Ben Colebrook on Aug. 3 at Indiana Grand. Siem Riep defeated a modest group of 3-year-olds in that first-level allowance, but has run only three times and has won both his turf routes, showing an ability to carry a good pace over a route of ground. Siem Riep has been too aggressive in his grass starts, bulling between horses to make the front at Monmouth in his maiden win, and, under James Graham last out, rushing up into the first turn to lead after being squeezed to last at the break.

“He’s just got to settle a little bit,” Colebrook said. “I’m trying to get the blinkers off, but he keeps winning. From the one hole Saturday, he’s probably going to go out there. He has been a little more settled in his works. James said he’s running in spots. He’s still a little green.”

Line Judge, who has been working with Travers Stakes starter Girvin, should bring pace to his turf debut, while longshots Witt’sdollarnight and Diamondmaze as well as Hotshot Kid also figure forwardly placed.

A strong pace would aid My Bariley, who showed he could win from behind slow fractions July 29 at Indiana Grand, where he beat older first-level allowance horses. My Bariley, who ran well to finish third July 8 in the American Derby after face-planting at the start, made a smooth inside move to get position on the far turn last out, then finished the job with a final quarter-mile in 22.79 seconds.

“I love the way he closed last time,” trainer Tony Granitz said. “He’s training lights out, and it looks like there is plenty of speed.”

Granitz’s second runner, the enigmatic Sakonnet, appears to need more distance, and could use this race as a stepping-stone to the Dueling Grounds Derby.

Hotshot Kid has won five in a row, including four Minnesotabred races this meet, and makes his grass debut Saturday. While trainer Mac Robertson said Hotshot Kid comfortably held his own working on turf with the good older horse Majestic Pride, Hotshot Kid drew poorly on the far outside.

Deep field for Brooks Fields

Majestic Pride beat the favored shipper Go Around in the $50,000 Brooks Fields a year ago, and will have a solid chance to win the race again Saturday even if it is rained off grass. Still, the Brooks Fields has a deep field for its modest purse, and if a pace battle develops, Hay Dakota, who rallied to win the $100,000 Mystic Lake Mile earlier this meet, might be the right horse. The pick for dirt is Way Striking, who caught the eye winning the Rasmussen Memorial late this spring at Prairie Meadows.

◗ One Last Shot stretched from turf sprints to a turf route and won a second-level allowance race last out at Delaware Park, and a repeat of that performance could land her first stakes in the $50,000 Minnesota HBPA Distaff. Iowa shipper Mywomanfromtokyo would be formidable if the race is moved to dirt.