Race 1 – A pair of Arizona-breds, #2 Unrivaled Queen & #5 Sharp Attitude, stand out in the first after their bouts together in Phoenix. In both stakes races the former defeated the latter, but both were slightly longer sprints. Three others exiting their most recent contest returned to win against open company, and Unrivaled Queen found this level a good fit on opening day of the meet.

R1 selections- 5-2-3

Race 2 - The 10% Takeout Pick Five begins in the Curtis Sampson Oaks. #5 Rich City Girl should be a popular single with a daunting resume in the Oaks, and she is the first of a formidable Larry Rivelli contingent in the mix today. She’s been no secret in of her five race career, delivering three of the four times she’s been favored – including a win on Kentucky Downs turf as a juvenile. #2 Skipwineyesterday raced exclusively around two turns on turf until a runner-up finish on dirt last out. The only Canterbury grass win in this group is hers and she will be coming at the end.

R2 selections - 5-2-4
Pick 5 ticket: 2,5 / 1,5 / 1,3,7 / 1,7,8 / 6,7 = $36 wager

Race 3 - The Brooks Fields Mile rematches several from a June 1st mile won in swift time by #5 Kennebec. The fourteen time winner and Fausto Da Silva have not missed the exacta in seven tries together, including a mile stakes victory at Turf Paradise in March. Runner-up in this race last year, #7 Tonka Warrior, rarely misses the mark on Canterbury grass and should be moving late with Kennebec. New face #1 Saline River traded jabs with Kennebec and #2 Fearless Soldier in Arizona this winter, but got the better of them in shorter races. Rider Guillermo Rodriguez knows him well and their inside draw should keep them in good position throughout.

R3 selections - 5-1-7-4

Race 4 - #1 Mastery Kat & #3 Derrygoolin move to the dirt off a close finish together on turf. Mastery Kat’s last two wins were on the dirt, and these two could have more pace to chase. #2 Angela’s Party Girl & #5 Lemon Bomb could make life difficult on each other if they employ their usual front-running tactics, and a few in here are stretching out from sprints.

R4 selections - 1-3-2-7

Race 5 - The Lady Canterbury is bookended by Canterbury’s 2024 Champion Older Mare and Champion Three-Year-Old filly. Between #1 Cupid’s Crush and #8 Retired Kathy, a group assembled from Prairie Meadows, Sam Houston, and Hawthorne look like they’ll establish a solid early pace. That should play well into the hands of #8 Retired Kathy, who’s shown versatility at age four with wins on the front end and on dirt. That dirt score in the Lady Slipper stakes should have her sharp to try for her third W in a row. On the other hand, #1 Cupid’s Crush was last seen sprinting at the Fair Grounds in March. The schedule she kept this winter was salty, and she’s well drawn to use her speed over a course she loves.

#7 Tour Queen captured the Curtis Samson Oaks on this day last year in the mud, then added two quality runs going long on turf to cap her season. If she returns as the same filly she was in September, she was within a couple lengths of ‘Cupid and should be a square price. Illinois invaders #3 Queen Judith and #4 Cat Attack exit a common race that fits well in here, and shippers based there have enjoyed success in the Lady C.

R5 selections - 8-1-7-3

Race 6 - The Canterbury Derby concludes the Pick Five. A pair of trainers seek their second win in this race and they saddle two of the likely favorites in #5 Homie and #7 Sushi Man. One Bid Stables’ homebred Sushi Man worked his way through Oaklawn Park and Prairie Meadows maidens before breaking through with a seven length score in his first try going two turns on the turf. Coty Rosin won this race in 2023 with Golden Bandit and a similar front-running trip could unfold for this Minnesota-bred. #5 Homie seeks to push his lifetime record to three for three in his first outing as a three-year-old. Both wins saw the son of Mendelssohn on the pace, and he should be prominent early for Larry Rivelli who won this race in 2021 with King of Miami.

Two inside-drawn runners with prior Stakes experience on dirt are #1 R N R Audible and #2 Smoken Boy. The latter will try his sixth different track and makes his turf debut in his ninth start. His best performances to date came on wet tracks, and should this race get washed off the turf his stock rises. #1 R N R Audible’s female family says he should like turf, and his solid win in his return to Canterbury should have him at his best to give it another shot at a price. #6 Canyon Streak is a threat on turf or a muddy surface, and has enough speed to get good early position. His versatility and strong string of races in Texas make him a top contender.

R6 selections - 6-7-5-3

Race 7 - The Dark Star Turf Sprint welcomes a pair of speedy gray sophomores from Larry Rivelli’s stable to square off against elder pros over the local course. Morning-line favorite #7 Star’s Imageb> and barnmate #1 Big Vince were separated through their winter/spring campaigns, picking up a pair of wins the Fair Grounds and Turfway Park respectively. Rivelli hasn’t missed the board at Canterbury since 2019, but keeping that streak intact will not be easy.

#5 Philo Beddoe & #6 Bodenheimerb> ended their 2024 Canterbury season running one-two in a five furlong turf sprint, and both started their 2025 Canterbury campaigns with victories of the same variety. #8 Plane Talk hasn’t run much lately on Canterbury grass but was second in this race in 2022 and 2023, and will go this year for trainer Jose Silva, Jr. Altogether, these three post an impressive 22-11-5-4 record on the local lawn.

The pace figures to be sizzling in the seventh, but #6 Bodenheimer owns the most wins here and can put big races back-to-back-to-back….and he’ll need his very best again to beat this group.

R7 selections - 6-5-7-8

Play of the Day: Race 7 - $10 6/5 Double

Race 8 - #2 Mad House debuted in January against eventual Sam Davis winner John Hancock, and this is his shortest race since that strong second. He has the kind of speed to take these all the way, but there are others quick off the blocks to his immediate right and left as well. #5 Neoteric exits the same maiden as Mad House and nearly caught the winner that day. Tim Padilla is four for his last five moving MSW from turf to dirt at Canterbury, and this one should be coming late again.

R8 selections - 5-2-1-3

EXCLUSIVE CANTERBURY TOURNAMENT

Play in the Northern Stars Turf Festival $500 Challenge