North Star State Stakes Ends in Exacta of Full Brothers
SHAKOPEE, MN – MAY 27, 2019 – In the opening race on a rainy Memorial Day at Canterbury Park, Dickey Bob splashed home first in the $25,000 North Star State Stakes.
To win the race, 4-year-old Dickey Bob had to pass his own full brother and defending champion of the North Star State Stakes, Pyc Jess Bite Mydust. The two geldings drew next to each other and raced side by side in their third lifetime matchup.
Dickey Bob ($5.20) and Julian Serrano covered the 300-yard race in 15.278 and earned a 108 speed index over a sloppy sealed track with heavy rain and a 25 mph tail wind. The duo set a new track record in North Star State Stakes; the previous Canterbury Park record at 300 yards was 15.314, set by BP Painted Valentine on June 22, 2017.
Dickey Bob and Pyc Jess Bite Mydust are both out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Paint or More and sired by Apollitical Jess. They are trained by Jason Olmstead and are Minnesota homebreds for Bruce and Judy Lunderborg.
Pyc Jess Bite Mydust was the narrow post-time favorite in the race despite having been bested by his brother in their previous two meetings.
The Lunderborgs were unsure which of their geldings would prevail in the race given the relentless rain, knowing that Dickey Bob has an aversion to standing water. The pouring rain created a track so muddy that a family of ducks was spotted swimming on the main track prior to the race. Dickey Bob had only one previous start on a wet track, two years ago, when he finished second in his trial for the Northlands Futurity.
Dickey Bob has now won half of his 18 career starts and has earned $146,954. In 2018, he swept three consecutive stakes, including two against older horses: the $39,500 Cash Caravan, the $40,400 Bob Morehouse, and the $55,200 Minnesota Derby.
Pyc Jess Bite Mydust has earned $196,821 in his five career wins, which include the $165,600 Mystic Lake Northlands Futurity.
Pyc Jess Bite Mydust, now five years old, broke last in the field of six with Ry Eikleberry aboard and finished a length behind Dickey Bob and a length ahead of third place finisher Curious James and Nik Goodwin.
Curious James is a triple play for Mark Wilson, who bred, owns and trains the 5-year-old gelding. He is by Ivory James, out of Takin on the Crunch, by Takin on the Cash.
Curious James has four wins in 17 career starts, multiple stakes placed, and has earned over $34,515.
The North Star State Stakes is the first of 17 stakes of the 2019 Canterbury Park Quarter Horse meet. Total estimated stakes purses for the season total over $700,000. This was the second running of the North Star State Stakes; Pyc Jess Bite Mydust won the inaugural running in 2018.
Completing the field were Streak N Sparks, Jess A Rumor and Fantastic Feelyn. Eos Marie Leveau was scratched.