On-track handicapper Angela Hermann gives you the local insight when handicapping Saturday's Canterbury Derby Day card. Earn 10X 1/ST Rewards Points on all wagers Saturday for Canterbury Park when you play with 1/ST BET and Xpressbet.

Race 4

The Brooks Fields Mile rematches several from a June 1 mile won in swift time by #1 Kennebec. The 14-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, #5 Tonka Warrior rarely misses the mark on Canterbury grass and should be moving late with Kennebec. New face #6 Saline River traded jabs with Kennebec and #2 Fearless Soldier in Arizona this winter, but got the better of them in shorter races. The only original entrant not in the Brooks Fields, High Ransom, takes some pace out of the mix but the early tempo should be steady if not on the quick side.

Selections: 1-5-6

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Race 7

The Lady Canterbury changed in its re-draw. A slightly larger field is balanced from a pace standpoint on paper, with new addition #2 Angela’s Party Girl drawn inside Minnesotans #6 Thunders Rocknroll (2024 winner) & #3 Cupid’s Crush (ML favorite) as the likely pacesetters. ‘Cupid hasn’t lost on her home turf yet and drew well to use her speed, but also hasn’t run since March. #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 . #4 Retired Kathy gives regular rider Chad Lindsay options early on, with a recent front-running route score and dirt sprint victory in her most recent two starts. Their usual tactics on our turf have been to come from off the pace, which may work well in this group. #1 Queen Judith and new shooter #9 Gypsy Reward were moving in at the end of shorter races at Hawthorne in their respective last starts, and a little more ground won’t hurt. With some recency to her and the new dimensions she’s shown as a four-year-old, Retired Kathy is my choice in here.

Selections: 4-1-3

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Race 8

A pair of trainers seek their second win in the Canterbury Derby and they saddle two of the likely favorites in #3 Homie and #1 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. #3 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 and Jareth Loveberry, who won this race in 2021 with King of Miami.

Two runners with prior stakes experience on dirt are #6 R N R Audible and #4 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. #6 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.

#8 Canyon Streak is a threat on turf or a muddy surface, and has enough speed to get good early position. Despite a wide draw, his versatility and strong string of races in Texas make him a top contender.

Selections: 8-1-3