Here’s your fully detailed and SEO-optimized preview for the 2025 Lady Canterbury Stakes, set for Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. This one-mile turf feature for fillies and mares, 3 years old and up, headlines the Northern Stars Turf Festival and offers a $50,000 purse.
Race Overview: Lady Canterbury Stakes 2025
- Race: Lady Canterbury Stakes
- Track: Canterbury Park
- Surface: Turf
- Distance: 1 mile
- Purse: $50,000
- Eligibility: Fillies & Mares, 3YO & up
- Post Time: 8:10 PM CT (Race 5)
This year’s edition features a field of eight with a mix of local turf specialists, Midwest shippers, and proven stakes performers. The race sets up as a tactical mile with several pace-pressing types and a few deep closers.
Horse-by-Horse Analysis
Cupids Crush (Post 1)
- Trainer: Mac Robertson
- Jockey: Harry Hernandez
- Pedigree: Cupid – Dazzlingsweetheart (by Master Command)
- Record: 9: 5-1-1 Turf Record: 5: 4-0-0
- Key Notes: 5-year-old Minnesota-bred mare is undefeated on the Canterbury turf and 2-for-2 at the mile distance. Comes off a layoff after a last-place finish in the Mardi Gras Stakes at Fair Grounds but posted a bullet 5F work on June 15. Morning-line favorite and the one to beat.
Retired Kathy (Post 8)
- Trainer: David Van Winkle
- Jockey: Chad Lindsay
- Pedigree: Firing Line – Shawl (by Out of Place)
- Record: 13: 5-2-1 Turf Record: 3: 2-0-0
- Key Notes: Versatile filly who won the Lady Slipper Stakes on dirt last out and previously scored on turf at Tampa Bay Downs. Late-running style and strong local connections make her a live upset candidate.
Queen Judith (Post 3)
- Trainer: Larry Rivelli
- Jockey: Walter Rodriguez
- Pedigree: Empire Maker – Starlight Tiara (by More Than Ready)
- Record: 14: 4-3-2 Turf Record: 7: 2-2-1
- Key Notes: Classy 6-year-old mare ships in from Hawthorne. Has tactical speed and a strong pedigree for turf. Rivelli is winning at 28% this meet.
Other Contenders
| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Pedigree | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Kitten (2) | Bill Geditz Jr. | Kelsi Harr | Big Blue Kitten – Half Irish (by Half Ours) | 6YO mare with turf experience; needs pace collapse |
| Bow Draw (4) | Bill Geditz Jr. | Leslie Mawing | Oxbow – Wicked Draw (by Wild Draw) | 7YO mare; 0-for-6 on turf; longshot |
| Cat Attack (5) | Michele Boyce | Constantino Roman | Get Stormy – Kitty’s Castle (by Tale of the Cat) | 7YO mare with back class; 3 turf wins |
| Thunders Rocknroll (6) | Wade Rarick | Leandro Goncalves | Maclean’s Music – Thunder and Honey (by Thunder Gulch) | 5YO mare; 2-for-2 at Canterbury |
| Tour Queen (7) | Ty Garrett | Alonso Quinonez | Tourist – Fancy Boss (by Street Boss) | 4YO filly; improving form; needs step up |
Race Strategy & Betting Insights
- Pace Scenario: Cupids Crush and Queen Judith likely to press early. Retired Kathy and Irish Kitten will look to close late.
- Key Matchup: Cupids Crush vs Retired Kathy—Can the favorite hold off the closer?
- Dark Horse: Thunders Rocknroll is 2-for-2 locally and could surprise with a stalking trip.
- Live Longshot: Cat Attack has back class and could hit the board at a price.
Projected Order of Finish
- Cupids Crush
- Retired Kathy
- Queen Judith
- Thunders Rocknroll
- Cat Attack
