Canterbury Park : July 4, 2017 - HOT SHOT KID WINS MYERS, XERXES AVENUE TAKES GENTER >

CANTERBURY PARK

1100 Canterbury Road

Shakopee, MN 55379

Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Contact: Jeff Maday

Media Relations Manager (952) 496-6408

jmaday@canterburypark.com

Shakopee, Minn. -- Hot Shot Kid won the $50,000 Victor S. Myers Stakes on Tuesday at Canterbury Park. This was the fourth consecutive win by the 3-year-old Minnesota-bred gelding that is owned and was bred by Warren Bush of Wall Lake, Iowa. Alex Canchari was aboard for leading trainer Mac Robertson. Hot Shot Kid, who returned $2.80 as the prohibitive wagering favorite, tracked pacesetter Fridaynitestar to the top of the stretch of the six furlong sprint before taking command and drawing away to win by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:10.84. Fridaynitestar held second and Fireman Oscar closed from last to finish third in the six-horse field.

"It's been a good weekend," said Robertson who also won the $50,000 Blair's Cove Stakes on Monday with Teddy Time. "He runs really well for Alex. I was happy to have Alex," he said.

Canchari has ridden Hot Shot Kid in seven of nine career races, including all four wins.

"This is the best horse I've been on in Shakopee ever," Canchari said. "He does it all so easily."

Nik Goodwin guided Xerxes Avenue to victory in the $50,000 Frances Genter Stakes. The 3-year-old filly went to the lead at the start and never relinquished it, winning by one length over Double Bee Sting.

"The way she broke today, I really didn't want to take her out of her element," Goodwin said. The jockey's original plan was "to let a couple of speed horses go" but when Xerxes Avenue found the lead she "ran really relaxed," Goodwin said.

Xerxes Avenue is trained by Gary Scherer and is owned by Jeff Drown of St. Cloud. She paid $4.80 to win as the favorite.

The Fiscal Cliff and jockey Benito Baca won the $60,840 Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge by 1 1/4 lengths. The 4-year-old quarter horse colt has now won 12 of 19 races and $387,321 in purse money. He is trained by Kasey Willis and is owned by Thomas Lepic of Iowa City, Iowa. The Fiscal Cliff was trying 440 yards for the first time and won effortlessly under Baca in 21.725 seconds. Okeyfreight was second and Fowl Play finished third.

"Tom[Lepic] and I have made great decisions to put him where he can dominate," Willis said, "and we did it again." The Fiscal Cliff returned $2.60 as the prohibitive favorite.

Jr Rock Star won the $33,750 Merial Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge by a head over Blacks Cartel. Brayan Velazquez was aboard the 4-year-old mare for leading trainer Jason Olmstead and owners Don and Lucille Webb of Diamond, Mo.

"This mare has been real game," Olmstead said. "She tries her guts out every time."

Jr Rock Star covered 400 yards in 20.246 seconds and returned $8.60 to win. Bye Bye Birdy, the wagering favorite, finished a fast closing third.

"Every time [the Webbs] show up this mare wins. So I hope they keep coming to the races," Olmstead said.

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