Here are some of the Pro Picks for our race:

Canterbury Program

Awesome Emmit drew a good post to utilize his pace-pressing style. Larry Donlin must’ve liked what he saw when this guy started back up this spring, because he ended up in a couple of stakes races. Most recently he tired in the Dowd Mile, but he ran second in the sprint race just before that at 24-1. Regardless of his Fonner races, he adores Canterbury and has almost always performed well at six and a half furlongs. Goncalves was onboard for the ride the last time this gelding posed for pictures here, and he’s back in the saddle tonight.

Never Give In is in for a claiming tag after not being up for sale the entire year. However, the last time he popped up for a tag it was right around this price, and he came home a winner by a few lengths at Turf Paradise. The only time he tried this tricky distance he was running in a $40,000 claiming race at Churchill Downs; in with his friends at this level he should show more of what he’s got to offer.

Ender was flying home against a little lower-priced field at this distance. It seems to be a sweet spot for him going 6 ½ even if he isn’t heavy on the win end of things. Karl Broberg knows what makes this one tick—he’s claimed him a few times in a little over a year, this time for the Canterbury Racing Club. In eight starts at Canterbury Ender has been a little camera shy, but he’s still hit the board in half his starts here and is very usable in exotics if you don’t care for him on the win end of things.

Race Selections:
1st Place: #7 Awesome Emmit 2nd Place: #5 Never Give In 3rd Place: #1 Ender

Star Tribune’s Johnny Love

GOT EVEN SMARTER moves well down in class, and should be sitting mid-pack with Dean Butler aboard before making final move. HOT ITEM was winner two back, but came up a neck short and had to settle for third honors last out. REAL FAST MUSIC and ENDER are major players in a closely matched group.

Brian Arrigoni

Race 7       8-3-2