Canterbury Park racing officials announced that, in cooperation with the Minnesota HBPA, the purses for the Blair's Cove Minnesota Turf and the Bella Notte Minnesota Distaff Sprint will be increased to $50,000 and will be conducted as stakes Sept. 6 as part of the 32nd Minnesota Festival of Champions. Nominations will close Saturday, Aug. 23 at midnight along with the other Minnesota Festival of Champions races.
"The Minnesota Festival races will now have purse continuity across races regardless of gender, distance or surface," senior manager of racing operations Amber Carlisle said.
The two races, both restricted to Minnesota breds, were originally scheduled to be run as $30,000 allowances on the same date. The Blair's Cove will be run at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Bella Notte, for fillies and mares, is conducted at six furlongs. The Festival also includes a sprint for males and a turf route for fillies and mares as well as sprints for 2-year-olds of each gender.
"The nominations close quickly but word is spreading and the racing team is contacting trainers that have likely nominees," Carlisle said. "This is great news for owners and breeders."
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