Here’s your fully detailed and SEO-optimized preview for the 2025 Canterbury Derby, set for Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. This one-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds offers a $50,000 purse and headlines the Northern Stars Turf Festival alongside the Lady Canterbury Stakes and Brooks Fields Mile.
Race Overview: Canterbury Derby 2025
- Race: Canterbury Derby (Race 6)
- Track: Canterbury Park
- Surface: Turf
- Distance: 1 mile
- Purse: $50,000
- Eligibility: 3-year-olds
- Post Time: 7:40 PM CT
This year’s edition features a field of seven with a mix of local turf upstarts, Midwest shippers, and undefeated juveniles making their seasonal debuts. The race sets up with early speed drawn outside and classy closers inside, promising a tactical showdown on the Canterbury lawn.
Horse-by-Horse Analysis
Sushi Man (Post 7)
- Trainer: Coty Rosin
- Jockey: Harry Hernandez
- Pedigree: Astern (AUS) – Kitty Boo (GB) (by Invincible Spirit)
- Record: 5: 1-2-0 Last Race: 7¼-length turf maiden win at Canterbury
- Speed Rating: 95
- Key Notes: Morning-line favorite (2-1). Dominated in turf debut June 11, posting the fastest 7½-furlong time of the meet. Tactical speed and top local rider make him the one to catch.
Canyon Streak (Post 6)
- Trainer: Gary Scherer
- Jockey: Leandro Goncalves
- Pedigree: Kitten’s Joy – Jaylan (by Scat Daddy)
- Record: 6: 2-2-0 Last Race: 1-mile turf win at Lone Star
- Speed Rating: 91
- Key Notes: Proven turf form and bred for the lawn. Has won two of last three and owns the highest turf pedigree rating in the field.
Homie (Post 5)
- Trainer: Larry Rivelli
- Jockey: Walter Rodriguez
- Pedigree: Mendelssohn – Fishing (GB) (by Oasis Dream)
- Record: 2: 2-0-0 Last Race: 1-mile win at Horseshoe Indianapolis (Sept 2024)
- Speed Rating: 87
- Key Notes: Undefeated juvenile returns off 9-month layoff. Rivelli wins 19% off 180+ day layoffs. May need a race but has upside.
Other Contenders
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Pedigree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R N R Audible (1) | Tim Padilla | Alonso Quinonez | Audible – Alluring Squall (by Bernardini) | Won 5f sprint June 11; stretches out; rail draw helps |
| Smoken Boy (2) | Cheryl Winebaugh | Victor Santiago | Catholic Boy – Smoken Deb (by Smoke Glacken) | 3 wins from 7 starts; turf unknown |
| Seahorse Stampede (3) | Dan McFarlane | Guillermo Rodriguez | Malibu Moon – Stamp (by War Front) | 1-for-4; last of 8 in Prairie Meadows allowance |
| Benandonner (4) | Wade Rarick | Karlo Lopez | Unified – Heliocentricity (by Malibu Moon) | 1-for-3; third in last two; needs step forward |
Race Strategy & Betting Insights
- Pace Scenario: Sushi Man and Homie likely to press early from outside. R N R Audible could save ground and stalk from the rail.
- Key Matchup: Sushi Man vs Canyon Streak—speed vs stamina.
- Dark Horse: Benandonner has shown late interest and could clunk up for a share.
- Live Longshot: R N R Audible is improving and could surprise if he handles the turf.
Projected Order of Finish
- Sushi Man
- Canyon Streak
- Homie
- R N R Audible
- Benandonner
